title: A model for transcutaneous current stimulation: simulations and experiments.
abstract: Complex nerve models have been developed for describing the generation of action potentials in humans. Such nerve models have primarily been used to model implantable electrical stimulation systems, where the stimulation electrodes are close to the nerve (near-field). To address if these nerve models can also be used to model transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) (far-field), we have developed a TES model that comprises a volume conductor and different previously published non-linear nerve models. The volume conductor models the resistive and capacitive properties of electrodes, electrode-skin interface, skin, fat, muscle, and bone. The non-linear nerve models were used to conclude from the potential field within the volume conductor on nerve activation. A comparison of simulated and experimentally measured chronaxie values (a measure for the excitability of nerves) and muscle twitch forces on human volunteers allowed us to conclude that some of the published nerve models can be used in TES models. The presented TES model provides a first step to more extensive model implementations for TES in which e.g., multi-array electrode configurations can be tested.
authors.affiliation: Automatic Control Laboratory, ETH Zurich, Physikstrasse 3, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland. kuhnan@control.ee.ethz.ch
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002907:Chronaxy / Q000502:physiology; D025802:Electric Capacitance; D005260:Female; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008959:Models, Neurological; D011999:Recruitment, Neurophysiological / Q000502:physiology; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods*