Detecting skin burns induced by surface electrodes

Abstract

The origin of electrical burns under gel-type surface electrodes is a controversial topic that is not well understood. To investigate the phenomenon, we have developed an excised porcine skin+gel model. In the present paper, we describe methods to detect these burns in the skin+gel model in an effort to understand the genesis of these burns. Burns were induced by severe electrical stimulation and changes in the impedance spectra and current density measured. We found that the changes in impedance spectrum were characterized by a significant drop in the low frequency (<1 kHz) impedance magnitude and the formation of welts in the skin. Low frequency current density imaging (LFCDI) revealed regions of high current density beneath the electrode before burns were induced suggesting the possibility of predicting the locations where welts from burns will form and the importance of current density and local tissue impedance in the formation of these burns.