Abstract
We are developing a new type of bipolar recording electrode intended for implantation within individual fascicles of mammalian peripheral nerves. In the experiments reported here we used electrodes fabricated from 25 μm diameter Pt wire, 50 μm 90% Pt-10% Ir wire and 7 μm carbon fibers. The electrodes were implanted in the sciatic nerves of rats and in the ulnar nerves of cats. The signal-to-noise ratio of recorded activity induced by nonnoxious mechanical stimulation of the skin and joints was studied as a function of the type of electrode material used, the amount of insulation removed from the recording zone, and the longitudinal separation of the recording zones of bipolar electrode pairs. Both acute and short term (two day) chronic experiments were performed.
The results indicate that a bipolar electrode made from Teflon™-insulated, 25 μm diameter, 90% Pt-10% Ir wire, having a 1–2 mm long recording zone, can be used for recording of peripheral nerve activity when implanted with one wire inside the fascicle and the other lead level with the first lead, but outside the fascicle. No insulating cuff needs to be placed around the nerve trunk.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Clark, J.; Plonsey, R. The extracellular potential field of the single active nerve fiber in a volume conductor. Biophys. J. 8:842–864; 1968.
Clark, J.; Plonsey, R. A mathematical evaluation of the core conductor model. Biophys. J. 6:95–112; 1966.
de Boer, R.W.; van Oosterom, A. Electrical properties of platinum electrodes: impedance measurements and time-domain analysis. Med. & Biol. Eng. & Comput. 16:1–10; 1978.
Fitzhugh, R.. Computation of impulse initiation and saltatory conduction in a myelinated nerve fiber. Biophys. J. 2:11–21; 1962.
Hambrecht, F.T. Neural prostheses. Ann. Rev. Biophys. Bioeng. 8:239–267; 1979.
Hambrecht, F.T. Clinical application of neural prosthetic techniques. Appl. Neurophysiol. 45:10–17; 1982.
Holle, J.; Frey, M.; Gruber, H.; Stoehr, H.; Toma, H. Functional electrical stimulation of paraplegics. Experimental investigations and first clinical experience with an implantable stimulation device. Orthopedics 7:1146–1155; 1984.
Janssens, J.; VanTrappen, G.; Hellemans, J. A new technique for recording of single unit activity in small peripheral nerves. Brain Res. 166:397–430; 1979.
Kao, C.C.; Wrathall, J.R.; Kyoshima, K. Rationales and goals of spinal cord reconstruction. In: Spinal Cord Reconstruction, Kao, C.C.; Bunge, R.P.; Reier, P. J., eds. New York: Raven Press; 1983; pp. 1–6.
Kralj, A.; Bajd, T.; Turk, R.; Krajnik, J.; Benko, H. Gait restoration in paraplegic patients: a feasibility demonstration using multichannel surface electrode FES. J. Rehab. Res. Dev. 20:3–20; 1983.
Loeb, G.E.; Bak, M.J.; Salkman, M.; Schmidt, E.M. Parylene as a chronically stable, reproducible microelectrode insulator. IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng. 24:121–128; 1977.
Lubinska, L. Patterns of Wallerian degeneration of myelinated fibres in short and long peripheral stumps and in isolated segments of rat phrenic nerve. Interpretation of the role of axoplasmic flow of the trophic factor. Brain Res. 233:227–240; 1982.
Marks, W.B.; Loeb, G.E. Action currents, internodal potentials, and extracellular records of myelinated mammalian nerve fibers derived from node potentials. Biophys. J. 16:655–668; 1976.
Marsolais, E.B. Stages in the development of useful FNS-augmented walking. RESNA Proc. 9th Annl. Conf. Rehab. Techn. 9:279–281; 1986.
Pattle, R.E. The external action potential of a nerve or muscle fiber in an extended medium. Physics Med. Biol. 16:673–685; 1971.
Peckham, P.H.; Mortimer, J.T.; Marsolais, E.B. Controlled prehension and release in the C5 quadriplegic elicited by functional electrical stimulation of the paralyzed forearm musculature. Ann. Biomed. Eng. 8:369–388; 1980.
Stein, R.B.; Charles, D.; Davis, L.; Jhamandas, J.; Mannard, A.; Nichols, T.R. Principles underlying new methods for chronic neural recording. Canad. J. Neurol. Sci. 2:235–244; 1975.
Stoehr, H.M.; Bochdansky, T.; Frey, M.; Holle, J.; Kern, H.; Schwanda, G.; Thoma, H. Functional electrostimulation makes paraplegic patients walk again. In: 1st Vienna International Workshop on Functional Electrostimulation. Vienna, Austria: Bioengineering Lab. Van Swieten-Gasse, Austria, 1983; p. 5.4.
Sunderland, S. Nerves and nerve injuries. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins; 1968.
Tasaki, I. A new measurement of action currents developed by single nodes of Ranvier. J. Neurophysiol. 27:1199–1206; 1964.
Weinman, J.; Mahler, J. An analysis of electrical properties of metal electrodes. Med. Electron. & Biol. Eng. 2:299–310; 1964.
Yonezawa, Y.; Ninomiya, I.; Nishiura, N. A printed implantable electrode for recording neural signals in awake animals. IEEE/Ninth Ann. Conf. Eng. Med. Biol. Soc. Ch2513:485–487; 1987.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Malagodi, M.S., Horch, K.W. & Schoenberg, A.A. An intrafascicular electrode for recording of action potentials in peripheral nerves. Ann Biomed Eng 17, 397–410 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02368058
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02368058