Effects of Varying Pulse Width and Frequency of Wireless Stimulation in Rat Sciatic Nerve

This study investigates how changing the frequency and pulse width of electrical stimulation affects movement in rat hindlimbs using a wireless device implanted in the sciatic nerve. The researchers looked at the current needed to cause movement when using different frequencies and pulse widths, and how the type of movement changed. They found that while changing the frequency altered the type of muscle contraction (from twitches to sustained contractions), the current needed to stimulate the nerve remained relatively constant. Increasing the pulse width decreased the current needed, but increased the overall charge delivered.

• 1
  Changing the frequency of stimulation between 1 and 50 Hz did not significantly alter the minimum current required to elicit movement in the rat hindlimb.
• 2
  Increasing the pulse width of stimulation from 57.2 to 400.4 μs decreased the minimum current required to elicit movement.
• 3
  Higher frequency stimulation (30 to 50 Hz) elicited a tonic muscle contraction that was maintained from the start of the applied stimulus until stimulation was stopped.