נעמה כהן

תלמידת המחלקה לתואר שני תרצה בנושא:

Cuff Stimulation Electrode Impedance

Background and scope: Vagal nerve stimulation of cardiac fibres has surfaced as a viable therapy for cardiovascular diseases, including congestive heart failure. CardioFit stimulation lead (CSL) was developed for that purpose as a multi-polar cuff electrode.

The CSL is manufactured in five sizes. The outer diameter is equal for all the cuff electrode sizes and the inner diameters are varied from 2.25mm to 3.25mm. During implantation, as the vagus nerve is exposed, the size of cuff electrode is chosen in order to fit the vagus diameter. Impedance measurements are one of the important tools for defining that fit.

Aim: This thesis aims to give a better understanding of the cuff electrode impedance characteristics at different stages prior and during implantation.

Methods: The aspects of impedance measurements that are investigated are varied and include theoretical investigations of: metal-electrolyte interface electrochemical process and impedance vs. temperature, saline and nerve conductance, limitations of non isotropic nerve resistance and its influence on impedance measurements, theoretical cuff electrode impedance in saline vs. temperature and cuff electrode diameter and theoretical cuff electrode impedance on nerve (current route depended) vs. cuff electrode diameter and fit to the nerve.

On a second phase these aspects include in-vitro experiments: cuff electrode impedance in saline vs. temperature and cuff electrode diameter, cuff electrode impedance on nerve in-vitro (in physiological temperature) vs. cuff electrode diameter and fit, nerve cross sectioning for diameter measurements and comparison for compatibility between the cuff electrode diameters previously chosen.

העבודה נעשתה בהנחייתו של פרופ' מיקי שיינוביץ, המחלקה להנדסה ביו-רפואית, אוניברסיטת תל-אביב

ההרצאה תתקיים ביום ראשון 28.10.2012, בשעה 15:15,

בחדר 315, הבניין הרב תחומי, אוניברסיטת תל אביב