Brain Computer Interfaces: An Introduction for Clinical Neurodiagnostic Technologists.

Brain-computer interface (BCI) is a term used to describe systems that translate biological information into commands that can control external devices such as computers, prosthetics, and other machinery. While BCI is used in military applications, home control systems, and a wide array of entertainment, much of its modern interest and funding can be attributed to its utility in the medical community, where it has rapidly propelled advancements in the restoration or replacement of critical functions robbed from victims of disease, stroke, and traumatic injury. BCI devices can allow patients to move prosthetic limbs, operate devices such as wheelchairs or computers, and communicate through writing and speech-generating devices.

Electrical stimulation and electrode properties. Part 2: pure metal electrodes.

Electrical stimulation can cause significant damage to clinical electrodes as well as patient injury. In this study, the effects of stimulation on pure metal electrodes were investigated without the complexities introduced by the multiple elements that make up the clinical electrode. As with the clinical electrodes, there was significant decomposition of pure stainless steel anodes with no associated significant changes in the cathodes when stimulation employed long pulse durations.

Mechanisms of electrode induced injury. Part 3: practical concepts and avoidance.

This three part series of articles has discussed mechanisms of electrode related injuries from a theoretical viewpoint in Part 1 (Stecker et al. 2006) and from a clinical experience viewpoint in Part 2 (Patterson et al. 2007).

Mechanisms of electrode induced injury. Part 2: Clinical experience.

In the previous paper in this series, basic mechanisms of electrode related injuries were discussed. In this paper, the discussion begins with some of the clinical aspects of burns. This is followed by a summary of the clinical literature on injuries produced by surface and subdermal electrodes.

Mechanisms of electrode induced injury. Part 1: theory.

Electrodes are the essential elements of clinical neurophysiology both in recording of neural activity and in functional electrical stimulation of the nervous system. Therefore it is important to understand the potential complications of using electrodes. In this paper, the factors that influence the chance of electrode related injury are discussed from a theoretical standpoint.