This thesis was conducted within the framework of the eAXON project that is aimed at
developing injectable wireless sub-millimetric single-channel addressable microstimulators
based on volume conduction called eAXONs that could be inserted in large numbers to
provide high density neuromuscular stimulation for restoring functional movement to
paralyzed limbs with minimal invasiveness. It is demonstrated that multi-channel
intramuscular stimulation significantly delays electrically–induced muscle fatigue, ...
This thesis was conducted within the framework of the eAXON project that is aimed at
developing injectable wireless sub-millimetric single-channel addressable microstimulators
based on volume conduction called eAXONs that could be inserted in large numbers to
provide high density neuromuscular stimulation for restoring functional movement to
paralyzed limbs with minimal invasiveness. It is demonstrated that multi-channel
intramuscular stimulation significantly delays electrically–induced muscle fatigue, while
single-channel stimulation does not. It is shown that the nerve supply of mammalian
skeletal muscles appear to be extensively compartmentalized. Meaning, a large number of
eAXONs can be implanted, while their independence is maintained. Lastly, the eAXONs are
very thin because they act as rectifiers and perform neurostimulation by instantaneously
transforming bursts of externally applied volume conducted high frequency currents into low
frequency waveforms. Waveforms created with this approach are less current, charge,
energy efficient than square waveforms conventionally used in neurostimulation. Therefore,
with eAXONs, there is a tradeoff between device miniaturization and stimulation efficiency.
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