PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Cuff electrodes target various nerves throughout the body, providing neuromodulation therapies for motor, sensory, or autonomic disorders. However, when using standard, thick silicone cuffs, fabricated in discrete circular sizes, complications may arise, namely cuff displacement or nerve compression, due to a poor adaptability to variable nerve shapes and sizes encountered in vivo. Improvements in cuff design, materials, closing mechanism and surgical approach are necessary to overcome these issues.
METHODS: In this work, we propose a microfabricated multi-channel silicone-based soft cuff electrode with a novel easy-to-implant and size-adaptable design and evaluate a number of essential features such as nerve-cuff contact, nerve compression, cuff locking stability, long-term integration and stimulation selectivity. We also compared performance to that of standard fixed-size cuffs.
RESULTS: The belt-like cuff made of 150 μm thick silicone membranes provides a stable and pressure-free conformal contact, independently of nerve size variability, combined with a straightforward implantation procedure. The adaptable design and use of soft materials lead to limited scarring and demyelination after 6-week implantation. In addition, multi-contact designs, ranging from 6 to 16 electrodes, allow for selective stimulation in models of rat and pig sciatic nerve, achieving targeted activation of up to 5 hindlimb muscles.
CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a promising alternative to classic fixed-diameter cuffs and may facilitate the adoption of soft, adaptable cuffs in clinical settings.
METHODS: In this work, we propose a microfabricated multi-channel silicone-based soft cuff electrode with a novel easy-to-implant and size-adaptable design and evaluate a number of essential features such as nerve-cuff contact, nerve compression, cuff locking stability, long-term integration and stimulation selectivity. We also compared performance to that of standard fixed-size cuffs.
RESULTS: The belt-like cuff made of 150 μm thick silicone membranes provides a stable and pressure-free conformal contact, independently of nerve size variability, combined with a straightforward implantation procedure. The adaptable design and use of soft materials lead to limited scarring and demyelination after 6-week implantation. In addition, multi-contact designs, ranging from 6 to 16 electrodes, allow for selective stimulation in models of rat and pig sciatic nerve, achieving targeted activation of up to 5 hindlimb muscles.
CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a promising alternative to classic fixed-diameter cuffs and may facilitate the adoption of soft, adaptable cuffs in clinical settings.
摘要：
背景：袖带电极靶向全身的各种神经，为运动提供神经调节疗法，感官,或者自主神经紊乱.然而,使用标准时，厚硅胶袖口，以离散的圆形尺寸制造，可能会出现并发症，即袖口移位或神经压迫，由于对体内遇到的可变神经形状和大小的适应性差。袖口设计的改进，材料,关闭机制和手术方法是必要的，以克服这些问题。
方法：在这项工作中，我们提出了一种微制造的多通道基于硅胶的软袖带电极，具有新颖的易于植入和尺寸适应性设计，并评估了许多基本特征，如神经袖带接触，神经压迫,袖带锁定稳定性，长期整合和刺激选择性。我们还将性能与标准固定尺寸袖口进行了比较。
结果：由150μm厚的硅胶膜制成的带状袖口提供了稳定且无压力的保形接触，与神经大小变异性无关，结合一个简单的植入程序。柔性材料的适应性设计和使用导致6周植入后有限的疤痕和脱髓鞘。此外,多触点设计，范围从6到16个电极，允许在大鼠和猪坐骨神经模型中进行选择性刺激，实现多达5个后肢肌肉的有针对性的激活。
结论：这些结果表明了经典固定直径袖口的有希望的替代品，并且可能有助于采用柔软，临床环境中的适应性袖口。
方法：在这项工作中，我们提出了一种微制造的多通道基于硅胶的软袖带电极，具有新颖的易于植入和尺寸适应性设计，并评估了许多基本特征，如神经袖带接触，神经压迫,袖带锁定稳定性，长期整合和刺激选择性。我们还将性能与标准固定尺寸袖口进行了比较。
结果：由150μm厚的硅胶膜制成的带状袖口提供了稳定且无压力的保形接触，与神经大小变异性无关，结合一个简单的植入程序。柔性材料的适应性设计和使用导致6周植入后有限的疤痕和脱髓鞘。此外,多触点设计，范围从6到16个电极，允许在大鼠和猪坐骨神经模型中进行选择性刺激，实现多达5个后肢肌肉的有针对性的激活。
结论：这些结果表明了经典固定直径袖口的有希望的替代品，并且可能有助于采用柔软，临床环境中的适应性袖口。
