Linearity of transthoracic conductance with respect to electrode force and area during high-voltage defibrillation shocks

• Published in: IEEE transactions on biomedical engineering 1994-08, Vol.41 (8), p.801-804
• Main Authors: Lerman, B.B., Ng, K.T., Deale, O.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Animals; Area measurement; Biological and medical sciences; Defibrillation; Dogs; Electric Conductivity; Electric Countershock - instrumentation; Electric Impedance; Electric shock; Electrodes; Emergency and intensive cardiocirculatory care. Cardiogenic shock. Coronary intensive care; Force measurement; Intensive care medicine; Linear Models; Linearity; Medical sciences; Protocols; Stainless Steel; Steel; Testing
• ISSN: 0018-9294; 1558-2531
• DOI: 10.1109/10.310095

Canine transthoracic conductance (G/sub T/) was measured during high-voltage defibrillation shocks to test the hypothesis that (G/sub T/) is a linear function of electrode force (F) and electrode area (A). Symmetric protocols were used to compensate for changes in (G/sub T/) with respect to shock number (n). Stainless steel electrodes were employed with a force-control system for precise selection and control of both F and A at each shock. For a constant A=60 cm/sup 2/, G/sub T/ was linear (r=0.996, 0.995, 0.971, 0.992, 0.995) over five dogs for 30 N/spl les/F/spl les/70 N. For a constant F=50 N, G/sub T/ was linear (r=0.992, 0.998, 0.994, 0.992) over four dogs for 20 cm/sup 2//spl les/A/spl les/60 cm/sup 2/, and in one dog (r=0.996) for 40 cm/sup 2//spl les/A/spl les/90 cm/sup 2/. The quantitative relationship demonstrated for G/sub T/ and F and A can be used in the design of experiments and interpretation of results used for validation of numerical defibrillation models.< >