Enhanced electrode design for peripheral nerve recording

Electrical recording of peripheral nerve activity using a nerve cuff electrode is a potential long-term solution for implementing a closed-loop controlled neuroprosthetic system. However, the clinical utility of this approach is significantly limited by various factors, such as poor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the recorded electroneurogram (ENG). In this paper, we investigated the effects of (1) modifying the electrode contact dimensions and (2) implementing an external shielding layer on the ENG recorded by a nerve cuff electrode. Our preliminary findings from both computer simulations and animal experiments suggest that significant improvements in peripheral nerve recordings can be achieved.