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2002 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Stabilization of cutaneous sensation elicited by electric stimulation and its application to sensory feedback

Research Project

Project/Area Number 12558100
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section展開研究
Research Field Biomedical engineering/Biological material science
Research InstitutionTohoku University

Principal Investigator

FUTAMI Ryoko  Tohoku University, Graduate School of Engineering, Associate Professor, 大学院・工学研究科, 助教授 (20156938)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) KANOH Shinichiro  Tohoku University, Graduate School of Engineering, Research Associate, 大学院・工学研究科, 助手 (00282103)
WATANABE Takashi  Tohoku University, Information Synergy Center, Associate Professor, 情報ヘナジーセンター, 助教授 (90250696)
HOSHIMIYA Nozomu  Tohoku University, Graduate School of Engineering, Professor, 大学院・工学研究科, 教授 (50005394)
HANDA Yasunobu  Tohoku University, New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Professor, 未来科学技術共同研究センター, 教授 (00111790)
Project Period (FY) 2000 – 2002
Keywordsskin / Impedance / Electrical Stimulation / sensation / Electrode / Absolute threshold
Research Abstract

The relationship between absolute threshold and the parameters of an electrical equivalent circuit for skin impedance was examined with neurologically intact subjects. The equivalent circuit consisted of resistance Rp and capacitance Cp connected in parallel, plus resistance Rs in series to both.
As a result, for Ag-AgCl electrodes with electroconductive paste, variationsover time of the frequency characteristics of Rp and Cp were found to be similar to the changes caused by repeatedly stripping the skin. Values of Cp and Rp at 10Hz were found to relate to the absolute threshold with high correlation coefficients. Next we estimated the parameters of the equivalent circuit by measuring stimulus pulse current abd viltage waves of square-wave pulses using solid-gel electrodes. The absolute threshold increased with repeated electrical stimulation to the skin and decreased after adequate rest with no electrical stimulation. Rp decreased with repeated electrical stimulation and increased after rest, while Cp did not change. A significant correlation between Rp and the absolute threshold was observed. These results show that electrical stimulation to the stratum corneum affects both absolute threshold and skin impedance; they also indicate that real-time evaluation is important for stabilizing cutaneuos sensation elicited by electrical stimulation.
Possible reasons for decreasing Rp were an increase of ionic conductivity due to osmosis of electroconductive paste into the stratum corneum due to charge transfer. The increase of the threshold amplitude was considered to be the result of broadened current pad due to increases if ionic or electric conductivities in the stratum corneum. It is necessary to clarify the mechanism of those relationsship between threshold and impedance parameters.

  • Research Products

    (4 results)

All Other

All Publications (4 results)

  • [Publications] 渡辺高志 他: "電流刺激による皮膚受容感覚の安定化のための絶対閾値と皮膚インピーダンスの関連性の検討"バイオメカニズム. Vol.16. 61-73 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] 福元 剛智 他: "皮膚の複素インピーダンス軌跡変化の高時間分解脳測定"電気学会論文誌C. 122-C・9. 1433-1440 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] T. Watanabe, S. Watanabe, K. Yoshino, R. Futami and N. Hoshimiya: "A study of relevance of skin impedance to absolute threshold for stablization of cutaneous sensation elicited by electric current stimulation"Biomechanism. 16. 61-73 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] T. Fukumoto, S. Ohba, R. Futami, H. Tanaka and N. Hoshimiya: "High resolution measurement of time variation in skin impedance locus"Trans. IEE of Japan. 122-C,No.9. 1433-1440 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より

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Published: 2004-04-14  

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