Title :
Influences of Interpolation Error, Electrode Geometry, and the Electrode–Tissue Interface on Models of Electric Fields Produced by Deep Brain Stimulation
Author :
Howell, B. ; Naik, Sapan ; Grill, Warren M.
Author_Institution :
Biomed. Eng. Dept., Duke Univ., Durham, NC, USA
Abstract :
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established therapy for movement disorders, but the fundamental mechanisms by which DBS has its effects remain unknown. Computational models can provide insights into the mechanisms of DBS, but to be useful, the models must have sufficient detail to predict accurately the electric fields produced by DBS. We used a finite-element method model of the Medtronic 3387 electrode array, coupled to cable models of myelinated axons, to quantify how interpolation errors, electrode geometry, and the electrode-tissue interface affect calculation of electrical potentials and stimulation thresholds for populations of model nerve fibers. Convergence of the potentials was not a sufficient criterion for ensuring the same degree of accuracy in subsequent determination of stimulation thresholds, because the accuracy of the stimulation thresholds depended on the order of the elements. Simplifying the 3387 electrode array by ignoring the inactive contacts and extending the terminated end of the shaft had position-dependent effects on the potentials and excitation thresholds, and these simplifications may impact correlations between DBS parameters and clinical outcomes. When the current density in the bulk tissue is uniform, the effect of the electrode-tissue interface impedance could be approximated by filtering the potentials calculated with a static lumped electrical equivalent circuit. Further, for typical DBS parameters during voltage-regulated stimulation, it was valid to approximate the electrode as an ideal polarized electrode with a nonlinear capacitance. Validation of these computational considerations enables accurate modeling of the electric field produced by DBS.
Keywords :
bioelectric potentials; biological tissues; biomedical electrodes; brain; capacitance; cellular biophysics; electric impedance; equivalent circuits; finite element analysis; interpolation; neurophysiology; patient treatment; physiological models; Medtronic 3387 electrode array; computational models; convergence; current density; deep brain stimulation; electric field model; electrical potential calculation; electrode geometry; electrode-tissue interface impedance effect; finite-element method; interpolation error; movement disorder therapy; myelinated axon models; nerve fiber model; nonlinear capacitance; static lumped electrical equivalent circuit; voltage-regulated stimulation; Brain modeling; Computational modeling; Electric potential; Electrodes; Finite element analysis; Radio frequency; Satellite broadcasting; Computational modeling; deep brain stimulation (DBS); electric field; finite-element method (FEM); neural engineering;
Journal_Title :
Biomedical Engineering, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TBME.2013.2292025