Abstract
The beneficial effects of chronic DC electrical stimulation upon peripheral nervous system (PNS) regeneration of injured nerve has been adequately confirmed, yet few attempts have been made to quantify the relevant stimulus parameter. The localized electric field strength and current densities produced by the injection of electrical current through inhomogenous structures in the region of the nerve are the acknowledged parameter of interest. However, because of the difficulties inherent in measuring these values, researchers have previously chosen to characterize stimulus in terms of raw current supplied to nerve injuries. Attempts to quantify field strength or current densities in vivo were based on assumptions which idealize the conductive media as being isotropic. The actual field strength or current density induced by the applied current is seldom directly measured in-vivo. This research seeks to evaluate the design of an implantable DC stimulator capable of delivering a constant, stable and measurable electrical stimulus across a defined region of nerve, and for the purpose of measuring the bulk tissue resistivity and electrical field strength in the defined region in a chronic regime. From this information, current density within the region can be measured and controlled, providing a stimulation parameter which can be correlated to nerve regeneration. Such a probe will prove very useful in ongoing research which evaluates the effects of applied electrical fields upon nerve regeneration.
Macha, Douglas Bryan (1995). Development and evaluation of an implantable chronic DC stimulation and measurement probe for nerve regeneration studies. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -1995 -THESIS -M3345.