title: [Measurement and analysis of monophasic action potentials using fractally coated electrodes--I].
abstract: The monophasic action potential (MAP) contains a wealth of information about the stat of the myocardium, which makes it very useful for numerous diagnostic and therapeutic applications in patients with heart disease. The silver-silver chloride electrodes which are currently used for the measurement of MAP have poor long-term stability in contact with biological tissue. This study was therefore undertaken with the aim of investigating the electrochemical behaviour of fractally coated leads in terms of their signal-detection performance. Experience gained with these leads in cardiac pacemakers has already demonstrated the long-term stability and biocompatibility of the fractally coated leads. Present results show that, due to their large electrochemically active surface area, fractally coated leads have a very low impedance over a wide frequency range. The negligible polarization artifact of these leads permits the measurement of cardiac potentials immediately after a stimulus. Fractally coated leads are thus highly suitable for the measurement of MAP, and have clear advantages over Ag/AgCl electrodes. The second part of this study reports on the results of MAP measurements using fractally coated leads.
authors.affiliation: Zentralinstitut für Biomedizinische Technik, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fröhlich
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wetzig
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bolz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schaldach
mesh_terms: D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D017709:Fractals; D006801:Humans; D007495:Iridium; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D012834:Silver; D018030:Silver Compounds; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D018030:Silver Compounds; D012834:Silver; D007495:Iridium; D014025:Titanium; C037548:silver chloride
vernacular_title: Messung und Analyse monophasischer Aktionspotentiale mit Hilfe fraktal beschichteter Elektroden--Teil I.