Noninvasive Temporal Interference Electrical Stimulation for Spinal Cord Rehabilitation

Xu Xie; Huilin Mou; Weidong Chen; Shaomin Zhang; Yuchen Xu; Ruidong Cheng; Minmin Wang

doi:10.3791/68574

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Method Article

Noninvasive Temporal Interference Electrical Stimulation for Spinal Cord Rehabilitation

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DOI:

10.3791/68574

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October 31st, 2025

Xu Xie¹^,² , Huilin Mou¹^,³ , Weidong Chen¹^,⁴ , Shaomin Zhang¹^,²^,⁵^,⁶ , Yuchen Xu¹^,⁷ , Ruidong Cheng⁸^,⁹ , Minmin Wang¹^,¹⁰

¹Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Qiushi Academy for Advanced Studies, Zhejiang University, ²Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, ³College of Information Science and Electronic Engineering, Zhejiang University, ⁴Department of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang University, ⁵State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, ⁶The MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science & Brain-machine Integration, Zhejiang University, ⁷Center of Excellence in Biomedical Research on Advanced Integrated-on-Chips Neurotechnologies (CenBRAIN Neurotech), School of Engineering, Westlake University, ⁸Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Research Institute of Zhejiang Province, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College), ⁹School of Rehabilitation, Hangzhou Medical College, ¹⁰Westlake Institute for Optoelectronics, Westlake University

Summary

This study proposes a TI stimulation protocol for spinal cord injury that optimizes electrode placement for specific regions and efficiently implements this optimized strategy in clinical application.

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to permanent loss of motor, sensory, and autonomic functions, presenting a significant clinical challenge for rehabilitation. In addition to conventional rehabilitation approaches, epidural spinal cord stimulation (eSCI) is often used to enhance recovery. However, the invasive nature of eSCI limits patient acceptance and widespread application. Compared to traditional spinal cord stimulation, temporal interference (TI) stimulation offers a noninvasive approach to stimulate deep spinal cord regions, making it a promising technique for SCI treatment. A critical factor in achieving effective TI stimulation for SCI rehabilitation is the accurate placement of two electrode pairs on the skin surface to generate a high electric field envelope within the targeted spinal cord area. We propose a unique protocol that utilizes electric field simulations and parameter optimization to determine the optimal electrode placement for specific SCI regions. Additionally, this protocol provides a systematic description of how to efficiently implement the optimized electrode placement strategy in clinical TI stimulation.

Introduction

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating central nervous system disorder that can result in the permanent loss of motor, sensory, and autonomic functions below the level of injury¹^,². Consequently, the treatment and rehabilitation of SCI patients have become a focal point of both scientific research and clinical practice. Traditional treatment approaches, including pharmacological and physical therapies, have certain limitations in promoting functional recovery³^,⁴^,⁵^,⁶. Among physic....