Neural Stimulation Hardware for the Selective Intrafascicular Modulation of the Vagus Nerve.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neuroscience
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) shows therapeutic potential for various conditions, including inflammatory diseases, obesity, diabetes, heart failure, and hypertension.
• Achieving selective VNS is challenging due to the nerve's complexity, necessitating precise modulation to avoid off-target effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a highly selective neural stimulation system for the vagus nerve.
• To create an intraneural electrode and adapt a neurostimulator for precise vagus nerve modulation.

Main Methods:

• A novel polyimide thin-film intraneural electrode was designed for vagus nerve stimulation.
• A neurostimulator was adapted, modulating parameters like amplitude, pulse width, and pulse shape.
• In vivo experiments in adult minipigs assessed electrically evoked action potentials (ECAPs) and physiological responses.

Main Results:

• The system demonstrated spatially selective modulation of the porcine vagus nerve.
• Electrically evoked action potentials from alpha and beta fibers were distinguished using single- and multi-channel stimulation.
• The system successfully modulated heart rate, diastolic pressure, and systolic pressure.

Conclusions:

• The developed intraneural electrode and neurostimulator enable precise and selective vagus nerve activation.
• This technology holds promise for restoring cardiac function and treating various diseases through targeted VNS.
• The presented methods can be adapted for developing intraneural electrodes for diverse neural modulation applications.