Restoration of breathing after opioid overdose and spinal cord injury using temporal interference stimulation

COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY, 2021 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-020-01604-x · Published: January 1, 2021

Spinal Cord Injury Pulmonology Neurology

Simple Explanation

The study explores a new method, temporal interference (TI) stimulation, to restore breathing in cases of opioid overdose and spinal cord injury. TI stimulation uses two slightly offset high frequency waveforms to activate neurons. In rats experiencing opioid-induced respiratory arrest, TI stimulation via neck wires immediately restored diaphragm function and ventilation. Following spinal cord injury, TI stimulation via epidural electrodes activated the diaphragm, with computer modeling helping to predict the response based on signal location in the spinal cord.

Study Duration

10 Months

Participants

47 Sprague Dawley rats

Evidence Level

Level II; Animal study

Key Findings

1
Intramuscular TI stimulation in the neck region of rats effectively activated the diaphragm and restored ventilation following opioid overdose.
2
Epidural TI stimulation, delivered via electrodes placed on the dorsal surface of the spinal cord, was able to activate the paralyzed diaphragm after cervical spinal cord injury.
3
Computational modeling accurately predicted the effects of current steering during epidural TI stimulation, indicating that the electric fields can be manipulated to target specific regions of the spinal cord.

Research Summary

This study demonstrates that temporal interference (TI) stimulation can restore breathing in rats following opioid overdose and spinal cord injury. TI stimulation, using minimally invasive electrodes, activates spinal motor neurons, leading to diaphragm contraction and restored ventilation. The ability to steer electric fields within the spinal cord, as shown through in vivo and in silico data, offers a potential advantage over traditional square wave epidural stimulation.

Practical Implications

Rapid Breathing Restoration

TI stimulation offers a potentially rapid and easily implementable method for restoring breathing in emergency situations, such as opioid overdose.

Targeted Spinal Stimulation

TI stimulation provides a novel approach to targeted activation of spinal motor neurons, offering a new avenue for treating respiratory insufficiency following spinal cord injury.

Neurological Disorder Treatment

The ability to target neuronal populations at a distance from the electrodes opens possibilities for revolutionizing treatments for a range of neurological disorders.

Study Limitations

1
The study was conducted on rats, and further research is needed to determine the efficacy and safety of TI stimulation in humans.
2
The computational model used in the study was simplified and may not fully capture the complexity of the spinal cord.
3
Off-target muscle activation (e.g., biceps) was observed, which may need to be mitigated through refinements in electrode configuration and location.

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