Vagus nerve stimulation to treat inflammatory bowel disease: a chronic, preclinical safety study in sheep
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Date
2019-02
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Future Medicine
Abstract
Aim: Electrical stimulation of the left cervical vagus nerve is a feasible therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, due to the location of the electrode placement, stimulation is often associated with side effects. Methods: We developed a cuff electrode array, designed to be implanted onto the vagus nerve of the lower thorax or abdomen, below branches to vital organs, to minimize off-target effects to stimulation. Results: Following chronic implantation and electrical stimulation, electrodes remained functional and neural thresholds stable, while there were minimal off-target affects to stimulation. No nerve damage or corrosion of stimulated electrodes was observed. Conclusion: This novel electrode array, located on the vagus nerve below branches to vital organs, is a safe approach for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
Description
Keywords
Electrode array, Inflammatory bowel disease, Peripheral nerve, Vagus nerve stimulation
Citation
Payne, S. C., O. Burns, M. J. Stebbing, R. Thomas, A. C. de Silva, A. Sedo, F. Wiessenborn, T. Hyakumura, M. Huynh, C. N. May, R. A. Williams, J. Furness, J. Fallon, and R. Shepherd. 2019. Vagus nerve stimulation to treat inflammatory bowel disease: a chronic, preclinical safety study in sheep. Bioelectronics in Medicine. 1(4): 235-250.