“…Many cuff-type electrode designs have proven to provide this by using a cylindrical geometry to conform to the shape of the nerve, encircling the nerve trunk (McCarty, 1965; Gardiner, 1967; Dubkin, 1970; Haugland, 1996; Rushton, 1997; Hoffer and Kallesoe, 1999; Rutten, 2002). This positions the electrical interface close to the neural tissue, resulting in lower stimulus threshold currents and a subsequent decrease in the power demands on a stimulator system relative to other types of electrodes, such as epimysial or intramuscular electrodes (Navarro et al, 2005).…”
Nerve cuff electrodes are a principle tool of basic and applied electro-neurophysiology studies and are championed for their ability to achieve good nerve recruitment with low thresholds. We describe the design and method of fabrication for a novel circumpolar peripheral nerve electrode for acute experimental use. This cylindrical cuff-style electrode provides approximately 270 degrees of radial electrode contact with a nerve for each of an arbitrary number of contacts, has a profile that allows for simple placement and removal in an acute nerve preparation, and is designed for adjustment of the cylindrical diameter to ensure a close fit on the nerve. For each electrode, the electrical contacts were cut from 25 µm platinum foil as an array so as to maintain their positions relative to each other within the cuff. Lead wires were welded to each intended contact. The structure was then molded in silicone elastomer, after which the individual contacts were electrically isolated. The final electrode was curved into a cylindrical shape with an inner diameter corresponding to that of the intended target nerve. The positions of these contacts were well maintained during the molding and shaping process and failure rates during fabrication due to contact displacements were very low. Established electrochemical measurements were made on one electrode to confirm expected behavior for a platinum electrode and to measure the electrode impedance to applied voltages at different frequencies. These electrodes have been successfully used for nerve stimulation, recording, and conduction block in a number of different acute animal experiments by several investigators.
“…Many cuff-type electrode designs have proven to provide this by using a cylindrical geometry to conform to the shape of the nerve, encircling the nerve trunk (McCarty, 1965; Gardiner, 1967; Dubkin, 1970; Haugland, 1996; Rushton, 1997; Hoffer and Kallesoe, 1999; Rutten, 2002). This positions the electrical interface close to the neural tissue, resulting in lower stimulus threshold currents and a subsequent decrease in the power demands on a stimulator system relative to other types of electrodes, such as epimysial or intramuscular electrodes (Navarro et al, 2005).…”
Nerve cuff electrodes are a principle tool of basic and applied electro-neurophysiology studies and are championed for their ability to achieve good nerve recruitment with low thresholds. We describe the design and method of fabrication for a novel circumpolar peripheral nerve electrode for acute experimental use. This cylindrical cuff-style electrode provides approximately 270 degrees of radial electrode contact with a nerve for each of an arbitrary number of contacts, has a profile that allows for simple placement and removal in an acute nerve preparation, and is designed for adjustment of the cylindrical diameter to ensure a close fit on the nerve. For each electrode, the electrical contacts were cut from 25 µm platinum foil as an array so as to maintain their positions relative to each other within the cuff. Lead wires were welded to each intended contact. The structure was then molded in silicone elastomer, after which the individual contacts were electrically isolated. The final electrode was curved into a cylindrical shape with an inner diameter corresponding to that of the intended target nerve. The positions of these contacts were well maintained during the molding and shaping process and failure rates during fabrication due to contact displacements were very low. Established electrochemical measurements were made on one electrode to confirm expected behavior for a platinum electrode and to measure the electrode impedance to applied voltages at different frequencies. These electrodes have been successfully used for nerve stimulation, recording, and conduction block in a number of different acute animal experiments by several investigators.
Acrylic elastomers have the ASTM designation ACM for polymers of ethyl acrylate and other acrylates, and ANM for copolymers of ethyl or other acrylates with acrylonitrile. In both cases, the M indicates a polymer having a saturated chain of the polymethylene type. The combination of a saturated backbone with polar side chains results in a class of polymers with very good resistance to heat and oil, including oils containing hypoid additives. Acrylic elastomers also have good resistance to sunlight and ozone. Ethylene–acrylic elastomers are discussed in a separate article.
The first acrylic elastomers were homopolymers of either ethyl acrylate or methyl acrylate. Because these had limited utility, particularly for vulcanized applications, various copolymer modifications were developed to improve performance, and there evolved a division of monomers into two types:
backbone monomers
, which comprise the principal proportion of the monomers and determine the physical and chemical properties of the polymer, and
cure‐site monomers
, which are incorporated to the extent of 1–5% to introduce reactive sites for subsequent cross‐linking reactions.
Emulsion and suspension polymerization are the important methods for preparing the elastomers. Their rheological characteristics require processing that addresses contamination more than for other types. Fairly rigid processing is required. The monomers from which these elastomers are prepared have varying degrees of toxicity. Because of the wide property range, the acylic elastomers have many application, eg, coatings, textiles, automotive products, adhesives, paper, and agriculture.
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