A neuromuscular platform to extract electrophysiological signals from lesioned nerves: a technical note

The volitional control of prosthetic devices could be greatly enhanced if the information formerly supplied by peripheral nerves to the amputated limb could be utilized. So that practical access to this information could be gained, a method was established to form a stable biological interface with fascicles of lesioned nerves. A small strip of an intact muscle was isolated in rats with the use of a silicone tube cuff electrode and innervated by the lesioned peroneal branch of the sciatic nerve. After 4 weeks survival, stimulation of the nerve fascicle produced reliable signals from the neuromuscular platform in the range of 0.5 to 2.0 mV. Histologically, myotubes remained intact and axons could be identified growing in and over the surfaces of the isolated muscle strips. These or similar interface techniques may supply electrophysiological signals of sufficient amplitude and reliability to provide peripheral nerve-based guidance information for prosthetic devices.