Peripheral Nerve Interface, Intraneural Electrode

Definition

Peripheral nerve intraneural electrodes are characterized as having the active recording or stimulation contact located within the epineurium sheath of a peripheral nerve. The most common intraneural electrodes have active contacts within the smaller nerve-fiber bundles of the fascicle.

Detailed Description

Peripheral nerve intraneural electrodes were originally developed to improve the selectivity and signal-to-noise ratio of neural recordings using microneurography techniques. This allowed researchers to acquire single-unit afferent action potentials by using needle electrodes placed within the endoneurium of individual nerve fibers. The most common intraneural electrodes have active contacts that are placed inside the perineurium of the smaller fascicle nerve bundles; thus, these electrodes are referred to as intrafascicular electrodes. The electrode technology has since been improved and expanded to multi-site recording and stimulating electrodes. Stimulation via...