Implantable optical stimulators

1. A method for stimulating target neurons expressing light-responsive proteins in a living mammal in vivo, the method comprising:

genetically modifying one or more neurons in the mammal to express a light-responsive ion channel or a light-responsive ion pump, such that the genetically modified one or more neurons are responsive to light, wherein the genetically modified one or more neurons are target neurons;

introducing into the brain of the mammal an elongated light-delivery structure having a distal end, a proximal end, and a plurality of separately-activatable light-delivery elements electrically connected in parallel at a site near the target neurons of the mammal, the elongated light-delivery structure comprising an array conformed to an outer surface around a circumference of the distal end, wherein each light-delivery element extends from the proximal end to the array and separately terminates at an aperture at a specific array location, wherein groups of separately-activatable light-delivery elements are affixed to each other to form a ring;

activating a plurality of the light-delivery elements to deliver light to the light-responsive ion channel or ion pump, thereby stimulating the target neurons, wherein the light-delivery elements are individually controlled by a multichannel driver;

detecting a measure of performance of the animal using a sensor;

storing the measure of performance of the animal in a computer; and

determining a neuromodulation parameter for the multichannel driver based on the measure of performance of the animal, wherein the neuromodulation parameter is a direction of the light emitted from the array of light-delivery elements,

wherein the method further comprises:

generating sets of candidate neuromodulation parameters, wherein the sets of candidate neuromodulation parameters comprise control information for the plurality of light-delivery elements;

activating the plurality of light-delivery elements according to one or more of the sets of candidate neuromodulation parameters;

detecting neuromodulation effects from the activation of the plurality of light-deliver elements;

correlating the one or more sets of candidate neuromodulation parameters with the detected neuromodulation effects; and

selecting one of the sets of candidate neuromodulation parameters as a treatment regimen for the mammal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises securing a portion of the elongated light-delivery structure to a skull of the mammal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of activating a plurality of the light-delivery elements includes sending light pulses having a duration of less than about one-second to the plurality of light-delivery elements.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the array completely encircles the elongated light-delivery structure.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the elongated-light-delivery structure comprises a light controller, and wherein the method further comprises controlling light delivery from the elongated light-delivery structure via the light controller.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the method further comprises delivering light concurrently to opposing sides of the elongated light-delivery structure and thereby stimulating target neurons on opposing sides of the elongated light-delivery structure.

7. A method for stimulating cells in a living animal in vivo, the method comprising:

identifying target cells genetically altered to express at least one of channelrhodopsin-2 and halorhodopsin, the target cells being responsive to light;

inserting an elongated light-delivery structure into the animal at a location adjacent to the target cells, wherein the elongated light-delivery structure comprises a distal end, a proximal end, a plurality of separately-activatable light-delivery elements electrically connected in parallel, and an array conformed to an outer surface around a circumference of the distal end, wherein each light-delivery element extends from the proximal end to the array and separately terminates at an aperture at a specific array location, wherein groups of separately-activatable light-delivery elements are affixed to each other to form a ring, and wherein the light-delivery elements are individually controlled by a multichannel driver;

while the elongated light-delivery structure is in the animal, delivering light from at least one of the plurality of light-delivery elements to at least one of the channelrhodopsin-2 and halorhodopsin in the selected target cells, thereby stimulating the selected target cells, and

detecting a measure of performance of the animal using a sensor;

storing the measure of performance of the animal in a computer; and

determining a neuromodulation parameter for the multichannel driver based on the measure of performance of the animal, wherein the neuromodulation parameter is a direction of the light emitted from the array of light-delivery elements,

wherein the method further comprises:

generating sets of candidate neuromodulation parameters, wherein the sets of candidate neuromodulation parameters comprise control information for the plurality of light-delivery elements;

activating the plurality of light-delivery elements according to one or more of the sets of candidate neuromodulation parameters;

detecting neuromodulation effects from the activation of the plurality of light-delivery elements;

correlating the one or more sets of candidate neuromodulation parameters with the detected neuromodulation effects; and

selecting one of the sets of candidate neuromodulation parameters as a treatment regimen for the animal.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the elongated light-delivery structure includes a light controller, and wherein the method further comprises controlling light delivery from the plurality of light-delivery elements with the light controller.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light-delivery elements each include a different light generating element, and wherein each light generating element is responsive to a control circuit.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein each of the light-delivery elements comprises a fiber optic cable.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the light-activated ion channel is channelrhodopsin-2.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the light-activated ion channel is halorhodopsin.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the neuromodulation parameter further comprises one or more of a location of the light-delivery element, an intensity of the light from the light-delivery element, and a wavelength of the light from the light-delivery element.