Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2007

Publication Title

Physical Review E

Volume

75

Issue

6

Pages

061906 (1-11)

DOI

10.1103/PhysRevE.75.061906

Abstract

Simulation studies are presented that probe the possibility of using high-field (>100kV ∕ cm), short-duration (∼50ns) electrical pulses for nonthermal and reversible cessation of biological electrical signaling pathways. This would have obvious applications in neurophysiology, clinical research, neuromuscular stimulation therapies, and even nonlethal bioweapons development. The concept is based on the creation of a sufficiently high density of pores on the nerve membrane by an electric pulse. This modulates membrane conductance and presents an effective "electrical short" to an incident voltage wave traveling across a nerve. Net blocking of action potential propagation can then result. A continuum approach based on the Smoluchowski equation is used to treat electroporation. This is self-consistently coupled with a distributed circuit representation of the nerve dynamics. Our results indicate that poration at a single neural segment would be sufficient to produce an observable, yet reversible, effect.

Comments

"Yes, the author or the author's employer may use all or part of the APS published article, including the APS-prepared version (e.g., the PDF from the online journal) without revision or modification, on the author's or employer's website as long as a fee is not charged. If a fee is charged, then APS permission must be sought. In all cases, the appropriate bibliographic citation and notice of the APS copyright must be included."

© American Physical Society

Original Publication Citation

Joshi, R. P., Mishra, A., Hu, Q., Schoenbach, K. H., & Pakhomov, A. (2007). Self-consistent analyses for potential conduction block in nerves by an ultrashort high-intensity electric pulse. Physical Review E, 75(6), 061906. doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.75.061906

ORCID

0000-0003-3816-3860 (Pakhomov)

Download

Share

COinS