Textile Electrodes : Influence of Electrode Construction and Pressure on Stimulation Performance in Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES)

• The major reason for preventable hospital death isvenous thromboembolism (VTE). Non-pharmacologicaltreatment options include electrical stimulation or compressiontherapy to improve blood flow in the extremities. Textileelectrodes offer potential to replace bulky devices commonlyused in this field, thereby improving the user compliance. In thiswork, the performance of dry and wet knitted electrodes incombination with pressure application to the electrode wasevaluated in neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). Amotor point stimulation on the calf was performed on ninehealthy subjects to induce a plantarflexion and the requiredstimulation intensity as well as the perceived pain were assessed.The performance of the different electrode constructions wascompared and the influence of the pressure application wasanalysed. The results show that wet textile electrodes (0.9 %saline solution) perform significantly better than dry electrodes.However, opportunities were found for improving theperformance of dry textile electrodes by using an uneven surfacetopography in combination with an intermediate to highpressure application to the electrode (> 20 mmHg), e.g. by usinga compression stocking. Moreover, the smaller of the two testedelectrode areas (16 cm2; 32 cm2) appears to be favourable interms of stimulation comfort and efficiency.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Medicinteknik -- Annan medicinteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Medical Engineering -- Other Medical Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Textil och mode (generell)

Textiles and Fashion (General)

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)