Types Of Electrodes Research Articles

Ink-based textile electrodes for wearable functional electrical stimulation: A proof-of-concept study to evaluate comfort and efficacy.

Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) represents a promising technique for promoting functional recovery in individuals with neuromuscular diseases. Traditionally, current pulses are delivered through self-adhesive hydrogel Ag/AgCl electrodes, which allow a good contact with the skin, are easy-to-use and have a moderate cost. However, skin adherence decreases after a few uses and skin irritations can originate. Recently, textile electrodes have become an attractive alternative as they assure increased durability, easy integration into clothes and can be conveniently cleaned, improving the wearability of FES. However, as various manufacture processes were attempted, their clear validation is lacking. This proof-of-concept study proposes a novel set of ink-based printed textile electrodes and compares them to adhesive hydrogel electrodes in terms of impedance, stimulation performance and perceived comfort. The skin-electrode impedance was evaluated for both types of electrodes under different conditions. These electrodes were then used to deliver FES to the Rectus Femoris of 14 healthy subjects to induce its contraction in both isometric and dynamic conditions. This allowed to compare the two types of electrodes in terms of sensory, motor, maximum and pain thresholds, FES-induced range of motion during dynamic tests, FES-induced torque during isometric tests and perceived stimulation comfort. No statistically significant differences were found both in terms of stimulation performance (Wilcoxon test) and comfort (Generalized Linear Mixed Model). The results showed that the proposed ink-based printed textile electrodes can be effectively used as alternative to hydrogel ones. Further experiments are needed to evaluate their durability and their response to sterilizability and stretching tests.

Electrical rejuvenation of chronically implanted macroelectrodes in nonhuman primates

Objective. Electrodes chronically implanted in the brain undergo complex changes over time that can lower the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of recorded signals and reduce the amount of energy delivered to the tissue during therapeutic stimulation, both of which are relevant for the development of robust, closed-loop control systems. Several factors have been identified that link changes in the electrode-tissue interface (ETI) to increased impedance and degraded performance in micro- and macro-electrodes. Previous studies have demonstrated that brief pulses applied every few days can restore SNR to near baseline levels during microelectrode recordings in rodents, a process referred to as electrical rejuvenation. However, electrical rejuvenation has not been tested in clinically relevant macroelectrode designs in large animal models, which could serve as preliminary data for translation of this technique. Here, several variations of this approach were tested to characterize parameters for optimization. Approach. Alternating-current (AC) and direct-current (DC) electrical rejuvenation methods were explored in three electrode types, chronically implanted in two adult male nonhuman primates (NHP) (Macaca mulatta), which included epidural electrocorticography (ECoG) electrodes and penetrating deep-brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was performed before and after each rejuvenation paradigm as a gold standard measure of impedance, as well as at subsequent intervals to longitudinally track the evolution of the ETI. Stochastic error modeling was performed to assess the standard deviation of the impedance data, and consistency with the Kramers–Kronig relations was assessed to evaluate the stationarity of EIS measurement. Main results. AC and DC rejuvenation were found to quickly reduce impedance and minimize the tissue component of the ETI on all three electrode types, with DC and low-frequency AC producing the largest impedance drops and reduction of the tissue component in Nyquist plots. The effects of a single rejuvenation session were found to last from several days to over 1 week, and all rejuvenation pulses induced no observable changes to the animals’ behavior. Significance. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of electrical rejuvenation for diminishing the impact of chronic ETI changes in NHP with clinically relevant macroelectrode designs.

Photoelectrochemical water oxidation reaction for coated and meta-chemical surface electrodes with Na3[Ru2(μ-CO3)4]

The most economical and efficient method to produce green hydrogen relies on electrochemistry, the electricity for which is of a green origin, and on photocatalytic water splitting. The latter technology involves the use of a photocatalyst or a photo-electrocatalyst to transform solar energy into chemical energy. Vast efforts have thus been dedicated to the pursuit of such a catalyst.The current study focused on the development of a heterogeneous photoelectrochemical system in which the Na3[Ru2(μ-CO3)4] complex was used as a WOC. To that end, two types of electrodes were prepared: coated indium tin oxide (ITO) and meta-chemical surface (MCS) electrodes. Under 420 nm illumination, both electrode types exhibited higher catalytic currents than were observed without light.Our novel application of the Na3[Ru2(μ-CO3)4] complex as a catalyst in the photoelectrochemical water oxidation reaction requires minute amounts of the complex. The study findings add to the knowledge about the water-splitting process, and ultimately, they may facilitate the broader adoption of hydrogen as an environmentally friendly and increasingly accessible energy source.

A distributed, high-channel-count, implanted bidirectional system for restoration of somatosensation and myoelectric control

Objective. We intend to chronically restore somatosensation and provide high-fidelity myoelectric control for those with limb loss via a novel, distributed, high-channel-count, implanted system. Approach. We have developed the implanted Somatosensory Electrical Neurostimulation and Sensing (iSens®) system to support peripheral nerve stimulation through up to 64, 96, or 128 electrode contacts with myoelectric recording from 16, 8, or 0 bipolar sites, respectively. The rechargeable central device has Bluetooth® wireless telemetry to communicate to external devices and wired connections for up to four implanted satellite stimulation or recording devices. We characterized the stimulation, recording, battery runtime, and wireless performance and completed safety testing to support its use in human trials. Results. The stimulator operates as expected across a range of parameters and can schedule multiple asynchronous, interleaved pulse trains subject to total charge delivery limits. Recorded signals in saline show negligible stimulus artifact when 10 cm from a 1 mA stimulating source. The wireless telemetry range exceeds 1 m (direction and orientation dependent) in a saline torso phantom. The bandwidth supports 100 Hz bidirectional update rates of stimulation commands and data features or streaming select full bandwidth myoelectric signals. Preliminary first-in-human data validates the bench testing result. Significance. We developed, tested, and clinically implemented an advanced, modular, fully implanted peripheral stimulation and sensing system for somatosensory restoration and myoelectric control. The modularity in electrode type and number, including distributed sensing and stimulation, supports a wide variety of applications; iSens® is a flexible platform to bring peripheral neuromodulation applications to clinical reality. ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT04430218.

Effects of electrode shape in micro-electro-discharge patterning of carbon nanotube forests

This paper reports the performance of different tool electrode structures in micropatterning of vertically aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) forests through dry micro-electro-discharge machining (μEDM). Micro cylindrical electrodes of tungsten with flat and hemispherically rounded tips were employed in this study. The rounded-tip electrode was shaped using a custom wet μEDM process. Both types of electrodes were used to pattern arrays of micro test slots at different depths and discharge voltages on a multi-walled CNT forest from which the resultant discharge gaps were experimentally characterized. The rounded-tip electrode showed a 2.1–2.4× reduction in the discharge gap with applied voltages of 15–20 V, suggesting its potential to improve the lateral resolution of the patterning process when compared with the flat-tip case. Finite element analysis of the process configuration with these two electrodes was conducted and showed good agreement with the improvement factors of the discharge gap experimentally observed. However, the process using the rounded-tip electrode resulted in larger variations on the bottom surfaces of the created patterns, while the use of the flat-tip electrode provided higher uniformity on these surfaces, revealing an apparent trade-off relationship between the discharge gap and the patterning uniformity for the two electrode types under the tested conditions. Elemental analysis of the processed CNT forest surfaces showed no detectable contamination from the electrodes onto the forest structures patterned using either electrode.

Overlooked competition and promotion effects in electrochemical oxidation of humic acid and ammonia in landfill leachate

Electrochemical oxidation (EO) can effectively reduce the degree of humification and toxicity of landfill leachate by generating highly active oxidative species in situ. However, the selective and competitive oxidation of humic acid (HA) and ammonia (NH4+) and the role of different oxidative species during the EO process in complex aqueous conditions remain unclear. In this study, a nanostructured tin-antimony electrode (Ti/Sb-SnO2 NFs) was prepared and compared with three types of commercial electrodes (Ti/Ir-RuO2, Ti4O7, Ti/Sb-SnO2) in terms of electrochemical properties and electrocatalytic oxidation of HA and NH4+. The de-humification capacity, interactive effects of HA and NH4+ on each other's oxidation by different oxidative species, as well as the related oxidation byproducts were investigated. The differences in pollutant electrooxidation among the different electrodes were found to be insignificant. The presence of HA was found to be detrimental to NH4+ degradation while reducing the N2 conversion rate. Interestingly, NH4+ initially inhibited the degradation rates of HA while promoted the degradation and reduced the accumulation of organic chlorine during the later EO process. A proposed mechanism accounts for both competitive and promotional effects for simultaneous HA and NH4+ oxidation during the EO process.

NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF STEEL MEMBER REMAINING COMPRESSIVE CAPACITY DURING SMAW WELDING

This study investigates the influence of Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) welding parameters on the remaining compressive capacity of angle-shaped steel members used for structural strengthening. The analysis focuses on members with thin hot-rolled profiles (40.4 x 40.4 x 4.0 mm, 50.5 x 50.5 x 5.0 mm, and 60.6 x 60.6 x 6.0 mm). A finite element model simulates the heat distribution caused by welding, leading to a temperature increase within the member. Welding scenarios are simulated using various combinations of current strength and welding speed based on the specifications for electrode type E6013. The remaining compressive capacity is determined by segmenting the cross-section based on temperature intervals and considering the member's slenderness. The analysis reveals a clear correlation between welding parameters and compressive capacity loss. Employing a higher current and lower welding speed leads to a more significant reduction in capacity due to the resulting extensive heat-affected zone (HAZ). Conversely, the lowest current and highest speed scenario minimizes the HAZ, resulting in the highest remaining compressive capacity. The analysis demonstrates that the 40.4 x 40.4 x 4.0 mm member can retain up to 51.15% of its original capacity under these optimal conditions, while the 50.5 x 50.5 x 5.0 mm and 60.6 x 60.6 x 6.0 mm members can retain 57.79% and 75.78%, respectively. In contrast, the worst-case scenario employing high current and low speed significantly reduces the remaining capacity, with reductions down to 6.79%, 10.87%, and 10.54% for the respective member sizes. These findings highlight the importance of optimizing welding parameters to minimize the negative impact on the compressive capacity of steel members during strengthening operations.

Impact of surgical approach and cochlear implant electrode on structural integrity of the cochlea

Cochlear implants have been used for many years as a rehabilitation device for people with severe to profound hearing loss. Essential aspects of successful cochlear implantation are the choice of electrode type and proper insertion of the electrode array into the tympanic ladder to minimize damage to the cochlea. This article discusses the impact of surgical approaches, such as round window, cochleostomy, and extended round window, and the type of electrode array (perimodiolar or lateral wall) on scalar translocation.

Prediction of Cochlear Implant Fitting by Machine Learning Techniques.

This study aimed to evaluate the differences in electrically evoked compound action potential (ECAP) thresholds and postoperative mapping current (T) levels between electrode types after cochlear implantation, the correlation between ECAP thresholds and T levels, and the performance of machine learning techniques in predicting postoperative T levels. Retrospective case review. Tertiary hospital. We reviewed the charts of 124 ears of children with severe-to-profound hearing loss who had undergone cochlear implantation. We compared ECAP thresholds and T levels from different electrodes, calculated correlations between ECAP thresholds and T levels, and created five prediction models of T levels at switch-on and 6 months after surgery. The accuracy of prediction in postoperative mapping current (T) levels. The ECAP thresholds of the slim modiolar electrodes were significantly lower than those of the straight electrodes on the apical side. However, there was no significant difference in the neural response telemetry thresholds between the two electrodes on the basal side. Lasso regression achieved the most accurate prediction of T levels at switch-on, and the random forest algorithm achieved the most accurate prediction of T levels 6 months after surgery in this dataset. Machine learning techniques could be useful for accurately predicting postoperative T levels after cochlear implantation in children.

Conformal, stretchable, breathable, wireless epidermal surface electromyography sensor system for hand gesture recognition and rehabilitation of stroke hand function

Surface electromyography (sEMG) plays a significant role in the everyday practice of clinic hand function rehabilitation. The materials and design of current typical clinic sEMG electrodes are rigid Ag/AgCl or flexible polyimide (PI) film, which cannot provide a stable interface between electrodes and skin for adequate long-term high-quality data. Thus, conformal, soft, breathable, wireless epidermal sEMG sensor systems have broad potential relevance to clinic rehabilitation settings. Herein, we demonstrate a stretchable epidermal sEMG sensor array system with optimized materials and structure strategies for hand gesture recognition and hand function rehabilitation. The optimized serpentine structures with marvelous stretchability and improved fill ratio, provide lower impedance and high-quality sEMG signals. Moreover, the easy-to-use airhole method further ensures stable and long-term contact with the skin for recording. In addition, integrated with a customized flexible wireless data acquisition system, the capability for real-time 8-channel sEMG monitoring is developed, and taking together with the CNN-based algorithm, the system can automatically and reliably realize the 7 kinds of hand gestures with an accuracy of 81.02%. Moreover, the low-cost yet high-performance epidermal sEMG sensor system demonstrated its conceptual feasibility in quantitatively evaluation of stroke patient’s hand and facilitating human-robot collaboration in hand rehabilitation by proof-of-the-concept clinical testing.

The effect of soil moisture content and soil texture on fast in situ pH measurements with two types of robust ion-selective electrodes

Abstract. In situ soil pH measurements with ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) are receiving increasing attention in soil mapping for precision agriculture as they can avoid time-consuming sampling and off-site laboratory work. However, unlike the standard laboratory protocol, in situ pH measurements are carried out at lower and varying soil moisture contents (SMCs), which can have a pronounced effect on the sensor readings. In addition, as the contact with the soil during in situ measurements should be relatively short, effects of soil texture could be expected because texture controls the migration of protons to the electrode interface. This may be exacerbated by the fact that the electrodes used for in situ measurements are made of less sensitive but more robust materials as compared to the standard glass electrode. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of soil moisture and soil texture on pH measurements using robust antimony and epoxy-body ISEs pressed directly into the soil for 30 s. The SMC was gradually increased from dry conditions to field capacity. A wide range of soil texture classes were included, with sand, silt, and clay contents ranging from 16 % to 91 %, 5 % to 44 %, and 4 % to 65 %, respectively. An exponential model was fitted to the data to quantify the relationship between SMC and pH. The results show that an increase in SMC causes a maximum increase in pH of approximately 1.5 pH units, regardless of the type of pH ISE used. Furthermore, for sandy soil textures, a rather linear relationship between pH and SMC was observed, whereas, with decreasing mean particle diameter (MPD), the model had a pronounced exponential shape, i.e., a greater pH increase at low SMC and a plateau effect at high SMC. With increasing SMC, the pH values asymptotically approached the standard pH measured with a glass electrode in 0.01 M CaCl2 (soil : solution ratio of 1:2.5). Thus, at high SMC, subsequent calibration of the sensor pH values to the standard pH value is negligible, which may be relevant for using the sensor pH data for lime requirement estimates. The pH measurement error decreases exponentially with increasing soil moisture and increases with decreasing MPD. Using a knee point detection, reliable pH values were obtained for SMC > 11 %, irrespective of the pH ISE used. An analysis of the regression coefficients of the fitted exponential model showed that the maximum pH increase also depends on soil texture; i.e., the influence of soil moisture variation on the pH value increases with decreasing MPD. Moreover, the concavity of the exponential curve increases with decreasing MPD.

Parametric investigation of thermal additive centrifugal abrasive flow machining process for enhancing productivity

Thermal additive centrifugal abrasive flow machining hybrid of abrasive flow machining caters to low material removal issues which enhances the acceptability of the process. The present investigation investigates the different centrifugal force-generating electrode geometry performances in the thermal additive centrifugal abrasive flow machining process. The L27 orthogonal array is used for optimizing the process parameters (electrode type, current supply, and the duty cycle) and their effect on material removal and percentage improvement in surface finish (%Δ Ra) are analyzed. Based on the percentage contribution obtained from Taguchi analysis, electrode type is the prominent parameter for material removal (88.27%) and %Δ Ra (78.54%) followed by current (7.43% for material removal and 13.92% for %Δ Ra) and duty cycle (3.95% for material removal and 6.42% for %Δ Ra). The spline electrode with a curved blade is found optimum with 10 A current and 0.76 duty cycle. The average experimental value based on the design of the experiment and the predicted value for material removal is 10.373 and 10.881 mg, respectively. The average experimental value and the predicted value for percentage improvement in the surface are 42.24% and 43.71%, respectively. The percentage error between the predicted and experimental values for material removal and %Δ Ra is 4.66% and 3.15%, respectively.

Wide-range, durable, and adaptable miniature pressure sensor based on planar capacitance

Capacitive pressure sensor (CPS) is widely used in the field of industrial equipment, because of the merits of fast dynamic response and high resolution. However, the traditional laminated CPS makes it difficult to achieve a wide detection limit in a small size, and this structure is susceptible to electromagnetic interference. Here we developed a miniature planar capacitive pressure sensor (MPCPS) with high performance, which can realize the response to external touching stimuli through the deformation of the packaging material and the change of the equivalent resistance. A metal shielding layer was added under the insulating substrate to effectively isolate the external interference. The thickness of the sensor is about 200 μm, and the diameter of the core sensing area is less than 1 mm. Two types of electrodes with different shapes were designed, among which the spiral electrode MPCPS (S-MPCPS) has better performance than the linear electrode MPCPS. The S-MPCPS has a sensitivity of 99.2% MPa−1 in the low-pressure range (0–0.1 MPa), fast response (20 ms), wide detection limit (>1 MPa), and high durability (>2000 cycles). In addition, MPCPS is proven to have good resistance to high temperature and oil contamination. Finally, practical applications such as contact pressure measuring on the meshing surface of spur gears and mechanical gripper clamping force monitoring were successfully demonstrated. These results shed light on the potential application of the MPCPS in the pressure detection of industrial equipment.

Manufacturing of TiO2, Al2O3 and Y2O3 Ceramic Nanotubes for Application as Electrodes for Printable Electrochemical Sensors

This paper describes the process to obtain ceramic nanotubes from titanium dioxide, alumina and yttrium oxide by a feasible, replicable and reliable technology, including three stages, starting from an electrospinning process of poly(methyl methacrylate) solutions. A minimum diameter of 0.3 μm was considered optimal for PMMA nanofibers in order to maintain the structural stability of covered fibers, which, after ceramic film deposition, leads to a fiber diameter of 0.5–0.6 μm. After a chemical and physical analysis of the stages of obtaining ceramic nanotubes, in all cases, uniform deposition of a ceramic film on PMMA fibers and, finally, a uniform structure of ceramic nanotubes were noted. The technological purpose was to use such nanotubes as ingredients in screen-printing inks for electrochemical sensors, because no study directly targeted the subject of ceramic nanotube applications for printed electronics to date. The printing technology was analyzed in terms of the ink deposition process, printed electrode roughness vs. type of ceramic nanotubes, derived inks, thermal curing of the electrodes and the conductivity of electrodes on different support (rigid and flexible) at different curing temperatures. The experimental inks containing ceramic nanotubes can be considered feasible for printed electronics, because they offer fast curing at low temperatures, reasonable conductivity vs. electrode length, good printability on both ceramic or plastic (flexible) supports and good adhesion to surface after curing.

A novel two-stage continuous capacitive deionization system with connected flow electrode and freestanding electrode

The desalination of seawater/wastewater utilizing flow-electrode capacitive deionization (FCDI) has received significant interest. However, challenges like the low electrical conductivity of flow electrode and excessive energy consumption have prevented the scaling up of desalination operations. To overcome these issues, this study introduces a new FCDI system termed the two-stage FCDI (TS-FCDI) system, in which desalination modules are equipped with freestanding and flow electrode. The TS-FCDI system offers a graded desalination module design that produces an average salt removal rate (ASRR) of 113 µg cm2·min−1. However, the TS-FCDI system requires substantially reduced infrastructure investment, device size, and energy expenses. Notably, the design allows for the simultaneous operation of freestanding and flow electrode and enables the transport of ions and charges in the electrode region. Experimental evidence from multiple device configurations (CDI, FCDI, and TS-FCDI) supports this claim. Notably, the TS-FCDI system shows about twice the desalination performance over FCDI, with approximately 50 h of single-cycle (SC) operation. This enhancement links the freestanding electrode with the flow electrode, enabling the device to be well-suited for practical applications. The continuous flow of electrode particles in contact with the freestanding electrode initiates secondary ion transport, merging two different types of electrodes to enhance the active space of the electrode, effectively improving ion adsorption performance. In summary, the results of this study indicate the potential of the TS-FCDI system as a suitable desalination technology for scaling up applications.

Experimental study on enhancing electrostatic charging of nonwoven filter media through novel electrode configurations

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the urgent need for efficient particle filtration to tackle public health challenges. This study compares the electrostatic charging capabilities of two types of electrodes: conventional Metal Lamellar Electrodes (MLE) and Modified Lamellar Plate Electrodes (MLPE) with PMMA insulation, in their role of charging nonwoven polypropylene filter media. Experimental analysis unequivocally demonstrates the superiority of MLPE in promoting effective electrostatic charge, as influenced by applied high voltage and inter-electrode distance, resulting in a significant enhancement in fine particle filtration. Numerical simulations of the electric field conducted using the COMSOL software and employing the Finite Element Method (FEM) validate these findings. FEM discretizes the domain into small finite elements and applies Laplace's equation in charge-free regions, providing a comprehensive understanding of the behavior of dual-electrode corona discharge systems. These simulations indicate higher field intensities for MLPE compared to MLE.By integrating experimental and numerical analyses, this study sheds light on the potential benefits of MLPE for air filtration systems, offering a noteworthy advancement in the control of airborne infections and reduction of environmental health risks. This research lays the groundwork for the development of more efficient and durable filtration systems, meeting the increasing demands for public health protection.The findings of this study suggest that the adoption of MLPE could significantly contribute to improving indoor air quality and mitigating the transmission of respiratory diseases. MLPE may also find utility in industrial filtration and air purification in sensitive work environments. Ultimately, this research sets the stage for the development of more efficient and sustainable filtration systems, addressing the growing needs for public health protection.

EEG source imaging of hand movement-related areas: an evaluation of the reconstruction and classification accuracy with optimized channels

The hand motor activity can be identified and converted into commands for controlling machines through a brain-computer interface (BCI) system. Electroencephalography (EEG) based BCI systems employ electrodes to measure the electrical brain activity projected at the scalp and discern patterns. However, the volume conduction problem attenuates the electric potential from the brain to the scalp and introduces spatial mixing to the signals. EEG source imaging (ESI) techniques can be applied to alleviate these issues and enhance the spatial segregation of information. Despite this potential solution, the use of ESI has not been extensively applied in BCI systems, largely due to accuracy concerns over reconstruction accuracy when using low-density EEG (ldEEG), which is commonly used in BCIs. To overcome these accuracy issues in low channel counts, recent studies have proposed reducing the number of EEG channels based on optimized channel selection. This work presents an evaluation of the spatial and temporal accuracy of ESI when applying optimized channel selection towards ldEEG number of channels. For this, a simulation study of source activity related to hand movement has been performed using as a starting point an EEG system with 339 channels. The results obtained after optimization show that the activity in the concerned areas can be retrieved with a spatial accuracy of 3.99, 10.69, and 14.29 mm (localization error) when using 32, 16, and 8 channel counts respectively. In addition, the use of optimally selected electrodes has been validated in a motor imagery classification task, obtaining a higher classification performance when using 16 optimally selected channels than 32 typical electrode distributions under 10–10 system, and obtaining higher classification performance when combining ESI methods with the optimal selected channels.

Optimizing electrode arrangement in plasma actuators: a study on induced velocity and efficiency

This study investigates the performance of two types of multi-encapsulated electrode (MEE) plasma actuators, compared to typical dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuators, in quiescent air. The objective is to determine whether the multiple encapsulated structure can enhance the performance of the plasma actuator. In the present paper, flow characteristics are investigated by using particle image velocimetry (PIV) and Schlieren visualisation. In addition, the distribution of body force over the gas volume based on the Navier–Stokes equations is calculated from velocity measurements. The obtained results demonstrate that the starting vortex behavior is influenced by electrode arrangement. Specifically, it can be observed that when the first encapsulated electrode is positioned closer to the exposed electrode, then a significantly higher induced velocity can be obtained compared to the baseline condition. In fact, the induced velocity can be increased by up to 1.5 times under this optimize configuration. These results highlight the importance of electrode arrangement in the plasma actuator design. Based on body force estimation, MEE plasma actuators exhibit a significantly higher momentum transfer, particularly in the wall normal direction. The investigation on the mechanical efficiency also reveals that the optimized configuration proposed in the present study can significantly enhance the efficiency. In fact, a four-fold increase in maximum efficiency compared to the typical configuration is observed. These results suggest that the proposed configuration could be considered a promising solution for improving the mechanical efficiency of plasma actuators.

The influence of electrode types to the visually induced gamma oscillations in mouse primary visual cortex.

The local field potential (LFP) is an extracellular electrical signal associated with neural ensemble input and dendritic signaling. Previous studies have linked gamma band oscillations of the LFP in cortical circuits to sensory stimuli encoding, attention, memory, and perception. Inconsistent results regarding gamma tuning for visual features were reported, but it remains unclear whether these discrepancies are due to variations in electrode properties. Specifically, the surface area and impedance of the electrode are important characteristics in LFP recording. To comprehensively address these issues, we conducted an electrophysiological study in the V1 region of lightly anesthetized mice using two types of electrodes: one with higher impedance (1MΩ) and a sharp tip (10μm), while the other had lower impedance (100 KΩ) but a thicker tip (200μm). Our findings demonstrate that gamma oscillations acquired by sharp-tip electrodes were significantly stronger than those obtained from thick-tip electrodes. Regarding size tuning, most gamma power exhibited surround suppression at larger gratings when recorded from sharp-tip electrodes. However, the majority showed enhanced gamma power at larger gratings when recorded from thick-tip electrodes. Therefore, our study suggests that microelectrode parameters play a significant role in accurately recording gamma oscillations and responsive tuning to sensory stimuli.

Cochlear implant electrode design for safe and effective treatment.

The optimal placement of a cochlear implant (CI) electrode inside the scala tympani compartment to create an effective electrode-neural interface is the base for a successful CI treatment. The characteristics of an effective electrode design include (a) electrode matching every possible variation in the inner ear size, shape, and anatomy, (b) electrically covering most of the neuronal elements, and (c) preserving intra-cochlear structures, even in non-hearing preservation surgeries. Flexible electrode arrays of various lengths are required to reach an angular insertion depth of 680° to which neuronal cell bodies are angularly distributed and to minimize the rate of electrode scalar deviation. At the time of writing this article, the current scientific evidence indicates that straight lateral wall electrode outperforms perimodiolar electrode by preventing electrode tip fold-over and scalar deviation. Most of the available literature on electrode insertion depth and hearing outcomes supports the practice of physically placing an electrode to cover both the basal and middle turns of the cochlea. This is only achievable with longer straight lateral wall electrodes as single-sized and pre-shaped perimodiolar electrodes have limitations in reaching beyond the basal turn of the cochlea and in offering consistent modiolar hugging placement in every cochlea. For malformed inner ear anatomies that lack a central modiolar trunk, the perimodiolar electrode is not an effective electrode choice. Most of the literature has failed to demonstrate superiority in hearing outcomes when comparing perimodiolar electrodes with straight lateral wall electrodes from single CI manufacturers. In summary, flexible and straight lateral wall electrode type is reported to be gentle to intra-cochlear structures and has the potential to electrically stimulate most of the neuronal elements, which are necessary in bringing full benefit of the CI device to recipients.