IN-VIVO 3-D DISTRIBUTIONS OF ELECTRIC-FIELDS IN PIG SKIN WITH RECTANGULAR PULSE ELECTRICAL-CURRENT STIMULATION (RPECS)

We developed stimulating and detecting electrodes. We experimentally e xamined three dimensional (3-D) distributions of electric fields in li ving pig skin under and around the stimulating electrodes with the det ecting electrodes and rectangular pulsed electrical current stimulatio n (RPECS). We verified our previous physical assumption, E approximate to I/(A sigma(dz)), in the skin under the electrode, where E, I, A an d sigma(dz) respectively represent the electric field, the externally imposed peak current, the cross sectional area of the stimulating elec trode and the perpendicular conductivity of the skin. Pulses were 30 m A, 140 mu s and 128 pulses per second (pps). These parameters were pre viously used in our laboratory to enhance cutaneous regeneration, in v ivo, with RPECS. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.