The possibility of tissue damage in spinal cord stimulation was investigated in a computer modeling study. A decrease of the electrode area in monopolar stimulation resulted in an increase of the current density at the electrode surface. When comparing the modeling results with experimental data from literature, it was concluded that even with a small electrode area (0.7 mm2) tissue damage in spinal cord stimulation is improbabl

Holsheimer, J.

Wesselink, W.A.

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Electrical safety in spinal cord stimulation: current density analysis by computer modeling

University of Twente Research Information

1995 IEEE-EMBC and CMBEC Theme 5: Neuromuscular S ystemsBiomecfianics ELECTRICAL SAFETY IN SPINAL CORD STIMULATION: CURRENT DIENSITY ANALYSIS BY COMPUTER MODELING W.A. Wesselink, J. Holsheimer Institute for Biomedical Technology, University of Twente P.O. box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, the Netherlands Atstract - The possibility of tissue damage in spinal cord stimulation was investigated in a computer modeling study. A decrease of the electrode area in monopolar stimulation resulted in an increase of the current density at the electrode surface. When comparing the modeling results with experimental data from literature, it was concluded that even with a smadl electrode area (0.7 mm3 Lsue damage in spinal cord stimulation is improbable. INTRODUCTION T h e  damage resulting from electrical stimulation is usually ascribed to the following factors: (1) the induction of irreversible electrochemical reactions at the electrode-tissue interface; (2) processes associated with the current passing through the tissue [ 13. In prolonged spinal cord stimullation (SCS) short duration, charge balanced pulses are given by electrodes of inert material, thus minimizing irreversible chemical reactions. Furhermore, the electrodes are in the dorsal epidural space, usually a few millimeters apart from the nervous tissue in the spinal cord and the dorsal roots. Only the dura mater and the epidural fat cells are in the closa vicinity of the electrodes. The threshold of electridy induced tissue damage was determined experimentally by Agnew et al. [l]. They concluded that the charge per phase and the charge density per phase (of a charge balanced, biphasic pulse) at the electrode surface are associated with the tissue damage. These parameters can be derived from the current density at the electrode surface, and the total current per phase from the electrode. Results obtained from a modeling study are compared with these experimental data to evaluate the electrical safety of SCS. METHODS Current densities were calculated by a computer model, which consists of two parts [2]. The first part comprises a three dimensional cubical cell structure with variable cell dimensions. Each cell has a specified conductivity, resulting in an inhomogeneous volume conductor model. The compartments represent the gross anatomy of the spinal cord, e.g. gray and white matter, epidural space, dura mater, vertebral bone, cerebrospinal fluid, and a layer representing surrounding tissues. A transverse section of the mid-cervical volume canductor model, characterized by a 2.4 mm spacing between the spinal cord and the epidural contact, is shown in figure 1. surrounding faytr dorsal I ventral 5 ". Figure. 1: Transverse section of the mid-cervical spinal cord model The potential field, induced by the epidural lead contacts, is calculated by solving the discretized Laplace equation by a Red-Black Gauss-Seidel iteration. A f d t e  difference method was also used to calculate the current density. Finite differences of secotlc1 order represent the current density at regular grid points, whereas finite differences of first order are used at electrode and border points. The second part of the model represents the electrical behavior of the myelinated nerve fibers in the spinal cord, as described by McNeal [3]. A fiber model of a 12 pm dorsal column fiber with collaterals, placed at the dorsomedial border of the spinal cord, was used. Threshold voltages for the excitation of this fiber were calculated for a 210 ps rectangular stimulus pulse. 1135 In this study, a mid-cervical spinal cord model was stimulated monopolarly. The cathode was placed dorsomedially in the epidural space, bordered the dura mater, and had a rectangular shape. Four electrode areas were used, i.e. 0.7, 3.15, 7.0, and 12.25 mm2. The s d e s t  cell dimension was 0.2 mm. at the border of the dorsal columns varies slightly (0.48-0.56 pC/cm2p) and is 5 to 30 times smaller than the maxinoufzl charge density per pulse at the electrode surface. DISCUSSION RESULTS Current density at both the electrode surface and the border of the dorsal columns was considered at the threshold voltage of the dorsomedial nerve fiber. This threshold was 1.2 V for the largest and 4.8 V for the s d e s t  electrode. The current density at the electrode d a c e  was highest at its comers. This maximum current density increased with decreasing electrode area. The value for the 0.7 mm2 electrode was approximately 5 times higher than for the 12.25 mm2 electrode. The maximum current density at the border of the dorsal columns was highest with the largest electrode, but only differed 20% from the smallest electrode. Compared to the current density at the electrode, the maxi" current density at the dorsal border of the spinal cord was 5 and 30 times smaller for the 12.25 mm2 and 0.7 znm2 electrodes, respectively. After calculation of the total current from the electrode, the charge and charge density per pulse were determined. Figure 2 shows the charge per pulse and the maxi" charge density per pulse both at the electrode surface (1) and at the border of the dorsal columns (2). The data are related to the four electrode areas. Highest charge density per pulse was found with the smallest electrode. 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 ChaEgeper*Wl Rgure2: Calculated charge and (max.) charge density per pulse when varying modeled electrode area: 1. at electrode surface; 2. at border of spinal cord As shown in figure 2, the maximum charge density per pulse It was found that a decrease in electrode area r d t e d  in an increase in charge density at the electrcde surface needed for excitation of the dorsal column fiber. However, the charge density at the dorsal border of the spinal cord did not change much when the electrode area was varied. Although the experimentally detennined safety limits presented by Agnew et al. [l] were not obtained from spinal cord stimulation, they will be used here for comparison with the computational results. The safety limits proped by Agnew et al. ranged fiom a mean charge density of 140 pC/cm2ph and a charge of 0.15 pC/ph to a mean charge density of 5 pC/cm2ph and a charge of 25 pC/ph (charge balanced, biphasic pulses). Taking into account that the maximum stjmulus in SCS is usually less than twice the threshold stimulus and that Maxi" charge densities per pulse were calculated instead of mean values, it can be concluded that even with an electrode area of 0.7 m2 the charge (0.56 pC) and charge density (29 pC/cmz) per pulse in monopolar stimulation are still within these limits. This is also true for a 3.6 mm distance between electrode and spinal cord, resulting in a maximum charge density per pulse of 55 pC/cm2 and a charge per pulse of 1 pC. Therefore, the model predicts that prolonged electrical stimulation ofthe spinal cord with this electrode configuration will not result in any tissue damage. Other parameters that possibly influence the charge and charge density per pulse in spinal cord stimulation, like pulse duration and electrode configuration, will be the subject of research in following modeling studies. RENCES E13 W.F. Agnew, D.B. M&eery, T.G.H. Yuen, L.A. Bdara, E&ecrS ofprolonged electrical stimulation of the central nervous system, in Neural prostheses: Fundamental studies, Chapter 9, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, 1990 J.J. Struijk, J. Holshehner, G.G. van der Heide, H.B.K. Boom, Recruitment of dorsal column fibers in spinal cord stimulation: Influence of collateral brunching, IEEE Trans. on Biomed Eng., vol. 39, pp. 903-912, 1992 D.R. McNeal, Analysis of a model for excitation of myelinated nerve, IEEE Trans. on Biomed. Eng. , vol. [2] [3] BME-23, pp. 329-337, 1976 1136 

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Electrical safety in spinal cord stimulation: current density analysis by computer modeling

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