Recovery Dynamics of the High Frequency Alternating Current Nerve Block

Objective High-Frequency alternating current (HFAC) nerve block has great potential for neuromodulation-based therapies. However nerve function recovery dynamics after a block is highly understudied. This study aims to characterise the recovery dynamics of neural function after an HFAC block. Approach Experiments were carried out in-vivo to determine blocking efficacy as a function of blocking signal amplitude and frequency, and recovery times as well as recovery completeness was measured within a 0.7 s time scale from the end of block. The sciatic nerve was stimulated at 100 Hz during recovery to reduce error to within ±10 ms for measurements of recovery dynamics. The electromyogram (EMG) signals were measured from gastrocnemius medialis and tibialis anterior during trials as an indicator for nerve function. Main Results The HFAC block was most reliable around 20 kHz, with block thresholds approximately 5 or 6 mA depending on the animal and muscle. Recovery times ranged from 20 to 430 milliseconds and final values spanned relative outputs from approximately 1 to 0.2. Higher blocking signal frequencies and amplitudes increased recovery time and decreased recovery completeness. Significance These results confirm that recovery dynamics from block depend on blocking signal frequency and amplitude, which is of particular importance for neuromodulation therapies and for comparing results across studies using different blocking signal parameters.

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