Maximizing Charge Injection Limits of Iridium Oxide Electrodes with a Programmable Anodic Bias Circuit

Int IEEE EMBS Conf Neural Eng. 2021 May:2021:540-543. doi: 10.1109/ner49283.2021.9441282. Epub 2021 Jun 2.

Abstract

Efficacious stimulation of neural tissues requires high charge injection capacity while minimizing electrode polarization. Applying anodic bias on certain electrode materials is a way to enhance charge injection both in vitro and in vivo. We developed an embedded neurostimulator system that enabled a digital control of user-defined bias levels, without requiring a potentiometer or external voltage source. Comparison of charge injection with and without anodic-bias, as well as at different bias potentials were conducted in phosphate-buffered saline with Blackrock iridium oxide microelectrodes. Results showed that a nine-fold increase in current intensity and charge injection capacity, was achieved with a 0.7 V anodic bias and within electrochemically safe limits.