UNIPOLAR RECORDING AND PACING USING A CONDUCTIVE INTRODUCER SHEATH ASTHE INDIFFERENT ELECTRODE

Unipolar recording hers been shown to have advantages over bipolar tec hniques in certain clinical settings. Unipolar recording and pacing, h owever, require an indifferent electrode to complete the circuit; Curr ent options for the indifferent electrode require additional hardware or special recording capabilities. A novel percutaneous unipolar condu ctive introducer sheath (PUCIS) was developed for unipolar electrophys iological recording and pacing. This article describes the development of this sheath, in vitro testing results, and initial animal data usi ng the PUCIS as the indifferent electrode. The current silver/gold coa ting has acceptable mechanical and electrical properties. Electrogram appearance and amplitude, pacing thresholds, and impedances were compa rable to currently used alternatives. The PUCIS sheath may therefore s erve as a convenient standard as the indifferent electrode for unipola r electrophysiology.