权利要求：
CLAIMS
1. A tapered fiber optoacoustic emitter (TFOE) comprising: a nanosecond laser configured to emit laser pulses; and an optic fiber with a tip, the optic fiber configured to guide the laser pulses, the tip having a coating including a diffusion layer and a thermal expansion layer, wherein: the diffusion layer comprises epoxy and zinc oxide nanoparticles configured to diffuse the light while restricting localized heating; the thermal expansion layer comprises carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) configured to convert the laser pulses to generate ultrasound; and the frequency of the ultrasound is tuned with a thickness of the diffusion layer and a CNT concentration of the expansion layer.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound comprises omnidirectional acoustic waves generated locally at the tip through the optoacoustic effect when excited by the laser pulses.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the omnidirectional acoustic waves are localized within a sub- 100 micron distance from the tip.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein the omnidirectional acoustic waves are configured to activate single neurons.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein the omnidirectional acoustic waves allow for optoacoustic stimulation and simultaneous monitoring of cell response using whole cell patch clamp recording.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises tuning the frequency to induce cell membrane sonoporation in effected cells.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein the frequency of the ultrasound is tuned to provide controllable frequencies in the range of 0.083 MHz-5.500 MHz.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein the coating is a single layer nano-composite mixed from 5% to 15% (w/w) multiwall carbon nanotube in Polydimethylsiloxane.
9. A method of operating a tapered fiber optoacoustic emitter (TFOE) comprising: emitting laser pulses with a nanosecond laser and guiding the laser pulses with an optic fiber having a tip, the tip coated with a diffusion layer comprising epoxy and zinc oxide and a thermal expansion layer comprising carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS); diffusing the laser pulses while restricting localized heating, with the diffusion layer; converting the diffused light to generate ultrasound, with the thermal expansion layer; and tuning a frequency of the ultrasound with a thickness of the diffusion layer and a
CNT concentration in the expansion layer.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the ultrasound comprises omnidirectional acoustic waves generated locally at the tip through the optoacoustic effect when excited by the laser pulses.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the omnidirectional acoustic waves are localized within a sub- 100 micron distance from the tip.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the omnidirectional acoustic waves are configured to activate single neurons.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the omnidirectional acoustic waves allows for optoacoustic stimulation and simultaneous monitoring of cell response using whole cell patch clamp recording.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises tuning the frequency to induce cell membrane sonoporation in effected cells.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the frequency of the ultrasound is tuned to provide controllable frequencies in the range of 0.083 MHz-5.500 MHz.
16. The method of claim 9, wherein the coating is a single layer nano-composite mixed from 5% to 15% (w/w) multiwall carbon nanotube in Polydimethylsiloxane.
17. A method of stimulating cells via an optoacoustic material comprising: providing the optoacoustic material, the optoacoustic material having optical absorbers and an expansion matrix configured to generate an ultrasound; embedding the optoacoustic material to a fibroin hydrogel to form an optoacoustic film, the fibroin hydrogel configured to stimulate neural growth in response to the ultrasound; and generating the ultrasound by emitting laser pulses to the optoacoustic film such that the fibroin stimulates neural growth in response to the ultrasound.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the ultrasound comprises omnidirectional acoustic waves generated locally at the tip through the optoacoustic effect when excited by the laser pulses.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the omnidirectional acoustic waves are localized within a sub- 100 micron distance from the tip.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the omnidirectional acoustic waves are configured to activate single neurons.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the omnidirectional acoustic waves allows for optoacoustic stimulation and simultaneous monitoring of cell response using whole cell patch clamp recording.
22. The method of claim 17, wherein generating the frequency of the ultrasound involves modifying acoustic damping and light absorption performance to further induce cell membrane sonoporation with frequency dependent efficiency.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the frequency of the ultrasound is tuned to provide controllable frequencies in the range of 0.083 MHz-5.500 MHz.
24. The method of claim 17, wherein the fibroin hydrogel includes silk.
25. A method of operating a tapered fiber optoacoustic emitter (TFOE) to stimulate cells, comprising: emitting laser pulses with a nanosecond laser and guiding the laser pulses with an optic fiber having a tip; and embedding CNT into a fibroin hydrogel to form an optoacoustic film, the fibroin hydrogel configured to stimulate neural growth in response to ultrasound.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the ultrasound comprises omnidirectional acoustic waves generated locally at the tip through the optoacoustic effect when excited by the laser pulses.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the omnidirectional acoustic waves are localized within a sub- 100 micron distance from the tip.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the omnidirectional acoustic waves are configured to activate single neurons.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein the omnidirectional acoustic waves allow for optoacoustic stimulation and simultaneous monitoring of cell response using whole cell patch clamp recording.
30. The method of claim 25, wherein converting the diffused light to generate ultrasound involves modifying acoustic damping and light absorption performance to further induce cell membrane sonoporation with frequency dependent efficiency.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein the frequency of the ultrasound is tuned to provide controllable frequencies in the range of 0.083 MHz-5.500 MHz.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the coating is a single layer nano-composite mixed from 5% to 15% (w/w) multiwall carbon nanotube in Polydimethylsiloxane.
33. The method of claim 25, wherein the tip is coated with a diffusion layer comprising epoxy and zinc oxide.
34. The method of claim 33, wherein the diffusion layer diffuses the laser pulses while restricting localized heating.
34. The method of claim 25, wherein the tip is coated with a thermal expansion layer comprising carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).
35. The method of claim 34, wherein the thermal expansion layer converts the diffused light to generate ultrasound such that the fibroin stimulates neural growth in the cells in response to the ultrasound.
35. The method of claim 25, wherein the fibroin hydrogel includes silk.
36. A tapered fiber optoacoustic emitter (TFOE), comprising: a nanosecond laser configured to emit laser pulses; and an optic fiber with a tip, the optic fiber configured to guide the laser pulses, the tip having a coating including a thermal expansion layer, wherein: the thermal expansion layer comprises carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) configured to convert the laser pulses to generate ultrasound, wherein embedding CNT into a fibroin hydrogel forms an optoacoustic film, the fibroin hydrogel configured to stimulate neural growth in response to ultrasound; and the frequency of the ultrasound is tuned with a thickness of the CNT concentration of the expansion layer.
37. The device of claim 36, wherein the tip further comprises a diffusion layer.
38. The device of claim 37, wherein the diffusion layer comprises epoxy and zinc oxide nanoparticles configured to diffuse the light while restricting localized heating.
39. The device of claim 38, wherein the frequency of the ultrasound is tuned with a thickness of the diffusion layer.
40. The device of claim 37, wherein the optoacoustic film is flat.
41. The device of claim 37, wherein the optoacoustic film is curved.
42. The device of claim 41, wherein the curved optoacoustic film generates a focused ultrasound for non-invasive modulation.
CLAIMS
1. A tapered fiber optoacoustic emitter (TFOE) comprising: a nanosecond laser configured to emit laser pulses; and an optic fiber with a tip, the optic fiber configured to guide the laser pulses, the tip having a coating including a diffusion layer and a thermal expansion layer, wherein: the diffusion layer comprises epoxy and zinc oxide nanoparticles configured to diffuse the light while restricting localized heating; the thermal expansion layer comprises carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) configured to convert the laser pulses to generate ultrasound; and the frequency of the ultrasound is tuned with a thickness of the diffusion layer and a CNT concentration of the expansion layer.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound comprises omnidirectional acoustic waves generated locally at the tip through the optoacoustic effect when excited by the laser pulses.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the omnidirectional acoustic waves are localized within a sub- 100 micron distance from the tip.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein the omnidirectional acoustic waves are configured to activate single neurons.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein the omnidirectional acoustic waves allow for optoacoustic stimulation and simultaneous monitoring of cell response using whole cell patch clamp recording.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises tuning the frequency to induce cell membrane sonoporation in effected cells.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein the frequency of the ultrasound is tuned to provide controllable frequencies in the range of 0.083 MHz-5.500 MHz.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein the coating is a single layer nano-composite mixed from 5% to 15% (w/w) multiwall carbon nanotube in Polydimethylsiloxane.
9. A method of operating a tapered fiber optoacoustic emitter (TFOE) comprising: emitting laser pulses with a nanosecond laser and guiding the laser pulses with an optic fiber having a tip, the tip coated with a diffusion layer comprising epoxy and zinc oxide and a thermal expansion layer comprising carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS); diffusing the laser pulses while restricting localized heating, with the diffusion layer; converting the diffused light to generate ultrasound, with the thermal expansion layer; and tuning a frequency of the ultrasound with a thickness of the diffusion layer and a
CNT concentration in the expansion layer.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the ultrasound comprises omnidirectional acoustic waves generated locally at the tip through the optoacoustic effect when excited by the laser pulses.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the omnidirectional acoustic waves are localized within a sub- 100 micron distance from the tip.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the omnidirectional acoustic waves are configured to activate single neurons.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the omnidirectional acoustic waves allows for optoacoustic stimulation and simultaneous monitoring of cell response using whole cell patch clamp recording.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises tuning the frequency to induce cell membrane sonoporation in effected cells.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the frequency of the ultrasound is tuned to provide controllable frequencies in the range of 0.083 MHz-5.500 MHz.
16. The method of claim 9, wherein the coating is a single layer nano-composite mixed from 5% to 15% (w/w) multiwall carbon nanotube in Polydimethylsiloxane.
17. A method of stimulating cells via an optoacoustic material comprising: providing the optoacoustic material, the optoacoustic material having optical absorbers and an expansion matrix configured to generate an ultrasound; embedding the optoacoustic material to a fibroin hydrogel to form an optoacoustic film, the fibroin hydrogel configured to stimulate neural growth in response to the ultrasound; and generating the ultrasound by emitting laser pulses to the optoacoustic film such that the fibroin stimulates neural growth in response to the ultrasound.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the ultrasound comprises omnidirectional acoustic waves generated locally at the tip through the optoacoustic effect when excited by the laser pulses.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the omnidirectional acoustic waves are localized within a sub- 100 micron distance from the tip.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the omnidirectional acoustic waves are configured to activate single neurons.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the omnidirectional acoustic waves allows for optoacoustic stimulation and simultaneous monitoring of cell response using whole cell patch clamp recording.
22. The method of claim 17, wherein generating the frequency of the ultrasound involves modifying acoustic damping and light absorption performance to further induce cell membrane sonoporation with frequency dependent efficiency.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the frequency of the ultrasound is tuned to provide controllable frequencies in the range of 0.083 MHz-5.500 MHz.
24. The method of claim 17, wherein the fibroin hydrogel includes silk.
25. A method of operating a tapered fiber optoacoustic emitter (TFOE) to stimulate cells, comprising: emitting laser pulses with a nanosecond laser and guiding the laser pulses with an optic fiber having a tip; and embedding CNT into a fibroin hydrogel to form an optoacoustic film, the fibroin hydrogel configured to stimulate neural growth in response to ultrasound.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the ultrasound comprises omnidirectional acoustic waves generated locally at the tip through the optoacoustic effect when excited by the laser pulses.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the omnidirectional acoustic waves are localized within a sub- 100 micron distance from the tip.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the omnidirectional acoustic waves are configured to activate single neurons.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein the omnidirectional acoustic waves allow for optoacoustic stimulation and simultaneous monitoring of cell response using whole cell patch clamp recording.
30. The method of claim 25, wherein converting the diffused light to generate ultrasound involves modifying acoustic damping and light absorption performance to further induce cell membrane sonoporation with frequency dependent efficiency.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein the frequency of the ultrasound is tuned to provide controllable frequencies in the range of 0.083 MHz-5.500 MHz.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the coating is a single layer nano-composite mixed from 5% to 15% (w/w) multiwall carbon nanotube in Polydimethylsiloxane.
33. The method of claim 25, wherein the tip is coated with a diffusion layer comprising epoxy and zinc oxide.
34. The method of claim 33, wherein the diffusion layer diffuses the laser pulses while restricting localized heating.
35. The method of claim 25, wherein the tip is coated with a thermal expansion layer comprising carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).
36. The method of claim 35, wherein the thermal expansion layer converts the diffused light to generate ultrasound such that the fibroin stimulates neural growth in the cells in response to the ultrasound.
37. The method of claim 25, wherein the fibroin hydrogel includes silk.
38. A tapered fiber optoacoustic emitter (TFOE), comprising: a nanosecond laser configured to emit laser pulses; and an optic fiber with a tip, the optic fiber configured to guide the laser pulses, the tip having a coating including a thermal expansion layer, wherein: the thermal expansion layer comprises carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) configured to convert the laser pulses to generate ultrasound, wherein embedding CNT into a fibroin hydrogel forms an optoacoustic film, the fibroin hydrogel configured to stimulate neural growth in response to ultrasound; and the frequency of the ultrasound is tuned with a thickness of the CNT concentration of the expansion layer.
39. The device of claim 38, wherein the tip further comprises a diffusion layer.
40. The device of claim 39, wherein the diffusion layer comprises epoxy and zinc oxide nanoparticles configured to diffuse the light while restricting localized heating.
41. The device of claim 40, wherein the frequency of the ultrasound is tuned with a thickness of the diffusion layer.
42. The device of claim 38, wherein the optoacoustic film is flat.
43. The device of claim 38, wherein the optoacoustic film is curved.
44. The device of claim 43, wherein the curved optoacoustic film generates a focused ultrasound for non-invasive modulation.