Development of an intraneural peripheral stimulation paradigm for the restoration of fine hand control in non-human primates

Abstract

Cervical spinal cord injury and stroke severely impact grasping movements required for activities of daily living. Intraneural peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) enables specific activation of passing axons and may restore fine grasping in paralysed hands. Here, we assess the feasibility of using intrafascicular electrical stimulation of the arm peripheral nerves to produce precise hand movements in the non-human primate (NHP). Neuroanatomical studies of the NHP arm nerves, computational simulations based on realistic PNS models, and electrophysiology experiments show evidences for the use of intraneural PNS to induce fine hand movements.