Using the Implantable Electrical Stimulator for Peripheral Nerve Rehabilitation： A Study in an Animal Model

• Published in: Shanghai jiao tong da xue xue bao Vol. 14; no. 5; pp. 635 - 640
• Main Author: 芮碧宇 曾炳芳 王金武 郭尚春 陈欣
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Shanghai Jiaotong University Press 01.10.2009
• Subjects: Architecture; Computer Science; Electrical Engineering; Engineering; Life Sciences; Materials Science; 动物模型; 周围神经损伤; 坐骨神经; 新西兰兔; 神经传导速度; 起搏器; electrical stimulation; R 683; peripheral nerve injury; animal model; implantable stimulator
• ISSN: 1007-1172; 1995-8188
• DOI: 10.1007/s12204-009-0635-9

The present study presents a peripheral nerve injury animal model for evaluation of an implantable electrical stimulator we designed. The evaluation was confirmed by ethological, electrophysiological and histologic study. Twenty New Zealand rabbits were used. The left sciatic nerve was crushed with a micro-vessel clamp in all rabbits, and the stimulators were implanted in ten rabbits. The other ten rabbits were in a control group. As compared with the implantation group, 3 and 6 weeks after operation, the histology showed the typical pathologic atrophy by hematoxylin-eosin （HE）, the motor nerve conduction velocity （MCV） was found significantly slowed and the axon of crushed nerve at distal portion exhibited breakdown in the control group. These results reveal that the implantable electrical stimulator was effective and was suitable for implantation in an animal model.