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Updated: Jun 12, 2025

In Vivo Intracellular Recording of Type-Identified Rat Spinal Motoneurons During Trans-Spinal Direct Current Stimulation
Published on: May 11, 2020
Block of motor nerve conduction via transcutaneous application of direct current
Gustaf M Van Acker1,2, Tina L Vrabec3,2, Narendra Bhadra3,2
1MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute of Ohio, The MetroHealth System & Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA.
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.
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