Safe Direct Current Stimulator (SDCS) technology for blocking chronic peripheral pain

项目摘要 该项目的中心目标是促进离子药物的治疗应用和潜力。 直流电与神经系统相互作用。直流电(DC)与两相平衡电荷的比较 神经假体通常用来连接神经系统的脉冲可以更自然地控制神经 活动。与用于兴奋神经元的两相电流脉冲不同，DC可以兴奋、抑制和调节灵敏度 神经细胞的。虽然DC可以在短时间内与神经系统相互作用，但长期使用这种药物 由于DC的固有特性，用于植入性假体应用的刺激范例是不可能的 违反金属电极界面处的电荷注入安全约束。新技术，安全直接 电流刺激(SDC)克服了这些限制，并开辟了另一条研究途径 使用DC连接神经系统的令人兴奋的可能性。 我们将优化使用离子DC，以提高慢性疼痛抑制的性能。慢性 疼痛抑制需要抑制携带疼痛的神经元传导动作电位。我们获得了 麻醉大鼠模型的初步数据显示，安全的DC神经阻滞在坐骨神经可以 抑制疼痛信号传播到脊髓，但允许感觉和肌肉的正常传播 有动静。 在这里，我们建议通过以下方式来理解疼痛信号安全直流调制背后的机制 麻醉小鼠和大鼠实验。我们将进行行为实验，以了解 这项技术对解决清醒动物慢性疼痛的有效性。我们还将进行组织学研究 研究以调查该疗法的生物学影响。最后，我们将通过以下方式推进SDCS技术 利用小型化和可植入的SDCS识别和解决关键技术挑战。 目的1.研究IDC抑制伤害性疼痛的机制。 目的2.研究IDC对神经病理性疼痛信号的影响及其机制。 目的3.行为实验研究IDC对神经病理性疼痛的抑制作用。 目的4.植入型SDCS技术开发。

Project Summary The central goal of this project is to advance the therapeutic applications and the potential for using ionic direct current to interact with the nervous system. Direct current (DC) compared to biphasic charge balanced pulses normally used by neural prostheses to interface to the nervous system, can more naturally control neural activity. Unlike biphasic current pulses used to excite neurons, DC can excite, inhibit, and modulate sensitivity of neurons. While DC can be used for short durations to interact with the nervous system, chronic use of this stimulation paradigm for implantable prosthetic applications has not been possible due to the DC’s inherent violation of the charge injection safety constraints at the metal electrode interfaces. New technology, safe direct current stimulation (SDCS) overcomes these constraints and opens an additional avenue for research into exciting possibilities of using DC to interface to the nervous system. We will optimize the use of ionic DC to improve the performance of chronic pain suppression. Chronic pain suppression requires inhibiting pain carrying neurons from conducting action potentials. We obtained preliminary data in an anesthetized rat model showing that safe DC neural block at the sciatic nerve could suppress pain signals from propagating to the spinal cord, but allow normal propagation of sensation and muscle movement. Here we propose to understand the mechanism behind safe DC modulation of pain signals through anesthetized mouse and rat experiments. We will conduct the behavioral experiments to understand the effectiveness of this technology for addressing chronic pain in an awake animal. We will also conduct histological studies to investigate the biological impact of the therapy. Finally, we will advance the SDCS technology by identifying and solving the key technical challenges with a miniaturized and implantable SDCS. Aim 1. Examine the mechanism of the iDC effect on suppression of nociceptive pain. Aim 2. Examine the effects and underlying mechanisms of iDC on neuropathic pain signals. Aim 3. Behavioral experiments to study iDC for inhibition of neuropathic pain. Aim 4. Implantable SDCS technology development.