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Abiri A, Chau S, James NR, Goshtasbi K, Birkenbeuel JL, Sahyouni R, Edwards R, Djalilian HR, Lin HW. Selective Neural Electrical Stimulation of an Injured Facial Nerve Using Chronically Implanted Dual Cuff Electrodes. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12111457. [PMID: 36358383 PMCID: PMC9688741 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12111457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Facial nerve (FN) injury can lead to debilitating and permanent facial paresis/paralysis (FP), where facial muscles progressively lose tone, atrophy, and ultimately reduce to scar tissue. Despite considerable efforts in the recent decades, therapies for FP still possess high failure rates and provide inadequate recovery of muscle function. In this pilot study, we used a feline model to demonstrate the potential for chronically implanted multichannel dual-cuff electrodes (MCE) to selectively stimulate injured facial nerves at low current intensities to avoid stimulus-induced neural injury. Selective facial muscle activation was achieved over six months after FN injury and MCE implantation in two domestic shorthaired cats (Felis catus). Through utilization of bipolar stimulation, specific muscles were activated at significantly lower electrical currents than was achievable with single channel stimulation. Moreover, interval increases in subthreshold current intensities using bipolar stimulation enabled a graded EMG voltage response while maintaining muscle selectivity. Histological examination of neural tissue at implant sites showed no appreciable signs of stimulation-induced nerve injury. Thus, by selectively activating facial musculature six months following initial FN injury and MCE implantation, we demonstrated the potential for our neural stimulator system to be safely and effectively applied to the chronic setting, with implications for FP treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arash Abiri
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA 92868, USA
| | - Steven Chau
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA 92868, USA
| | - Nathan R. James
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA 92868, USA
| | - Khodayar Goshtasbi
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA 92868, USA
| | - Jack L. Birkenbeuel
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA 92868, USA
| | - Ronald Sahyouni
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA 92868, USA
| | - Robert Edwards
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Hamid R. Djalilian
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA 92868, USA
| | - Harrison W. Lin
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA 92868, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(714)-456-5753; Fax: +1-(714)-456-5747
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