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Cited by 222Neuroscience and Neural EngineeringMuscle activation and electromyography studiesVagus Nerve Stimulation Research

Selective activation of small motor axons by quasitrapezoidal current pulses

Fang, Z.-P., Mortimer, J.T.·1991·IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering
DOI 10.1109/10.76383
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Abstract

We have found a method to activate electrically smaller nerve fibers without activating larger fibers in the same nerve trunk. The method takes advantage of the fact that action potentials are blocked with less membrane hyperpolarization in larger fibers than in smaller fibers. In our nerve stimulation system, quasitrapezoidal-shaped current pulses were delivered through a tripolar cuff electrode to effect differential block by membrane hyperpolarization. The quasitrapezoidal-shaped pulses with a square leading edge, a 350 microsecond(s) plateau, and an exponential trailing phase ensured the block of propagating action potentials and prevented the occurrence of anodal break excitation. The tripolar cuff electrode design restricted current flow inside the cuff and thus eliminated the undesired nerve stimulation due to a "virtual cathode." Experiments were performed on 13 cats. The cuff electrode was placed on the medial gastrocnemius nerve. Both compound and single fiber action potentials were recorded from L7 ventral root filaments. The results demonstrated that larger alpha motor axons could be blocked at lower current levels than smaller alpha motor axons, and that all alpha fibers could be blocked at lower current levels than gamma fibers. A statistical analysis indicated that the blocking threshold was correlated with the axonal conduction velocity or fiber diameter. This method could be used in physiological experiments and neural prostheses to achieve a small-to-large recruitment order in motor or sensory systems.

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  • A quasi-trapezoidal pulse can be used to recruit smaller axons before larger ones.

    “while a quasi-trapezoidal pulse have been employed for recruitment of smaller axons before larger ones (Fang and Mortimer, 1991).”

    From Selectivity and Longevity of Peripheral-Nerve and Machine Interfaces: A Review. (2017) · cites this paper as Fang and Mortimer, 1991

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Related

Authors
Fang, Z.-P., & Mortimer, J. T.
Affiliations
Case Western Reserve University (US)
ORCID
Mortimer, J.T.
Venue
IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering
Publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Published
1991
Volume
38
Issue
2
Pages
168-174
ISSN
0018-9294 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1109/10.76383
OpenAlex
W2140541732
Cited by
222
References
17
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 3 · 2012: 8
FWCI
1.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplorehelp/downloads/license-information/IEEE.html (vor)
Locations
  • IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (N01-NS-42362)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Muscle activation and electromyography studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Vagus Nerve Stimulation Research
Keywords
membrane hyperpolarization, action potential block, virtual cathode, axonal conduction velocity, fiber diameter, neural prostheses, gastrocnemius nerve, single fiber action potential
MeSH terms
Action Potentials, Animals, Axons, Cats, Electric Stimulation, Electrodes, Equipment Design, Recruitment, Neurophysiological, Sciatic Nerve

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