title: Theoretical study of rectangular pulse electrical stimulation (RPES) onskin cells (in vivo) under conforming electrodes.
abstract: Our previous in vivo experimental results have shown RPES can enhance skin wound healing by using conforming electrodes. Based on an equation of polarization transmembrane voltage [Cole, K. S. 1972], two equations were derived to describe the peak RPES intensity on skin cells in vivo: (1) U = 1.5 a J/sigma, (2) Jm = 1.5 a (J/sigma) (Cm/tau). Where U: polarization transmembrane voltage. a: radius (R) for spherical cells or semi-length (L) for long fibers parallel to the electrical field. J: external imposed pulse current density under the electrode. sigma: average conductivity of skin tissue. Jm: transmembrane displacement current density. Cm: membrane capacitance per unit area and tau: time constant. Calculations indicated that the sensory fibers (SF) would receive the strongest stimulation compared to other cells in skin since generally LSF > or = 100 R. The sensitivity of SF to the stimulation could enhance skin wound healing as well as protect normal skin cells from harmful electroporation. From these theoretical calculations. We proposed a theoretical range of the pulse current density as: U1 sigma/(1.5 L) < or = J < or = U2 sigma/(1.5 L), where U1 and U2 are the excitation threshold voltage (about 0.01 V) and polarization electroporation voltage (about 0.1 V) for a SF respectively, for RPES to enhance skin wound healing.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Derm. and BME, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33101.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Tarjan
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Mertz
mesh_terms: D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004566:Electrodes; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*