Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

When are actively balanced biphasic (‘Lilly’) stimulating pulses necessary in a neurological prosthesis? II pH changes; noxious products; electrode corrosion; discussion

  • Published:
Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Actively balanced (‘Lilly’) stimulating current waveforms are generally considered to give very ‘safe’ stimulation. Although this is perfectly true, the specification of the necessary waveform generators in neurological prostheses demands additional complexity, and probably additional expense and development time as well. The paper and its companion enquire whether the use of simple, passively charged-balanced stimulating pulses is equally safe, provided the stimulation parameters and circuitry are designed with appropriate care. It is concluded that, in respect of safe deliverable charge density per pulse at the electrode, release of noxious products and stimulating effectiveness, simple pulses need give no worse performance; in some circumstances they may give better.

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

  • Albery, W. J. andHitchman, M. L. (1971)Ring-disc electrodes. Clarendon, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berkley, C. (1965) Potential problems in long term stimulation. Digest of the 6th International Conference on Medical and Biological Engineering, Tokyo.

  • Biegler, T. (1969) An electrochemical and electron microscopic study of activation and roughening of platinum electrodes.J. Electrochem. Soc.,116, 1131–1137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brummer, S. B. andTurner, M. J. (1977b) Electrical stimulation with Pt electrodes I.IEEE Trans.,BME-24, 436–439.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brummer, S. B. andTurner, M. J. (1977c) Electrical stimulation with Pt electrodes II.-—Ibid.,BME-24, 440–443.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brummer, S. B. andMcHardy, J. andTurner, M. J. (1977) Electrical stimulation with Pt electrodes III.Brain Behav. Evol.,14, 10–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brummer, S. B., Robblee, L. S. andLefko, J. L. (1981) Evaluation of electrode materials and their electrochemical reactions. NIH Contract NO1-NS-9-2315, sixth quarterly report, March.

  • Donaldson, N. de, N. andPerkins, T. A. (1983) Analysis of resonant coupled coils in the design of radio frequency transcutaneous links.Med. & Biol. Eng. & Comput.,21, 612–627.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donaldson, P. E. K., Donaldson, N. de N. andBrindley, G. S. (1985) Life of Pt and Pt-Ir stimulating electrodes in neurological prostheses.-—Ibid.,23, 84–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donaldson, N. de N. andDonaldson, P. E. K. (1986) When are actively balanced biphasic (‘Lilly’) stimulating pulses necessary in a neurological prosthesis? I Historical background; Pt resting potential; πQ studies.-—Ibid.,24, 41–49.

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Doty, R. W. andBartlett, J. R. (1981) Stimulation of the brain via metallic electrodes. InElectrical stimulation research techniques.Patterson, M. M. andKesner, R. B. (Eds.), Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilman, S. (1965) Modification of the surface area of platinum electrodes by the application of single pulses.J. Electroanal. Chem.,9, 276–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guyton, D. L. andHambrecht, F. T. (1974) Theory and design of capacitor electrodes for chronic stimulation.Med. & Biol. Eng.,12, 613–620.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, D. C., Napp, D. andBruckenstein, S. (1970) A ring-disc electrode study of the current/potential behaviour of platinum in 1.0 M sulphuric and 0.1 M perchloric acids.Electrochimica Acta,15, 1493–1509.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loeb, J.C., McHardy, J., Kelliher, E. M. andBrummer, S. B. (1982) Neural prostheses. InBiocompatibility in clinical practice, vol. II.Williams, D. F. (Ed.) CRC Press, Chap. 8.

  • McHardy, J., Robblee, L. S., Marston, J. M. andBrummer, S. B. (1980) Electrical stimulation with Pt electrodes IV.Biomaterials,1, 129–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mortimer, J. T., Kaufman, D. andRoessman, U. (1980) Intramuscular electrical stimulation: tissue damage.Ann. Biomed. Eng.,8, 235–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palin, A. T. (1967) Methods for the determination, in water, of free and combined chlorine chlorine dioxide and chlorite, bromine iodine and ozone, using diethyl-p-phenylene, diamine.J. Inst. Water Engs.,21, 537–547.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robblee, L. S., McHardy, J., Marston, J. M. andBrummer, S. B. (1980) Electrical stimulation with Pt electrodes B.Biomaterials,1, 135–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Untereker, D. F. andBruckenstein, S. (1974) A dissolution-redeposition mechanism for the roughening of platinum electrodes by cyclic potential programs.J. Electrochem. Soc.,121, 360–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vines, R. G. (1963) Noble metals. InCorrosion resistance of metals and alloys.La Que, F. L. andCopson, H. R. (Eds.). Reinhold, New York.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MRC Neurological Prostheses Unit, 1 Windsor Walk, SE5 8BB, London, England

    N. de N. Donaldson & P. E. K. Donaldson

Authors
  1. N. de N. Donaldson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. E. K. Donaldson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Donaldson, N.d.N., Donaldson, P.E.K. When are actively balanced biphasic (‘Lilly’) stimulating pulses necessary in a neurological prosthesis? II pH changes; noxious products; electrode corrosion; discussion. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 24, 50–56 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02441605

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02441605

Keywords

Search

Navigation