Localized electrical nerve blocking

This study was motivated by the requirement for safe and effective nerve blocking techniques for future neural prostheses. The response of nerve to sinusoidal blocking currents was examined using Hodgkin Huxley (HH) and Schwartz-Eikhof (SE) nerve models. The latter was used to simulate human nerve responses. Localized nerve blocking was clearly demonstrated at some frequencies. Preliminary results are given for blocking at 5 and 20 kHz for fiber diameters 10-100 μm (HH) and 3-15 μm (SE). The minimal current required for blocking is increased with frequency. The blocking effect is fiber diameter selective with minimum blocking current approximately inversely proportional to logarithm of fiber diameter. However, at 2 kHz undesirable and desynchronized, low frequency action potentials were induced