(46) Novel Interferential Stimulation Paradigm Controls Spatio-Temporal Pattern of Fiber Activation in Porcine Vagus

Friday, June 13, 2025

5:10 PM - 5:50 PM ET

Location: Sky View

Presenting Author(s)

VM

Vojkan Mihajlović, PhD

Principal Member of Technical Staff
IMEC
Eindhoven, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands

Co-Author(s)

NR

Nicolò Rossetti, MSc

IMEC
Eindhoven, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
PS

Philipp Schnepel, PhD

IMEC
Eindhoven, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
WS

Weiguo Song, MSc

Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and Northwell Health
New York, New York, United States
JW

Jason Wong, MSc

Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and Northwell Health
New York, New York, United States
ME

Mohamed Elgohary, MSc

Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and Northwell Health
New York, New York, United States
KQ

Khaled Qanud, MD

Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research
Manhasset, New York, United States
TD

Timir Datta-Chaudhuri, PhD

Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and Northwell Health
New York, New York, United States
Stavros Zanos, MD, PhD

Associate Professor
Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, and Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
Manhasset, New York, United States

Introduction: Traditional (continuous) interferential current stimulation (iCS) is a method that delivers stimulation through two or more sinusoidal current sources driven at high ‘carrier’ frequencies (few to tens of kHz) that slightly differ, creating a lower-frequency ‘beat’ (tens to hundreds of Hz). As a result, an amplitude modulated electric field at the ‘beat’ frequency is generated in the neural tissue, whose amplitude modulation depth and magnitude depends on the electrode positions and relative spatial location.

Methods: Here we explored activation patterns of fibers in the Vagus nerve of swine, exposed to a novel high-frequency (>10kHz) iCS stimulation method consisting of short bursts of iCS ( < 1ms), similar to typical biphasic stimulation pulse delivery methods. By changing the starting phase of the two carrier frequencies delivered through two pairs of electrodes positioned along the cervical Vagus, we were able to change the timing of fiber activation across the nerve. Furthermore, by changing the relative amplitude of the carriers, the spatio-temporal pattern of the electric field rendered in the nerve was changed, resulting in differential fiber activation across the Vagus and differential effects on physiological readouts such as muscle activation and breathing rate.

Results: The observed patterns of activation are confirmed by computer model simulations performed on an anatomically realistic representation of a porcine Vagus on which the same stimulation patterns were applied using modeled cuff electrodes and biophysical properties of the neural tissue. Although predominantly fibers close to stimulating electrodes were activated (similar to using traditional pulsed-based stimulation), the number of activated fibers (of different types) and their timing of activation was controlled in a more precise manner by using the novel iCS method compared to continuous iCS.

Conclusion: The application of this novel interferential stimulation method is enabled by our recent development of a dedicated ASIC that supports multi-channel, high-voltage-compliant stimulation and charge balancing [1]. The improved spatiotemporal control of fiber activation in peripheral nerves achieved through an implant incorporating this ASIC would facilitate the development of new stimulation patterns that enhance efficacy of neuromodulation treatments.