Abstract
BackgroundNeuromodulation via electrical stimulation (ES) is a common technique to treat numerous brain and spinal cord related neurological conditions. In the present study, we examined the efficacy of piezoelectric stimulation (pES) by a custom miniature piezostimulator to activate the spinal cord neurocircuit in comparison with conventional epidural ES in rats.MethodsStimulation electrodes were implanted on L2 and S1 spinal cord and were connected to a head-plug for ES, and a piezostimulator for pES. EMG electrodes were implanted into hindlimb muscles. To generate piezoelectric current, an ultrasound beam was delivered by an external ultrasound probe. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded during the piezoelectric stimulation and compared with the signals generated by the ES.ResultsOur results suggest that ultrasound intensity as low as 0.1 mW/cm2 could induce MEPs in the hindlimbs. No significant difference was found either in MEPs or in muscle recruitments for ES and pES. Similar to ES, pES induced by 22.5 mW/cm2 ultrasound restored locomotion in paralyzed rats with complete thoracic cord injury. Locomotion EMG signals indicated that pES works same as ES.ConclusionWe propose piezoelectric stimulation as a new avenue of neuromodulation with features overtaking conventional electrical stimulation to serve future bioelectronic medicine.83StwwHHYaD7oZ4SVru6w9Video abstract.
Highlights
Neuromodulation via electrical stimulation (ES) is a common technique to treat numerous brain and spinal cord related neurological conditions
All the ultrasound intensities were found much lower than the FDA safety limits (ISPTA < 720 mW/cm2, either The special-peak pulse-average intensity (ISPPA) < 190 W/cm2 or Mechanical Index (MI) < 1.9, Food and Drug Administration 2019)
The harvested maximum piezoelectric voltages were all larger than 4 V for all the weeks tested (Fig. 2b), and were found sufficient for spinal cord stimulation
Summary
Neuromodulation via electrical stimulation (ES) is a common technique to treat numerous brain and spinal cord related neurological conditions. According to the latest report, worldwide, every 1 out of 6 people is currently living with a neurological condition (Feigin et al 2020). About 0.5 million people are becoming paralyzed each year due to spinal cord injury (SCI) (World Health Organization 2013). ES to the spinal cord is a very effective way to activate such circuits which restores locomotion and even voluntary control over the paralyzed leg muscles in SCI patients (Willyard 2019)
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