Title :
Neurobiological Assessment of Regenerative Electrodes for Bidirectional Interfacing Injured Peripheral Nerves
Author :
Lago, Natalia ; Udina, Esther ; Ramachandran, Anup ; Navarro, Xavier
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Cell Biol., Autonomous Univ. of Barcelona, Bellaterra
fDate :
6/1/2007 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Regenerative electrodes are designed to interface regenerated axons from a sectioned peripheral nerve. Applicability of regenerative electrodes depends on biocompatibility, success of axonal regeneration, secondary nerve damage, and adequacy of interface electronics. Polyimide sieve electrodes with 281 holes were chronically implanted in the severed sciatic nerve of 30 rats. Regeneration was successful in all the animals, with increasing numbers of regenerated myelinated fibers from 2 to 6 mo. However, constrictive axonopathy affected a few cases from 6 to 12 mo. postimplantation. A second electrode design with 571 holes and 27 ring electrodes was developed. The number of regenerated axons increased thanks to the larger open area. Recordings were obtained from a low proportion of electrodes on the sieve in response to distal stimulation. Difficulties for recording impulses with regenerative electrodes include the small size of regenerated axons, changes in membrane excitability and in target reconnection
Keywords :
bioelectric phenomena; biomedical electrodes; biomembranes; neurophysiology; prosthetics; axonal regeneration; axons; bidirectional interfacing; chronic implantation; constrictive axonopathy; injured peripheral nerves; interface electronics; membrane excitability; myelinated fibers; neurobiological assessment; polyimide sieve electrodes; regenerative electrodes; secondary nerve damage; target reconnection; Biological cells; Biomedical electrodes; Control systems; Immune system; Nerve fibers; Nervous system; Neural prosthesis; Neurofeedback; Physiology; Polyimides; Neuroprosthesis; peripheral nerve; polyimide; regeneration; sieve electrode; Animals; Electrodes, Implanted; Equipment Design; Equipment Failure Analysis; Guided Tissue Regeneration; Microelectrodes; Nerve Regeneration; Nylons; Rats; Sciatic Neuropathy; Treatment Outcome;
Journal_Title :
Biomedical Engineering, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TBME.2007.891168