Non-contacting electrode system for the measurement of strain generated potentials in bone

• Published in: Journal of biomedical engineering Vol. 11; no. 5; pp. 403 - 408
• Main Authors: Hastings, G.W., Mahmud, F.A., Martini, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Inc 01.09.1989; Butterworth-Heinemann
• Subjects: Action Potentials; Biological and medical sciences; Biomechanical Phenomena; Biomechanics. Biorheology; bone; Bone and Bones - physiology; Electrodes; Equipment Design; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Musculoskeletal system; piezoelectricity; Space life sciences; strain; streaming potential; Stress, Mechanical; Tissues, organs and organisms biophysics; strain; streaming potential; Musculoskeletal system; electrodes; bone; piezoelectricity; Biomechanics; Electrodes; Deformation; Piezoelectric materials; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Apparatus; Biophysics; Measurement method; Bone; Potential; Non contact measurement; Electromechanical properties
• ISSN: 0141-5425
• DOI: 10.1016/0141-5425(89)90104-0

Current methods employing contact electrodes for the measurement of the electromechanical properties of bone produce errors in the measurement due to the effects of polarization at the bone-electrode interface, and the flow of electric charges in the bone measuring circuit. In addition, signal artefacts may result from the movement of an electrode in contact with a specimen undergoing mechanical deformation. The principles for a non-contacting method, based on charge induction on a conductive plate placed in the field of a charged body (bone), and the resulting non-contacting electrode system are presented in this paper. The new electrode enabled measurement of strain generated potentials (SGP) in bone with minimal effect from the measuring circuit and provided new results previously masked by contacting measurement methods. Furthermore, the new electrode is a potential tool for further investigation of the in vitro electromechanical behaviour of bone, particularly in partially hydrated specimens and in vivo, thereby avoiding invasive methods or use of ionizing radiation.