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Temporal changes in electrode impedance while recording the electrocardiogram with “Dry” electrodes

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Abstract

The temporal change in the approximate impedance of dry silver, stainless-steel and German-silver electrodes applied to the unprepared skin of human subjects was measured using the electrocardiogram as a test signal. In nearly all cases, it was found that “dry” electrodes are really only dry when first applied. In most cases, with the passage of time, the average electrode-subject impedance decreased; the temporal nature of the decrease was similar for all three metals. Although there were wide variations in individual impedances over a 20-min period, the average 20-min impedance was between one-fourth and one-fifth of the initial impedance for all three metals. Silver exhibited the lowest average initial and 20-min impedance values. Placing ordinary tap water below the electrodes further reduced the 20-min impedance to about one-sixth of the initial impedance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Division of Biomedical Engineering, Baylor Colege of Medicine, 77025, Houston, Texas

    L. A. Geddes & M. E. Valentinuzzi

Authors
  1. L. A. Geddes
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  2. M. E. Valentinuzzi
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Additional information

Supported by Grant FD 00044-02, Food and Drug Administration, Washington, D. C.

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Geddes, L.A., Valentinuzzi, M.E. Temporal changes in electrode impedance while recording the electrocardiogram with “Dry” electrodes. Ann Biomed Eng 1, 356–367 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02407675

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02407675

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