Surface electrical stimulation to evoke referred sensation

Abstract

Abstract-Surface electrical stimulation (SES) is being investigated as a noninvasive method to evoke natural sensations distal to electrode location. This may improve treatment for phantom limb pain as well as provide an alternative method to deliver sensory feedback. The median and/or ulnar nerves of 35 subjects were stimulated at the elbow using surface electrodes. Strength-duration curves of hand sensation were found for each subject. All subjects experienced sensation in their hand, which was mostly described as a paresthesia-like sensation. The rheobase and chronaxie values were found to be lower for the median nerve than the ulnar nerve, with no significant difference between sexes. Repeated sessions with the same subject resulted in sufficient variability to suggest that recalculating the strength-duration curve for each electrode placement is necessary. Most of the recruitment curves in this study were generated with 28 to 36 data points. To quickly reproduce these curves with limited increase in error, we recommend 10 data points. Future studies will focus on obtaining different sensations using SES with the strength-duration curve defining the threshold of the effective parameter space.

Natural Sensations Evoked in Distal Extremities Using Surface Electrical Stimulation

“…The experimental setup was similar to what has been described previously [ 18 ]. After giving consent, subjects were instructed to wash the area where the electrodes would be applied with soap and water and were seated in an upright chair.…”

“…This was continued with a decreasing step size until the step size was below either 0.25V or 30µs depending on the parameter being varied. Based on the results of prior studies, efficient calculation of the strength duration curve can be performed using two trials of five threshold values [ 18 ]. PEST was used to determine the sensory threshold at two constant pulse durations and three constant pulse amplitudes using 0.5s pulse trains repeating every 1.5s.…”

“…PEST was used to determine the sensory threshold at two constant pulse durations and three constant pulse amplitudes using 0.5s pulse trains repeating every 1.5s. Two trials to determine threshold were performed in a random order under each of these five conditions and these sensory thresholds were used to calculate the strength-duration curve, the rheobase voltage and the chronaxie time as described by other [ 18 , 30 ]. Briefly, the product of pulse amplitude (V th ) and duration (t) was plotted against pulse duration (t).…”

“…For example, stimulation of the median nerve at the elbow produces muscle activation and/or sensation in the hand. Sensations obtained using SES in this way are often described as tingling or prickling (paresthesia) [ 18 ]. In individuals with amputated limbs, paresthesia can be evoked in the missing limb while stimulating on the skin of the residual limb and this technique is being investigated as a treatment for phantom limb pain [ 19 - 21 ].…”

A 3D Computational Model of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Estimating Aβ Tactile Nerve Fiber Excitability

“…With a flat interface nerve electrode, the common nerve trunk can be selectively recruited (Tyler and Durand, 2002). Recently, the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) was applied to accomplish tactile sensation for the amputee (Chai et al, 2015) and healthy subjects (Forst et al, 2015). Due to the non-invasiveness, the TENS could be promising in wide clinical applications to elicit tactile feedback.…”