Translational Neural Engineering Lab, Center for Neuroprosthetics, Interfaculty Institute of Bioengineering (IBI), Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng. 2012 May;20(3):395-404. doi: 10.1109/TNSRE.2012.2189021. Epub 2012 Apr 3.
Recently a hybrid model based on the finite element method and on a compartmental biophysical representation of peripheral nerve fibers and intraneural electrodes was developed founded on experimental physiological and histological data. The model appeared to be robust when dealing with uncertainties in parameter selection. However, an experimental validation of the findings provided by the model is required to fully characterize the potential of this approach. The recruitment properties of selective nerve stimulation using transverse intrafascicular multichannel electrodes (TIME) were investigated in this work in experiments with rats and were compared to model predictions. Animal experiments were performed using the same stimulation protocol as in the computer simulations in order to rigorously validate the model predictions and understand its limitations. Two different selectivity indexes were used, and new indexes for measuring electrode performance are proposed. The model predictions are in decent agreement with experimental results both in terms of recruitment curves and selectivity values. Results show that these models can be used for extensive studies targeting electrode shape design, active sites shape, and multipolar stimulation paradigms. From a neurophysiological point of view, the topographic organization of the rat sciatic nerve, on which the model was based, has been confirmed.
最近，基于有限元方法和周围神经纤维及神经内电极的房室生物物理表示的混合模型，基于实验生理和组织学数据得到了发展。当处理参数选择中的不确定性时，该模型似乎很稳健。然而，需要对模型提供的结果进行实验验证，以充分表征这种方法的潜力。本工作使用大鼠进行实验，研究了使用横向纤维内多通道电极（TIME）进行选择性神经刺激的募集特性，并将实验结果与模型预测进行了比较。为了严格验证模型预测并了解其局限性，动物实验采用了与计算机模拟中相同的刺激方案。模型预测在募集曲线和选择性值方面与实验结果相当吻合。结果表明，这些模型可用于广泛研究电极形状设计、活动部位形状和多极刺激模式。从神经生理学的角度来看，该模型所基于的大鼠坐骨神经的拓扑组织已得到证实。
