Abstract
This paper presents a compound nerve action potential (CNAP) monitoring system of a peripheral nerve which is composed of a sieve-shape flexible microelectrode array (MEA), a polyglycolic acid (PGA) conduit and a bio-potential amplifier. The system observes a regenerated peripheral nerve by measuring its CNAP. An MEA is fabricated through micromachining technology, and its interfacial impedance (420 kΩ/μm2) and signal transfer characteristics were analyzed. The fabricated MEA was assembled with the PGA conduit, and then the assembly had been implanted into a sciatic nerve of a rat. After 12 week-implantation periods, regenerated state of the damaged sciatic nerve was investigated by gait analysis and CNAP measurement. From the gait analysis, sciatic function index (SFI) was calculated to be -48.5 ± 15.0. According to the CNAP measurement, threshold potential was 250 μV in contrast to 110 μV for a normal nerve. After the functional tests, regenerated nerves were harvested and their morphologies were examined through toluidine blue (TB), Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) images. According to the morphology study, it was confirmed that proximal and distal nerve stump showed similar morphology and axon number.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 58-65 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical |
| Volume | 139 |
| Issue number | 1-2 SPEC. ISS. |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2007 Sept 12 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This work is supported in part by MIC & IITA through IT Leading R&D Support Project (Project No. 2005-S-093-02).
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Instrumentation
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Surfaces, Coatings and Films
- Metals and Alloys
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering