CRITERIA FOR SELECTING ELECTRODES FOR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION: THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Abstract
Smaller, more charge-intensive electrodes are needed for "safe" stimulation of the nervous system. In this paper we review critical concepts and the state of the art in electrodes. Control of charge density and charge balance are essential to avoid tissue electrolysis. Chemical criteria for "safe" stimulation are reviewed ("safe" is equated with "chemically reversible"). An example of a safe, but generally impractical, charge-injection process is double-layer charging. The limit here is the onset of irreversible faradaic processes. More charge can be safely injected with so-called "capacitor" electrodes, such as porous intermixtures of Ta/Ta2O5. BaTiO3 has excellent dielectric properties and may provide a new generation of capacitor electrodes. Faradaic charge injection is usually partially irreversible since some of the products escape into the solution. With Pt, up to 400 muc/cm2 real area can be absorbed by faradaic reactions of surface-adsorbed species, but a small part is lost due to metal dissolution. The surface of "activated" Ir is covered with a multilayer hydrated oxide. Charge injection occurs via rapid valence change within this oxide. Little or no metal dissolution is observed, and gassing limits are not exceeded even under stringent conditions.
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Neuromuscular stimulating electrodes should provide stimulation below the charge-carrying capacity and density that induce reversible electrochemical processes and axonal damage.
“Neuromuscular stimulating electrodes should provide stimulation below the charge-carrying capacity and density that induce reversible electrochemical processes and axonal damage”
From A critical review of interfaces with the peripheral nervous system for the control of neuroprostheses and hybrid bionic systems (2005) · cites this paper as Brummer et al., 1983
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- Authors
- Brummer, S. B., Robblee, L. S., & Hambrecht, F. T.
- Affiliations
- EIC Laboratories (US)
- National Institutes of Health (US)
- Venue
- Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 1983-06
- Volume
- 405
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 159-171
- ISSN
- 0077-8923 (ISSN-L)
- 1749-6632
- OpenAlex
- W2014316686
- Cited by
- 205
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 0.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Electrochemistry › Electrochemical Analysis and Applications
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Advancements in Battery Materials
- Keywords
- electrode selection, charge density, charge balance, double-layer charging, capacitor electrodes, BaTiO3 dielectric, platinum electrode, iridium oxide, metal dissolution
- MeSH terms
- Electric Injuries, Electric Stimulation, Electrochemistry, Electrodes, Humans, Iridium, Neurons, Platinum
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