Acute voltage, charge, and energy thresholds as functions of electrode size for electrical stimulation of the canine heart

This paper analyses the relationships between electrode size and charge, voltage, and energy thresholds in acute animal experiments. Cathodal stimuli of 1 ms duration are applied to canine hearts by using epicardial disc electrodes. Threshold charge in constant current and in constant voltage stimulation proves to be proportional to the electrode radius (a) to the power 1.5 for a greater than 0.4 mm and to be independent of electrode size for a less than 0.2 mm. Voltage and energy thresholds are proportional to square root a and a2 respectively for a greater than 1 mm. Voltage thresholds show a minimum at a radius of about 0.5 mm, energy thresholds at about 0.3 mm. These results are explained by using two principles. The first is that the charge applied to the heart determines the response of the tissue to a stimulus and the second, that electrode impedance may be described by an RC-series circuit in these experiments. The resistance in this circuit is inversely proportional to electrode radius, in agreement with calculation of the electric field around the electrode. Electrode capacity depends linearly on electrode surface area. Stimulation is most efficient under the circumstances mentioned above for an electrode radius of about 0.3 mm.