Electronic enhancement of tear secretion.

Objective: To study electrical stimulation of the lacrimal gland and afferent nerves for enhanced tear secretion, as a potential treatment for dry eye disease. We investigate the response pathways and electrical parameters to safely maximize tear secretion.

Approach: We evaluated the tear response to electrical stimulation of the lacrimal gland and afferent nerves in isofluorane-anesthetized rabbits.

Strength-duration relationship for extracellular neural stimulation: numerical and analytical models.

The strength-duration relationship for extracellular stimulation is often assumed to be similar to the classical intracellular stimulation model, with a slope asymptotically approaching 1/τ at pulse durations shorter than chronaxy. We modeled extracellular neural stimulation numerically and analytically for several cell shapes and types of active membrane properties. The strength-duration relationship was found to differ significantly from classical intracellular models.