Animal study of pudendal nerve cuff electrode implants for collision block of motor activity

Through previous acute animal studies we have developed an asymmetric two electrode cuff (ATEC) implant for collision block of orthodromic pudendal nerve motor activity. In this paper we describe preliminary results concerning the effectiveness and safety of unilateral pudendal nerve ATECs implanted for 1 month in three adult male dogs. An apparent temporary pressure block of large fiber conduction in the implanted nerve trunks produced distinctive differences between the 2‐week and 4‐week tests in all three animals. In the first two implants significant nerve trunk tissue damage due presumably to surgical trauma and/or cuff encapsulation decreased the effectiveness of ATEC function; however, with the third implant virtually no damage was detected and ATEC effectiveness was high.