Case Western Reserve University

Brian Wodlinger

Dominique M Durand

Methods of treating pain are disclosed, wherein a non-pulsed, low-frequency electrical current is applied to the nerve carrying the pain signals in order to suppress transmission of those signals. In desired embodiments, the current is applied in a direction transverse to the nerve axis. Such currents have been found not to induce motor-neuron recruitment, meaning these methods can treat pain without causing muscle spasm or other muscular responses. A cuff for applying such a current transverse to the nerve axis is also disclosed.

Method to treat pain through electrical stimulation of nerves

A method and an electrode for monitoring electrical activity in a nerve are provided along with a method of fabricating such an electrode. The electrode includes a cuff formed from a chronically-implantable material that, when implanted, extends at least partially around an external periphery of the nerve. A plurality of contacts are supported by the cuff to be arranged adjacent to different regions of the nerve distributed along a transverse direction of the nerve when the cuff is implanted. A multiplexer is coupled to the cuff to be implanted for receiving electrical signals introduced to the contacts by the nerve and multiplexing, in vivo, the electrical signals to be transmitted to an external receiver over a shared communication channel.

High-contact density electrode and fabrication technique for an implantable cuff design

Systems and methods are provided for controlling an entity in response to activity in a peripheral nerve comprising a plurality of fascicles. A multicontact electrode assembly is configured to record activity from the peripheral nerve. A processing component includes a sensor mapping component configured to quantify activity associated with a proper subset of the plurality of fascicles, an evaluation component configured to determine an adjustment of the status of the controlled entity from the quantified activity of the proper subset of the plurality of fascicles, and a controller configured to provide a control signal, representing the adjustment of the status of the controlled entity, to the controlled entity.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Brian Wodlinger