Article

The design of neural prostheses to restore standing balance, prevent foot drop,
or provide active propulsion during ambulation requires detailed knowledge of the
distal sciatic nerve anatomy. Three complete sciatic nerves and branches were
dissected from the piriformis to each muscle entry point to characterize the
branching patterns and diameters. Fascicle maps were created from serial sections
of each distal terminus below the knee through the anastomosis of the tibial and
common fibular nerves above the knee. Similar branching patterns and fascicle
maps were observed across specimens. Fascicles innervating primary plantar
flexors, dorsiflexors, invertors, and evertors were distinctly separate and
functionally organized in the proximal tibial, common fibular, and distal sciatic
nerves; however, fascicles from individual muscles were not apparent at these
levels. The fascicular organization is conducive to selective stimulation for
isolated and/or balanced dorsiflexion, plantar flexion, eversion, and inversion
through a single multicontact nerve-cuff electrode. These neuroanatomical data
are being used to design nerve-cuff electrodes for selective control of ankle
movement and improve current lower-limb neural prostheses.

Langue : ANGLAIS