Electrical Stimulation of Paralyzed Orbicularis Oculi

描述（由申请方提供）：眼轮匝肌麻痹导致随意和反射运动期间眼睑闭合不全。由于眼睑闭合是角膜润滑的手段，因此， 合上眼睑的能力可导致角膜损伤和永久性视力障碍。目前确保眼睛闭合的方法包括将金砝码附着在眼睑上，人工泪液和眼睑缝合术（使眼睛闭合）。所有这些方法都有助于保存角膜，但通常不是完全有效的，不方便，并且可能限制视力。 多年来，功能性电刺激已被证明对激活肌肉和神经有效。 其他研究表明，电刺激眼轮匝肌可以在有限的时间内恢复动物模型闭眼的能力。然而，以前在这方面的研究是最小的，并没有调查的眼轮匝肌的电反应特性非常详细。此外，任何已发布帐户的最长持续刺激期限为30天。为了证明刺激装置的安全性和有效性，有必要增加植入和刺激的时间长度。此外，还应研究与瘫痪时间长短有关的有效性。 指导这项研究的假设是，在第七神经麻痹的动物模型中，功能性电刺激可以有效地恢复眼轮匝肌的功能长达六个月。为了研究这一假设，将进行实验以确定刺激电极位置和刺激波形对肌肉反应的影响以及麻痹长度对肌肉反应的影响。这些初步实验的结果将导致慢性刺激电极的设计和实施。刺激器将长期植入并激活6个月。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Paralysis of the orbicularis oculi muscle results in incomplete eyelid closure during both voluntary and reflex movement. Since eyelid closure is the means by which the cornea is lubricated, functional deficits in the ability to close the eyelid can lead to damage to the cornea and permanent vision impairment. Current methods for ensuring eye closure include gold weights attached to the eyelid, artificial tears, and tarsorrhaphy (suturing the eye closed). All these methods aid in the preservation of the cornea, but often are not fully effective, are inconvenient, and can limit vision. Functional electrical stimulation has been proven effective for activating muscle and nerve over many years. Other studies have demonstrated that electrical stimulation of the orbicularis muscle can restore the ability to close the eye in animal models for a limited period of time. However, the previous research in this area is minimal and has not investigated the electrical response characteristics of the orbicularis muscle in great detail. Also, the longest term of continuous stimulation of any published account is 30 days. To prove safety and effectiveness of a stimulating device, it will be necessary to increase the length of time of implantation and stimulation. In addition, the effectiveness as related to the length of paralysis should be studied. The hypothesis guiding this research is that functional electrical stimulation can effectively restore the function of the orbicularis oculi muscle for up to six months in animal models of seventh nerve paralysis. To investigate this hypothesis, experiments will be conducted to determine the effects of stimulating electrode position and stimulus waveform on the muscle response and the effects of length of paralysis on the muscle response. The results of these initial experiments will lead to the design and implementation of a chronic stimulating electrode. The stimulator will be chronically implanted and activated for six months.