Implantable assembly

An implantable assembly for locationally selective acquisition of neuronal electrical signals which propagate along at least one nerve fiber contained in a nerve fiber bundle and for selective electrical stimulation of the at least one nerve fiber, comprising:

• an implantable electrode assembly disposed on a biocompatible support substrate which is positionable around the nerve fiber bundle in a cuff, including a cylindrical support substrate surface orientated to face the nerve fiber bundle in an implanted state, on which a first electrode assembly is positioned for the locationally selective acquisition of the neuronal electrical signals and the selective electrical stimulation of the at least one nerve fiber, and on which a second electrode assembly is disposed to record an ECG signal;
• an analysis and control unit which is electrically connectible to or is connected to the implantable electrode assembly, in which the locational selective acquisition of neuronal electrical signals and the ECG signal are analyzed in a time-resolved manner so that a neuronal time signal correlated with a physiological parameter is derivable;
• a first comparator unit, connected to the analysis and control unit, for determining a characteristic relative time delay between the ECG signal and the neuronal time signal correlated with the physiological parameter;
• a first function generator connected to the analysis and control unit, which generates a stimulation signal within a time window determined by the analysis and control unit on the basis of the relative time delay;
• the stimulation signal comprises n pulses which are in phase and temporal amplitude with a derived neuronal time signal correlated with the physiological parameter;
• and
• a first signal to current converter coupled to the first function generator and the first electrode assembly, which leads the stimulation signal for selective electrical stimulation of the at least one nerve fibre to the first electrode assembly (2);
• and
• the analysis and control unit, the first comparator unit, the first function generator and the first signal to current converter are part of an implantable module.

A method for locationally selective acquisition of neuronal electrical signals which propagate along at least one nerve fiber contained in a nerve fiber bundle of a living human or an animal organism and for selective electrical stimulation of the at least one nerve fiber, comprising:

• acquiring neuronal electrical signals propagating along a nerve fiber at a selected location;
• generating electrical signals with a signal duration and temporal amplitude profile corresponding to the acquired neuronal electrical signals;
• modifying the electrical signals by raising or reducing amplitude thereof at least within a temporal region of the electrical signals to obtain electrical stimulation signals;
• and
• applying the electrical stimulation signals to the nerve fiber in a temporal phase with the neuronal electrical signals.