Optical stimulation of the facial nerve: a surgical tool?

Claus-Peter Richter; Ingo Ulrik Teudt; Adam E. Nevel; Agnella D. Izzo; Joseph T. Walsh Jr.

doi:10.1117/12.768124

26 February 2008 Optical stimulation of the facial nerve: a surgical tool?

Claus-Peter Richter, Ingo Ulrik Teudt, Adam E. Nevel, Agnella D. Izzo, Joseph T. Walsh Jr.

Proceedings Volume 6842, Photonic Therapeutics and Diagnostics IV; 68421U (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.768124
Event: SPIE BiOS, 2008, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

One sequela of skull base surgery is the iatrogenic damage to cranial nerves. Devices that stimulate nerves with electric current can assist in the nerve identification. Contemporary devices have two main limitations: (1) the physical contact of the stimulating electrode and (2) the spread of the current through the tissue. In contrast to electrical stimulation, pulsed infrared optical radiation can be used to safely and selectively stimulate neural tissue. Stimulation and screening of the nerve is possible without making physical contact. The gerbil facial nerve was irradiated with 250-μs-long pulses of 2.12 μm radiation delivered via a 600-μm-diameter optical fiber at a repetition rate of 2 Hz. Muscle action potentials were recorded with intradermal electrodes. Nerve samples were examined for possible tissue damage. Eight facial nerves were stimulated with radiant exposures between 0.71-1.77 J/cm², resulting in compound muscle action potentials (CmAPs) that were simultaneously measured at the m. orbicularis oculi, m. levator nasolabialis, and m. orbicularis oris. Resulting CmAP amplitudes were 0.3-0.4 mV, 0.15-1.4 mV and 0.3-2.3 mV, respectively, depending on the radial location of the optical fiber and the radiant exposure. Individual nerve branches were also stimulated, resulting in CmAP amplitudes between 0.2 and 1.6 mV. Histology revealed tissue damage at radiant exposures of 2.2 J/cm², but no apparent damage at radiant exposures of 2.0 J/cm².

Citation Download Citation

Claus-Peter Richter, Ingo Ulrik Teudt, Adam E. Nevel, Agnella D. Izzo, and Joseph T. Walsh Jr. "Optical stimulation of the facial nerve: a surgical tool?", Proc. SPIE 6842, Photonic Therapeutics and Diagnostics IV, 68421U (26 February 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.768124

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