Abstract
Nerve block can eliminate spasms and chronic pain. Kilohertz frequency alternating current (KHFAC) produces a safe and reversible nerve block. However, KHFAC-induced nerve block is associated with an undesirable onset response. Optical inhibition using infrared (IR) laser light can produce nerve block without an onset response, but heats nerves. Combining KHFAC with IR inhibition [alternating current and infrared (ACIR)] produces a rapidly reversible nerve block without an onset response. ACIR can be used to rapidly and reversibly provide onset-free nerve block in the unmyelinated nerves of the marine mollusk Aplysia californica and may have significant advantages over either modality alone. ACIR may be of great clinical utility in the future.
Highlights
Patients affected with neurological disorders are prone to chronic pain[1] or spasmodic muscle contractions.[2]
The onset response was present in the distal recording, the compound action potential (CAP) was blocked by the laser [Fig. 3(c)]
Complete and reversible block without an onset response was obtained with ACIR
Summary
Patients affected with neurological disorders are prone to chronic pain[1] or spasmodic muscle contractions.[2] Drugs or surgery can block undesirable neural activity;[3,4] drugs have a slow time course and may have undesirable side effects, and surgery is usually irreversible. An ideal block would be fast and reversible over extended periods. A promising new technology is kilohertz high-frequency alternating current (KHFAC), which reversibly blocks action potentials while still preserving nerve viability.[5,6] KHFAC is Increasing neural temperature can induce action potential block.[8] Modeling studies suggest that the block is due to altered ion channel kinetics.[9] Studies show that infrared (IR) laser block is fast, reversible, and has high spatial resolution in rat myelinated nerves and in Aplysia unmyelinated nerves.[10,11]
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