A model of safe levels for electrical stimulation
Abstract
A model is presented that represents a large body of data on safety and damage levels of electrical stimulation. The predictions of the model are consistent with known principles of current flow and known mechanisms of damage around stimulating electrodes. It is proposed that limits on levels of electrical stimulation take into account the location of the electrode relative to the stimulated tissue and these limits can be computed algorithmically from the model.
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Current-induced tissue damage during electrical stimulation was avoided by keeping stimulus charge density below the damage threshold boundary.
“Current-induced tissue damage during electrical stimulation was avoided by keeping stimulus charge density below the damage threshold boundary (20, 21).”
From Visual percepts evoked with an intracortical 96-channel microelectrode array inserted in human occipital cortex (2021) · cites this paper as [21]
The work of Shannon, McCreery et al., and Cogan et al. established guidelines for stimulation levels regarded as safe for the stimulated tissues and the materials of the stimulating electrodes.
“The work of Shannon (21), McCreery et al. (47, 48), and Cogan et al. (20, 49) established some guidelines for stimulation levels that are regarded as safe both for the stimulated tissues and the materials of the stimulating electrodes.”
From Visual percepts evoked with an intracortical 96-channel microelectrode array inserted in human occipital cortex (2021) · cites this paper as [21]
In Shannon's model, k should be selected between 1.5 and 2.0, with a k-value of 1.5 to 1.8 being most common.
“k should be selected between 1.5 and 2.0 [65], with a k-value of 1.5 to 1.8 being most common [4].”
From Safety of long-term electrical peripheral nerve stimulation: review of the state of the art (2019) · cites this paper as [65]
Shannon derived a model for safe stimulation largely based on experimental data by McCreery et al.
“Shannon derived a model for safe stimulation [65] largely based on experimental data by McCreery et al. [64].”
From Safety of long-term electrical peripheral nerve stimulation: review of the state of the art (2019) · cites this paper as [65]
Maximal tolerated stimulation pulse frequencies vary for different neural structures as demonstrated in a number of publications including the relatively low stimulus frequency tolerance of motor nerves when compared to examples in the central nervous system.
“Maximal tolerated stimulation pulse frequencies vary for different neural structures as demonstrated in a number of publications including the relatively low stimulus frequency tolerance of motor nerves when compared to examples in the central nervous system [44, 65, 92].”
From Safety of long-term electrical peripheral nerve stimulation: review of the state of the art (2019) · cites this paper as [65]
Safety limits must consider stimulation charge density, in particular where neural interfaces are miniaturised, leading to small electrode surface areas.
“Safety limits must also consider stimulation charge density [117], [118], in particular where neural interfaces are miniaturised, leading to small electrode surface areas.”
From Active Neural Interface Circuits and Systems for Selective Control of Peripheral Nerves: A Review (2024) · cites this paper as [117]
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“Safety limits must also consider stimulation charge density [117], [118], in particular where neural interfaces are miniaturised, leading to small electrode surface areas.”
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- Authors
- Shannon, R. V.
- Affiliations
- House Clinic (US)
- Corresponding author
- Shannon, R.V.
- Venue
- IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering
- Published
- 1992-04
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 424-426
- ISSN
- 0018-9294 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2042728692
- Cited by
- 526
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 36 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 39 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 38 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 33 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 30 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 0.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (5r29dc000409-05)
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FD-R-000686)
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (DC00409)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac pacing and defibrillation studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Pain Management and Treatment
- Keywords
- tissue damage, electric current, electrode placement
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Electric Stimulation, Electrodes, Equipment Design, Models, Biological, Safety
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