Abstract
Decoding information from the peripheral nervous system via implantable neural interfaces remains a significant challenge, considerably limiting the advancement of neuromodulation and neuroprosthetic devices. The velocity selective recording (VSR) technique has been proposed to improve the classification of neural traffic by combining temporal and spatial information through a multi-electrode cuff (MEC). Therefore, this study investigates the feasibility of using the VSR technique to characterise fibre type based on the electrically evoked compound action potentials (eCAP) propagating along the ulnar nerve of pigs in vivo. A range of electrical stimulation parameters (amplitudes of 50 μA–10 mA and pulse durations of 100 μs, 500 μs, 1000 μs, and 5000 μs) was applied on a cutaneous and a motor branch of the ulnar nerve in nine Danish landrace pigs. Recordings were made with a 14 ring MEC and a delay-and-add algorithm was used to convert the eCAPs into the velocity domain. The results revealed two fibre populations propagating along the cutaneous branch of the ulnar nerve, with mean velocities of 55 m/s and 21 m/s, while only one dominant fibre population was found for the motor branch, with a mean velocity of 63 m/s. Because of its simplicity to provide information on the fibre selectivity and direction of propagation of nerve fibres, VSR can be implemented to advance the performance of the bidirectional control of neural prostheses and bioelectronic medicine applications.
Highlights
Published: 23 December 2021The idea of using electrical stimulation to modulate activity within the peripheral nervous system (PNS) dates to Luigi Galvani (1737–1798)
The first observable evoked compound action potentials (eCAP) had a mean amplitude of 51.4 μVpp when the nerve was stimulated with a stimulus amplitude of 350 μA and a pulse-width of 100 μs, resulting in an signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)(Vpp /Vpp ) of 5.8 dB
This study reports the first application of the velocity selective recording technique to analyse electrically evoked neural signals from the ulnar nerve of multiple pigs in vivo
Summary
Published: 23 December 2021The idea of using electrical stimulation to modulate activity within the peripheral nervous system (PNS) dates to Luigi Galvani (1737–1798). Individual fibres can be further characterised by their diameters (related to the conduction velocity and fibre excitability), direction of propagation (i.e., afferent or efferent), and degree of myelination [6]. Such characterisations are directly related to function, meaning that different groups of fibres are responsible for conveying specific information to the central nervous system and controlling, for instance, skeletal or cardiac muscles [7]. Because of practical challenges (such as the low signal amplitude and interference from extraneural sources), decoding the peripheral neural information remains a significant challenge, considerably limiting the clinical usability of peripheral neural interfaces [8,9]
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