Long-term neurostimulation of skeletal muscle: its potential for a tether-free biologic cardiac assist device.
Skeletal muscle has a tremendous capacity to adapt. This adaptive phenomenon is seen perhaps to the greatest extent when skeletal muscle is subjected to chronic low frequency stimulation via the motor nerve. There is a decrease in glycolytic enzymes and an increase in oxidative enzymes, as well as a change in the contractile proteins and an increase in the mitochondrial volume fraction of the muscle fiber. These adaptive changes result in a muscle that is considerably more fatigue-resistant. Specifically herein, we report on a pneumatic aortic counterpulsator device powered by skeletal muscle. These muscle pumps functioned continuously and pumped blood effectively in tether-free animals for several weeks.
Anderson
W A
WA
Harrison Department of Surgical Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia.
Bridges
C R
CR
Chin
A J
AJ
Andersen
J S
JS
Acker
M A
MA
Hammond
R L
RL
Dimeo
F
F
Cahalan
P T
PT
Gale
D R
DR
Brown
W E
WE
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D001243:Assisted Circulation; D004285:Dogs; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation*; D013997:Time Factors