Fascicular selectivity in transverse stimulation with a nerve cuff electrode: a theoretical approach

The performance of cathode-anode configurations in a cuff electrode to stimulate a single fascicle in a nerve trunk has been investigated theoretically. A three-dimensional volume conductor model of a nerve trunk with four fascicles in a cuff electrode and a model of myelinated nerve fiber stimulation were used to calculate the recruitment of 15 m fibers in each fascicle. The effect of a monopole, a transverse bipole (anode opposite the cathode), and a narrow transverse tripole (guarded cathode) in selectively stimulating 15 m fibers in each fascicle has been quantified and presented as recruitment curves. It is predicted that selective fascicle stimulation is advanced most by stimulation with a bipole in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the nerve trunk. Monopoles and conventional longitudinal tripoles perform less well, as does a longitudinal tripole with an additional "steering" anode. Apart from transverse bipolar stimulation an additional anode may be used to maximally fit the area of excitation to the topography of the fascicle to be recruited. As compared to monopolar and longitudinal tripolar stimulation, the slope of the recruitment curves in transverse bipolar stimulation is reduced considerably, thus allowing improved fine tuning of nerve (and thus force) recruitment. Another advantage of this method is a minimal number of cable connections to the cuff electrode. The cost of the improved selectivity is an increased stimulation current.