IMPLANTABLE DEVICE FOR THE REPAIR OF THE INJURED NERVES

拟议研究的最终目标是评估 电神经引导(GNG)装置，作为修复的辅助设备 受损的人类周围神经系统(PNS)。这样的一个 该装置有可能被用来治疗广泛的 PNS。由该实验室和其他实验室进行的研究，类似的设备 经证实在促进横断性骨折的修复方面有效 大鼠坐骨神经再吻合。该装置在中国的可行性 促进严重受损的神经功能的恢复 这会导致神经意志的物理间断(或“缝隙”) 将在目前的实验中进行探索。在试点研究中， 在接受治疗的大鼠中收集行为和形态数据 在横断性损伤后四周使用GNG装置 在坐骨神经的物理缝隙中表明 行为功能恢复率，以及 远端节段轴突再生的速度。它是 因此，更严格地测试这种治疗方法在 损伤模型。作为第一步，可能会促进恢复 损伤的大鼠坐骨神经的功能将在 用坐骨神经功能指数(SFI)评估几个疗程 自发行走行为的测量。另外， 与这种行为决定相关的因素包括“脚-- “轻拍”反应和电生理测量 复合动作电位、神经传导速度和抽动 紧张。形态测量分析也将作为 函数数据的附加协方差。长期安全和 GNG装置在SBIR后期阶段的功效研究将起到作用 作为未来临床研究的先决条件。这项技术已经 PNS和PNS创伤治疗的巨大潜力 可能是中枢神经系统，但它的临床接受性因此 商业上的成功仍然取决于基本的科学数据。

The final objective of the proposed research is the assessment of a galvanic nerve guide (GNG) device as an adjunct to the repair of the damaged human peripheral nervous system (PNS). Such a device could potentially be used to treat extensive injuries of the PNS. Studies by this and other laboratories, similar devices have proven efficacious in facilitating repair of the transected and reanastomosed rat sciatic nerve. The feasibility of the device in facilitating recovery of function in a severely damaged nerve such that results in a physical discontinuity (or "gap") in the nerve will be explored in the present experiments. In pilot studies, behavioral and morphological data collected in rats treated for four weeks with a GNG device after transection lesions resulting in a physical gap in the sciatic nerve suggested an increase in the rate of recovery of behavioral function, as well as an increase in the rate of regeneration of axons in the distal segment. It is therefore important to more rigorously test such treatment in this injury model. As a first step, a possible facilitated recovery of function of the damaged rat sciatic nerve will be determined over several treatment periods using the Sciatic Functional Index (SFI) measurement of spontaneous walking behavior. Additionally, correlates to this behavioral determination will include "foot- flick" responses, and electrophysiological measurements of compound action potentials, nerve conduction velocity and twitch tension. Morphometric analyses will also be performed as an additional corrolary to the functional data. Long-term safety and efficacy studies of the GNG device in later SBIR phases will serve as a prerequisite for future clinical studies. This technology has great potential for the treatment of trauma in the PNS and possibly the CNS, yet its clinical acceptance and therefore commercial success still depends upon basic scientific data.