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Micera S, Menciassi A, Cianferotti L, Gruppioni E, Lionetti V. Organ Neuroprosthetics: Connecting Transplanted and Artificial Organs with the Nervous System. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2302896. [PMID: 38656615 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202302896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Implantable neural interfaces with the central and peripheral nervous systems are currently used to restore sensory, motor, and cognitive functions in disabled people with very promising results. They have also been used to modulate autonomic activities to treat diseases such as diabetes or hypertension. Here, this study proposes to extend the use of these technologies to (re-)establish the connection between new (transplanted or artificial) organs and the nervous system in order to increase the long-term efficacy and the effective biointegration of these solutions. In this perspective paper, some clinically relevant applications of this approach are briefly described. Then, the choices that neural engineers must implement about the type, implantation location, and closed-loop control algorithms to successfully realize this approach are highlighted. It is believed that these new "organ neuroprostheses" are going to become more and more valuable and very effective solutions in the years to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvestro Micera
- The BioRobotics Institute and Department of Excellence in Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, 56127, Italy
- Interdisciplinary Research Center Health Science, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, 56127, Italy
- Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Translational Neuroengineering, Neuro-X Institute, School of Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | - Arianna Menciassi
- The BioRobotics Institute and Department of Excellence in Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, 56127, Italy
- Interdisciplinary Research Center Health Science, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, 56127, Italy
| | - Luisella Cianferotti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, 50121, Italy
| | | | - Vincenzo Lionetti
- Interdisciplinary Research Center Health Science, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, 56127, Italy
- UOSVD Anesthesia and Resuscitation, Fondazione Toscana G. Monasterio, Pisa, 56127, Italy
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Thompson N, Ravagli E, Mastitskaya S, Challita R, Hadaya J, Iacoviello F, Shah Idil A, Shearing PR, Ajijola OA, Ardell JL, Shivkumar K, Holder D, Aristovich K. Anatomical and functional organization of cardiac fibers in the porcine cervical vagus nerve allows spatially selective efferent neuromodulation. bioRxiv 2024:2024.01.09.574861. [PMID: 38260584 PMCID: PMC10802425 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.09.574861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Cardiac disease progression reflects the dynamic interaction between adversely remodeled neurohumoral control systems and an abnormal cardiac substrate. Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is an attractive neuromodulatory option to dampen this dynamic interaction; however, it is limited by off-target effects. Spatially-selective VNS (sVNS) offers a promising solution to induce cardioprotection while mitigating off-target effects by specifically targeting pre-ganglionic parasympathetic efferent cardiac fibers. This approach also has the potential to enhance therapeutic outcomes by eliminating time-consuming titration required for optimal VNS. Recent studies have demonstrated the independent modulation of breathing rate, heart rate, and laryngeal contraction through sVNS. However, the spatial organization of afferent and efferent cardiac-related fibers within the vagus nerve remains unexplored. By using trial-and-error sVNS in vivo in combination with ex vivo micro-computed tomography fascicle tracing, we show the significant spatial separation of cardiac afferent and efferent fibers (179±55° SD microCT, p<0.05 and 200±137° SD, p<0.05 sVNS - degrees of separation across a cross-section of nerve) at the mid-cervical level. We also show that cardiac afferent fibers are located in proximity to pulmonary fibers consistent with recent findings of cardiopulmonary convergent neurons and circuits. We demonstrate the ability of sVNS to selectively elicit desired scalable heart rate decrease without stimulating afferent-related reflexes. By elucidating the spatial organization of cardiac-related fibers within the vagus nerve, our findings pave the way for more targeted neuromodulation, thereby reducing off-target effects and eliminating the need for titration. This, in turn, will enhance the precision and efficacy of VNS therapy in treating cardiac pathology, allowing for improved therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Thompson
- EIT and Neurophysiology Research Group, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Enrico Ravagli
- EIT and Neurophysiology Research Group, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Svetlana Mastitskaya
- EIT and Neurophysiology Research Group, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ronald Challita
- UCLA Cardiac Arrhythmia Center and Neurocardiology Research Program of Excellence, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Joseph Hadaya
- UCLA Cardiac Arrhythmia Center and Neurocardiology Research Program of Excellence, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Francesco Iacoviello
- Electrochemical Innovation Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ahmad Shah Idil
- EIT and Neurophysiology Research Group, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul R. Shearing
- Electrochemical Innovation Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Olujimi A. Ajijola
- UCLA Cardiac Arrhythmia Center and Neurocardiology Research Program of Excellence, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jeffrey L. Ardell
- UCLA Cardiac Arrhythmia Center and Neurocardiology Research Program of Excellence, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Kalyanam Shivkumar
- UCLA Cardiac Arrhythmia Center and Neurocardiology Research Program of Excellence, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - David Holder
- EIT and Neurophysiology Research Group, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kirill Aristovich
- EIT and Neurophysiology Research Group, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Giannotti A, Lo Vecchio S, Musco S, Pollina L, Vallone F, Strauss I, Paggi V, Bernini F, Gabisonia K, Carlucci L, Lenzi C, Pirone A, Giannessi E, Miragliotta V, Lacour S, Del Popolo G, Moccia S, Micera S. Decoding bladder state from pudendal intraneural signals in pigs. APL Bioeng 2023; 7:046101. [PMID: 37811476 PMCID: PMC10558243 DOI: 10.1063/5.0156484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroprosthetic devices used for the treatment of lower urinary tract dysfunction, such as incontinence or urinary retention, apply a pre-set continuous, open-loop stimulation paradigm, which can cause voiding dysfunctions due to neural adaptation. In the literature, conditional, closed-loop stimulation paradigms have been shown to increase bladder capacity and voiding efficacy compared to continuous stimulation. Current limitations to the implementation of the closed-loop stimulation paradigm include the lack of robust and real-time decoding strategies for the bladder fullness state. We recorded intraneural pudendal nerve signals in five anesthetized pigs. Three bladder-filling states, corresponding to empty, full, and micturition, were decoded using the Random Forest classifier. The decoding algorithm showed a mean balanced accuracy above 86.67% among the three classes for all five animals. Our approach could represent an important step toward the implementation of an adaptive real-time closed-loop stimulation protocol for pudendal nerve modulation, paving the way for the design of an assisted-as-needed neuroprosthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Giannotti
- The BioRobotics Institute and Department of Excellence in Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - S. Lo Vecchio
- The BioRobotics Institute and Department of Excellence in Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - S. Musco
- Neuro-Urology Department, Careggi University Hospital, Firenze, Italy
| | - L. Pollina
- Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Translational NeuroEngineering, Neuro-X Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - F. Vallone
- The BioRobotics Institute and Department of Excellence in Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - I. Strauss
- Laboratory for Biomedical Microtechnology, Department of Microsystems Engineering–IMTEK, IMBIT//NeuroProbes BrainLinks-BrainTools Cluster of Excellence, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - V. Paggi
- Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Microengineering and Bioengineering, Neuro-X Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - F. Bernini
- BioMedLab, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - K. Gabisonia
- BioMedLab, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - L. Carlucci
- BioMedLab, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - C. Lenzi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - A. Pirone
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - E. Giannessi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - V. Miragliotta
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - S. Lacour
- Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Microengineering and Bioengineering, Neuro-X Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - G. Del Popolo
- Neuro-Urology Department, Careggi University Hospital, Firenze, Italy
| | - S. Moccia
- The BioRobotics Institute and Department of Excellence in Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - S. Micera
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:
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