This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Gustafson KJ, Grinberg Y, Joseph S, Triolo RJ. Human distal sciatic nerve-cuff

This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Gustafson KJ, Grinberg Y, Joseph S, Triolo RJ. Human distal sciatic nerve-cuff electrodes. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2012;49(2):309–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2010.10.0201

Slideshow ProjectDOI:10.1682/JRRD. 2010.10.0201JSP

Human distal sciatic nerve fascicular anatomy:

Implications for ankle control using nerve-cuff electrodes

Kenneth J. Gustafson, PhD; Yanina Grinberg, MS; Sheeba Joseph, BS; Ronald J. Triolo, PhD



• Aim– Map human distal sciatic nerve fascicular anatomy.

• Relevance– Detailed knowledge of distal sciatic nerve anatomy

is required to design neural prostheses that:• Restore standing balance.• Prevent foot drop.• Provide active propulsion during ambulation.



Methods

• Dissected 3 complete sciatic nerves and branches from piriformis to each muscle entry point to characterize branching patterns and diameters.

• Created sciatic nerve fascicle maps from serial sections of each distal terminus below knee through anastomosis of tibial and common fibular nerves above knee.



Results

• Similar branching patterns and fascicle maps were observed across specimens.

• Fascicules innervating primary plantar flexors, dorsiflexors, invertors, and evertors were distinctly separate and functionally organized in proximal tibial, proximal common fibular, and distal sciatic nerves.– However, fascicles from individual muscles were

not apparent at these levels.



Conclusions

• These neuroanatomical data are being used to:– Design nerve-cuff electrodes for selective

control of ankle movement – Improve current lower-limb neural

prostheses.

Documents

This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Gustafson KJ, Grinberg Y, Joseph S, Triolo RJ. Human distal sciatic nerve-cuff