Characterization of the high frequency alternating current block in the rat sciatic nerve using cuff electrodes and macro-sieve electrodes
Tripolar cuff electrodes were designed, fabricated and non-chronically implanted in the sciatic nerve of two-month-old Lewis rats. A proximal constant current stimulus to the nerve was blocked by applying a high frequency sinusoidal signal to the distally placed tripolar cuff electrode. The frequency voltage characteristic of the blocking signal was obtained. Complete block was not achieved using variants of the tripolar cuff design and bipolar cuff electrodes. Single and dual macro-sieve electrode assemblies were designed, fabricated and chronically implanted in the sciatic nerve of Lewis rats. After a four-month period for regeneration four different electrode configurations were tested to enable a high frequency block. A complete and quickly reversible block was obtained using both the macro-sieve electrodes for the HFAC block – proximal macro-sieve as anode and distal macro-sieve as cathode. Finite element modelling and axon modelling was done to determine the optimal parameters for effecting a high frequency block in the nerve.
macro-sieve electrode, cuff electrode, modelling, HFAC, block, Bioelectrical and Neuroengineering, Engineering
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