Correlation of Electrical Impedance and Evoked Potentials With Properties of the Electrode Interface Using in Situ Block-Face Imaging of the Rat Pelvic Nerve

Abstract

Background Electrical stimulation is an emerging therapy for urologic disorders. The interface between electrode and neural tissue is a critical region of interest given it affects thresholds of neural activation. Measures of electrode impedance are used clinically to estimate tissue fibrosis at the interface; however, the relationship between impedance and fibrosis is not well defined. Objective This study aimed to assess the relationship between interface tissue fibrosis and nerve distance from electrode surface with measurements of impedance and evoked thresholds using a chronic model of visceral nerve implantation. Materials and Methods An extraneural four-platinum electrode array was im..