Block of motor nerve conduction via transcutaneous application of direct current. Issue 2 (25th May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Van Acker, Gustaf M; Vrabec, Tina L; Bhadra, Narendra; Chae, John; Kilgore, Kevin L; Bhadra, Niloy
• Is Part Of: Bioelectronics in medicine. Volume 1: Issue 2:(2018:May)
• Page Start: 107
• Page End: 116
• Publication Date: 2018-05-25
• Subjects: direct current -- electrical nerve block -- neuromodulation -- non-invasive -- peripheral nerve -- transcutaneous -- spasticity; Bioelectronics; Medicine; Periodicals; Medical electronics; 610.284
• DOI: 10.2217/bem-2017-0011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2059-1500

Abstract

Aims: Nerve conduction block using implanted electrodes is being used increasingly for clinical applications. Alternatively, non-invasive electrical nerve block would be beneficial for applications including pain block and muscle spasticity. Here we developed a novel means of non-invasive electrical nerve conduction blockade – transcutaneous direct current block (tDCB) – that produces direct block of nerve conduction.Materials & Methods: In an in vivo rodent model, tDCB produced stable neuromotor blockade of sciatic nerve branches, dependent on stimulus parameters and electrode geometry.Results: Partial-to-complete neuromotor block was achieved in all subjects using tDCB amplitudes at or below 20 mA, and complete block was achieved at amplitudes as low as 6 mA.Conclusions: Our results reveal that neuromotor activity can be rapidly, reliably and reversibly blocked using tDCB.