Quantification of safe operation conditions for large-area platinum-iridium electrodes in neurostimulation application.

Objective: Using electrochemical characterization methods of stimulation electrodes as well as accelerated stimulation examinations, a safe operating field for stimulation is investigated for particularly very large Pt-Ir macroelectrodes in a Laplace configuration.

Approach: Traditional methods such as Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy, Cyclic Voltammetry and biphasic, charge balanced current pulses were applied on Pt-Ir macroelectrodes in phosphate buffered saline solution to investigate reversible boundaries. These experiments were adapted to approach realistic working conditions.

Blind identification of the spinal cord output in humans with high-density electrode arrays implanted in muscles.

Invasive electromyography opened a new window to explore motoneuron behavior in vivo. However, the technique is limited by the small fraction of active motoneurons that can be concurrently detected, precluding a population analysis in natural tasks. Here, we developed a high-density intramuscular electrode for in vivo human recordings along with a fully automatic methodology that could detect the discharges of action potentials of up to 67 concurrently active motoneurons with 99% accuracy.

Does Cold-Water Immersion After Strength Training Attenuate Training Adaptation?

Purpose: Cold-water immersion is increasingly used by athletes to support performance recovery. Recently, however, indications have emerged suggesting that the regular use of cold-water immersion might be detrimental to strength training adaptation.

Methods: In a randomized crossover design, 11 participants performed two 8-week training periods including 3 leg training sessions per week, separated by an 8-week "wash out" period.

A thin-film multichannel electrode for muscle recording and stimulation in neuroprosthetics applications.

Objective: We propose, design and test a novel thin-film multichannel electrode that can be used for both recording from and stimulating a muscle in acute implants.

Approach: The system is built on a substrate of polyimide and contains 12 recording and three stimulation sites made of platinum. The structure is 420 µm wide, 20 µm thick and embeds the recording and stimulation contacts on the two sides of the polyimide over an approximate length of 2 cm.

Postexercise Hypotension as a Predictor for Long-Term Training-Induced Blood Pressure Reduction: A Large-Scale Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between acute exercise effects and chronic training effects on blood pressure (BP).

Design: Randomized, controlled training study focusing on the optimization of preventive effects of physical training.

Setting: The study was performed in a university department.

Massage and Performance Recovery: A Meta-Analytical Review.

Background: Post-exercise massage is one of the most frequently applied interventions to enhance recovery of athletes. However, evidence to support the efficacy of massage for performance recovery is scarce. Moreover, it has not yet been concluded under which conditions massage is effective.

A new generation of double-sided intramuscular electrodes for multi-channel recording and stimulation.

In this work, a new generation of intramuscular multi-channel electrode for EMG recording and muscle stimulation is presented. The electrode is based on double-sided polyimide microtechnology, and features electrode contacts on both sides of a thin polyimide filament. The structure is attached to a cannula, allowing insertion and application of the electrode system similar to conventional intramuscular wire electrodes.

Accurate and representative decoding of the neural drive to muscles in humans with multi-channel intramuscular thin-film electrodes.

Intramuscular electrodes developed over the past 80 years can record the concurrent activity of only a few motor units active during a muscle contraction. We designed, produced and tested a novel multi-channel intramuscular wire electrode that allows in vivo concurrent recordings of a substantially greater number of motor units than with conventional methods. The electrode has been extensively tested in deep and superficial human muscles.

Development, manufacturing and application of double-sided flexible implantable microelectrodes.

Many neuroprosthetic applications require the use of very small, flexible multi-channel microelectrodes (e.g. polyimide-based film-like electrodes) to fit anatomical constraints.

Cooling and performance recovery of trained athletes: a meta-analytical review.

Purpose: Cooling after exercise has been investigated as a method to improve recovery during intensive training or competition periods. As many studies have included untrained subjects, the transfer of those results to trained athletes is questionable.

Methods: Therefore, the authors conducted a literature search and located 21 peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials addressing the effects of cooling on performance recovery in trained athletes.

Pre-cooling and sports performance: a meta-analytical review.

Pre-cooling is used by many athletes for the purpose of reducing body temperature prior to exercise and, consequently, decreasing heat stress and improving performance. Although there are a considerable number of studies showing beneficial effects of pre-cooling, definite conclusions on the effectiveness of pre-cooling on performance cannot yet be drawn. Moreover, detailed analyses of the specific conditions under which pre-cooling may be most promising are, so far, missing.

Ethical issues in the development of a vestibular prosthesis.

During the development of a neural prosthesis, various ethical aspects have to be considered. These range from the basic design of the prosthesis and manufacturing of the various components and the system using biocompatible materials to extensive in vitro and in vivo testing and investigations in the animal model, before taking the final step and going to human trials. As medical systems, neural prostheses have to be proven absolutely safe before considering any clinical study.

3D hybrid electrode structure as implantable interface for a vestibular neural prosthesis in humans.

Implantable interfaces are essential components of vestibular neural prostheses. They interface the biological system with electrical stimulation that is used to restore transfer of vestibular information. Regarding the anatomical situation special 3D structures are required.

Acquisition of myoelectric signals to control a hand prosthesis with implantable epimysial electrodes.

The acquisition of myoelectric signals from the Musculus deltoideus of a rhesus monkey is described. Such signals are aimed to be used as control signal for an active myoelectric hand prosthesis. For recording, implantable flexible, polyimide-based multi-site microelectrodes were placed epimysially on the muscle.

High resolution electroencephalography in freely moving mice.

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a standard tool for monitoring brain states in humans. Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying diverse EEG rhythms can be facilitated by using mouse models under molecular, pharmacological, or electrophysiological manipulations. The small size of the mouse brain, however, poses a severe limitation in the spatial information of EEG.

A flexible microelectrode for mouse EEG.

Electroencephalography (EEG) of the mouse brain offers the advantage to monitor brain states in freely moving conditions under genetic or molecular manipulation. We present a novel, flexible, and biocompatible microfabricated electrode based on polyimide to record a multi-channel EEG from a mouse. Our microelectrode has 32 recording electrodes, including two ground electrodes.

Long-term characterization of electrode materials for surface electrodes in biopotential recording.

The long-term electrical behavior of 16 different electrode materials was investigated by using continuous impedance spectroscopy over a period of 10 days. The materials included bare and electrolytically treated metals, metals coated with intrinsically conductive polymers, and polymers with conductive particles. Electrolytic treatment of metal electrodes yielded a significant impedance reduction.