Selective stimulation of peripheral nerve fibers using dual intrafascicular electrodes.

We have studied activation of nerve fibers by pairs of Pt-Ir wire electrodes implanted within single fascicles of the nerve innervating the gastrocnemius muscle in cats. The purpose of this study was to determine if these intrafascicular electrodes can activate nerve fibers in different fascicles independently of each other and if they can also be used to activate separate subsets of axonal populations within a single fascicle. The average overlap of activated nerve fiber populations was 5.5% between fascicles and 27% within a fascicle, indicating that such selective activation is possible with these electrodes.