METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STIMULATING ACTIVITY IN THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

摘要

A method and apparatus for stimulating activity in the peripheral nervous system comprises a nerve cuff (20) having a pair of segmented stimulation electrodes (36, 38). In order to stimulate a fascicle (22) within the cuff, a voltage is applied to opposing electrode segments, one segment being on the first electrode and the other on the second. This is then repeated for the next pair in sequence, and so on, thereby generating a rotating dipole which causes a relatively high stimulation current at an interior focal point (50) while at the same time keeping the current at the periphery low.