Effects on heart rate from direct current block of the stimulated rat vagus nerve.

Although electrical vagus nerve stimulation has been shown to augment parasympathetic control of the heart, the effects of electrical conduction block have been less rigorously characterized. Previous experiments have demonstrated that direct current (DC) nerve block can be applied safely and effectively in the autonomic system, but additional information about the system dynamics need to be characterized to successfully deploy DC nerve block to clinical practice.The dynamics of the heart rate (HR) from DC nerve block of the vagus nerve were measured by stimulating the vagus nerve to lower the HR, and then applying DC block to restore normal rate.

Effects of waveform shape and electrode material on KiloHertz frequency alternating current block of mammalian peripheral nerve.

Objectives: KiloHertz frequency alternating current waveforms produce conduction block in peripheral nerves. It is not clearly known how the waveform shape affects block outcomes, and if waveform effects are frequency dependent. We determined the effects of waveform shape using two types of electrodes.

Fuzzy Logic Control of Heartrate by Electrical Block of Vagus Nerve.

Although vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) can be used to reduce heartrate by enhancing parasympathetic activity, a fully controllable intervention would also require a method for downregulating parasympathetic activity. A direct current (DC) block can be applied to a nerve to block its action potential conduction. This nerve block can be used to downregulate parasympathetic activity by blocking afferent reflexes.