Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The choice of pulse duration for chronic electrical stimulation via surface, nerve, and intramuscular electrodes

  • Published:
Annals of Biomedical Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The peak current, peak voltage, charge transfer and energy dissipation necessary for equivalent stimulation were measured for several pulse durations in the range from 0.01 to 1.0 msec. The unidirectional, regulated current, rectangular waveform was studied for subcutaneous nerve and intramuscular stimulation in animals and for surface stimulation in humans. In addition, the unidirectional, regulated current, exponential waveform was studied in humans and was compared with the rectangular waveform. The question of the relationship between charge transfer and energy dissipation and possible tissue damage due to the electrochemical formation of toxic compounds or a temperature rise in the surrounding tissue was examined. The optimal pulse duration for reducing the possibility of tissue damage was concluded to be less than or equal to 0.01 msec for intramuscular stimulation in the test situation. No conclusion was made as to the optimal duration for nerve or surface stimulation. Excitation of muscle fibers was found to take place indirectly by was of muscle nerves during intramuscular stimulation. The exponential waveform required less charge transfer and energy dissipation than the rectangular waveform, but higher peak currents.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brummer, S. B. Non-Toxic Stimulating Electrodes for Cortical Implantation. Technical Memo Number 71-30. Waltham, Mass.: Tyco Laboratories, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brummer, S. B., andTurner, M. Electrochemical aspects of neuromuscular stimulation. InFunctional Neuromuscular Stimulation: Report of a Workshop. Washington, D.C.: National Academy of Sciences, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caldwell, C. W. A High-Strength Platinum Percutaneous Electrode for Chronic Use. Engineering Design Center Report Number EDC-4-70-27. Cleveland, Ohio: Case Western Reserve University, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crago, P. E. Evalvation of Therapy Programs and Function Following Stroke in Man. Engineering Design Center Report Number EDC-4-70-27. Cleveland, Ohio: Case Western Reserve University, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crago, P. E., Peckham, P. H., Van Der Meulen, J. P., and Mortimer, J. T. Minimization of charge transfer and energy dissipation during electrical stimulation of muscle and nerve. Presented atThe Third Annual Conference of the Biomedical Engineering Society, Baltimore, Maryland, 1972.

  • Mortimer, J. T., Shealy, C. N., andWheeler, C. Experimental nondestructive electrical stimulation of the brain and spinal cord.Journal of Neurosurgery, 1970,32, 553–559.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peckham, P. H. Electrical Excitation of Skeletal Muscle: Alteration of Force, Fatigue and Metabolic Properties. Engineering Design Center ReportNumber 4-72-32. Cleveland, Ohio: Case Western Reserve University, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pond, J. B. The role of heat in the production of ultrasonic focal lesions.Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 1970,47, 1607–1611.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rashevsky, N. Mathematical Biophysics. Physico-Mathematical Foundations of Biology. Volume 1. New York: Dover Publications, 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schenck, H. Heat Transfer Engineering. Englewood Cliffs, N. J.: Prentice-Hall, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vodovnik, L., Long, C., Regenos, E., andLippay, A. Pain response to different tetanizing currents.Archives of Physical Medicine 1965,46, 187–192.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Patrick E. Crago

    Present address: Department of Physiology, The Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe Street, 21205, Baltimore, Maryland

  2. Joseph P. Van Der Meulen

    Present address: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Neurology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

    Patrick E. Crago, P. Hunter Peckham, J. Thomas Mortimer & Joseph P. Van Der Meulen

  2. The Engineering Design Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

    Patrick E. Crago, P. Hunter Peckham, J. Thomas Mortimer & Joseph P. Van Der Meulen

Authors
  1. Patrick E. Crago
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. Hunter Peckham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Thomas Mortimer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Joseph P. Van Der Meulen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This investigation was supported by Research Grant Numbers 23-P-55207/5-03 and RD-1814-M. Both grants were from the Social Rehabilitation Service, Department of Health, Education and Welfare.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Crago, P.E., Peckham, P.H., Mortimer, J.T. et al. The choice of pulse duration for chronic electrical stimulation via surface, nerve, and intramuscular electrodes. Ann Biomed Eng 2, 252–264 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02368496

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02368496

Keywords

Search

Navigation