Biomimetic Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Promotes the Rat Hindlimb Motion Modulation in Stepping: An Experimental Analysis

Cyborg Bionic Syst, 2024 · DOI: 10.34133/cbsystems.0131 · Published: July 4, 2024

Neurology Neurorehabilitation Biomedical

Simple Explanation

This study explores a method to improve lower limb movement in patients with movement disorders using electrical nerve stimulation. The approach involves stimulating different branches of the sciatic nerve to control muscles and regulate lower limb movements during stepping and standing. A map connecting muscles and nerve segments was created to selectively activate nerve fibers using a biomimetic stimulation waveform. The relationship between stimulation intensity and joint control was also characterized. The method was tested on anesthetized rats, confirming that single-cathode extraneural electrical stimulation can activate combined movements, effectively promoting lower limb movement and offering a potential treatment for motor dysfunction.

Study Duration

2 weeks training, 2 weeks rest

Participants

Six female Sprague–Dawley rats (age, 4 to 8 weeks)

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Single-cathode extraneural electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve can activate combined movements to promote lower limb movements in rats.
2
A map of relationships between muscles and nerve segments was established to artificially activate specific nerve fibers with the biomimetic stimulation waveform.
3
Characteristic curves depicting the relationship between neural electrical stimulation intensity and joint control were established.

Research Summary

The study introduces a sciatic nerve stimulation method to aid in lower extremity standing and stepping, using multichannel extrafascicular electrodes to establish the relationship between the stimulation site and the muscle. Using joint motion data and evoked EMG signals, the study established a sigmoid function relationship between the stimulation intensity and muscle activity. The results revealed that sciatic nerve electrical stimulation can effectively regulate calf–ankle movements, as well as standing and stepping movements during the swing/stance phase in anesthetized rats.

Practical Implications

Rehabilitative Treatment

The method offers a new experimental protocol for the rehabilitative treatment of patients with lower extremity dysfunctions.

Accurate Regulation

The method enables the accurate and effective regulation of lower limb motor muscles.

Trajectory Control

The characteristic sigmoid function relationship between stimulation intensity and joint changes allowing reverse engineering for predefined trajectory control under specified joint movement conditions.

Study Limitations

1
Sciatic nerve electrical stimulation has limited control over the hip joint, requiring combination with neural stimulation from other areas for perfect lower limb movement control.
2
Single-cathode nerve electrical stimulation offers good advantages in regulating compound movements but exhibits average performance in precise control of single joints.
3
Parameter optimization based on sciatic nerve regulation is complex, suggesting the need for an optimization algorithm to facilitate safety exploration.

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