Assessing Thresholds for Nerve Activation and Action Potential Block Using a Multielectrode Array to Minimize External Stimulation

Devices based on electrical stimulation are in common use for a variety of therapeutic bio-applications, including, but not limited to, neuro-prosthetics, pain management or even in situ local anesthetic modalities. Many require the use of multielectrode systems to selectively activate a group of nerves. In this context, a modeling study is carried out to probe some of the details of nerve activation resulting from multielectrode excitation. In particular, aspects such as threshold stimulus currents, their variation with the number of electrodes used, dependence on nerve radii, and the possibility of blocking an action potential (AP) have been quantitatively analyzed. The injection currents needed to initiate an AP are shown to decrease as the number of stimulating electrodes increases. It is also demonstrated that blocking AP propagation in a nerve segment could be achieved more efficiently at lower magnitudes of the interruption signal if more electrodes in an electrical excitation array were to be used. This result is important and would have practical relevance since the lower intensity external signals indicate a safer and more reliable approach to both AP launches and possible AP blockages.