Abstract
The aim of this study was experimentally to investigate whether it is possible to reduce the charge per phase that is applied during selective large fibre block. Sacral roots in pigs were stimulated. Sacral roots contain large somatic nerve fibres and small parasympathetic nerve fibres. Large nerve fibres that innervate the external urethral and external anal sphincters were selectively blocked using a technique of anodal block. In that way, selective activation of the detrusor muscle and the rectum innervated by parasympathetic fibres could be obtained. The square stimulation pulse was replaced with three different pulse shapes that had the same duration as the square pulse and consisted of a depolarising prepulse and a blocking part of the pulse. Compared with the square pulse, the charge per phase needed for anodal block could be reduced with all three pulse shapes. Maximum reduction of the charge per pulse was 17±6%. A lower charge might make anodal block safer in long-term applications.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andersen, I. S., Rijkhoff, N. J. M., Vučković, A., Buntzen, S., andDjurhuus, J. C. (2002): ‘Recto-anal motility responses in the Goettingen minipig by selective stimulation of the ventral sacral nerve root (abstr.)’. 7th. Ann. Conf. IFESS, June 25–29, Ljubljana, Slovenia, pp. 271–273
Bhadra, N., Grunewald, V., Creasey, G., andMortimer, J. T. (2002): ‘Selective suppression of sphincter activation during sacral anterior nerve root stimulation’,Neurol. Urodyn.,21, pp. 55–64
Brindley, G. S., andCraggs, M. D. (1980): ‘A technique for anodally blocking large nerve fibres through chronically implanted electrodes’,J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry,43, pp. 1083–1090
Coggeshall, R. E. (1980): ‘Law of separation of functions of the spinal roots’,Physiol. Rev.,60, pp. 716–755
Goodall, E. V., Kosterman, L. M., Holsheimer, J., andStruijk, J. J. (1995): ‘Modeling study of activation and propagation delays during stimulation pf peripheral nerve fibers with a tripolar cuff electrode’,IEEE Trans. Rehab. Eng.,3, pp. 272–281
Grill, W. M., andMortimer, J. T. (1995): ‘Stimulus waveforms for selective neural stimulation’,IEEE Eng. Med. Biol.,July/August, pp. 375–385
Grill, W. M., andMortimer, J. T. (1997): ‘Inversion of the currentdistance relationship by transient depolarization’,IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng.,44, pp. 1–9
Grill, W. M., andMortimer, J. T. (2000): ‘Neural and connective tissue response to long-term implantation of multiple contact nerve cuff electrodes’,J. Biomed. Mater. Res.,50, pp. 215–226
Haugland, M. (1996): ‘A flexible method for fabrication of nerve cuff electrodes (abstr.)’. 18th Ann. Conf. IEEE-EBMS, October-November, Amsterdam, Netherland,1, pp. 359–360
Loeb, G. E., andPeck, R. A. (1996): ‘Cuff electrodes for chronic stimulation and recording of peripheral nerve activity’,J. Neurosci. Methods,64, pp. 95–103
McCreery, D. B., andAgnew, W. F. (1990): ‘Mechanisms of stimulation-induced neural damage and their relation to guidelines for: safe stimulation’in Agnew, W. F., andMcCreery, D. B. (Eds): ‘Neural prosthesis: fundamental studies’ (Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1990), pp. 298–317
McCreery, D. B., Agnew, W. F., Yuen, T. G., andBullara, L. (1990): ‘Charge density and charge per phase as cofactors in neural injury induced by electrical stimulation’,IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng.,37, pp. 996–1001
McCreery, D. B., Agnew, W. F., Yuen, T. G., andBullara, L. A. (1992): ‘Damage in peripheral nerve from continuous electrical stimulation: comparison of two stimulus waveforms’,Med. Biol. Eng. Comput.,30, pp. 109–114
Panizza, M., Nilsson, J., Roth, B. J., Grill, S. E., Demirci, M., andHallet, M. (1998): ‘Differences between the time constant of sensory and motor peripheral nerve fibers: further studies and conclusions’,Muscle&Nerve,21, pp. 48–54
Rukhoff, N. J. M., Koldewijn, E. L., Van Kerrebroeck, E. V., Debruyne, F. M., andWijkstra, H. (1994a): ‘Acute animal studies on the use of an anodal block to reduce urethral resistance in sacral root stimulation’,IEEE Trans. Rehab. Eng.,2, pp. 92–99
Rijkhoff, N. J. M., Holsheimer, J., Koldewijn, E. L., Struijk, J. J., Van Kerrebroeck P. E. V., Debruyne, F. M., andWijkstra, H. (1994b): ‘Selective stimulation of sacral nerve roots for bladder control; A study by computer modeling’,IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng.,41, pp. 413–424
Rijkhoff, N. J. M., Wijkstra, H., Van Kerrebroeck, P. E., andDebruyne, F. M. (1998): ‘Selective detrusor activation by sacral ventral nerve-root stimulation: results of intraoperative testing in humans during implantation of a Finetech-Brindley system’,World J. Urol.,16, pp. 337–341
Robblee, R. S., andRose, T. L. (1990): ‘Electrochemical guidelines for selection of protocols and electrode materials for neural stimulation’in Agnew, W. F., andMcCreery, D. B. (Eds). ‘Neural prosthesis: fundamental studies’ (Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1990), pp. 25–66
Vučković, A., Rijkhoff, N. J. M., andStruijk, J. S. (2004): ‘Different pulse shapes to obtain small fiber selective activation by anodal blocking-a simulation study’,IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng.,51. pp. 698–706
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vučković, A., Rijkhoff, N.J.M. Different pulse shapes for selective large fibre block in sacral nerve roots using a technique of anodal block: An experimental study. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 42, 817–824 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02345216
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02345216