A phantom axon setup for validating models of action potential recordings.

Electrode designs and strategies for electroneurogram recordings are often tested first by computer simulations and then by animal models, but they are rarely implanted for long-term evaluation in humans. The models show that the amplitude of the potential at the surface of an axon is higher in front of the nodes of Ranvier than at the internodes; however, this has not been investigated through in vivo measurements. An original experimental method is presented to emulate a single fiber action potential in an infinite conductive volume, allowing the potential of an axon to be recorded at both the nodes of Ranvier and the internodes, for a wide range of electrode-to-fiber radial distances.

Sensitivity of a frequency-selective electrode based on spatial spectral properties of the extracellular AP of myelinated nerve fibers.

In the context of functional electrical stimulation, neural recording is one of the main issues. For instance, the control of the limbs in people with motor deficiencies needs information about the muscle lengths and speeds that can be extracted from electroneurograms (ENG) carried on afferent peripheral nerves. The aim of this study is to propose an non-invasive and spatial-selective electrode (because specific informations are carried into different fascicles).

Fascicle-selective multi-contact cuff electrode.

Neural recording is one of the main issues to be addressed in order to allow closed-loop functional electrical stimulation systems. Because each fascicle in nerves carry specific information, new sensors providing high spatial selectivity are required for chronic implantable devices. This work aims at evaluating the feasibility of a new device using a highly spatial-selective multi-contact cuff electrode.

Dependability: a challenge for electrical medical implants.

Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) is an attractive solution to restore some lost or failing physiological functions. Obviously, the FES system may be hazardous for patient and the reliability and dependability of the system must be maximal. Unfortunately, the present context, where the associated systems are more and more complex and their development needs very cross-disciplinary experts, is not favorable to safety.

New electrode layout for internal selectivity of nerves.

A nerve is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of peripheral axons. Each axon or set of axons carries neural afferent or efferent information. Many applications need to detect or record these specific nervous data inside the nerve but it is a big challenge.