Bioelectrodes
Bioelectrodes
Bioelectrodes
Bio Electrodes:
Bio electrodes function as an interface between biological structures and
electronic systems.
Electrical activity within the biological structure is either sensed or
stimulated.
The electrical systems are either passively sensing (measuring) or
actively stimulating (inducing) electrical potentials within the biological
structure or unit.
Bioelectric potentials generated in our body are ionic potentials and it is
necessary to convert these ionic potentials into electronic potentials
before they can be measured by conventional methods.
Devices that convert ionic potential into electronic potential are called
electrodes.
A transducer that converts the body ionic current in the body into the
traditional electronic current flowing in the electrode is a Bio Electrode.
Bio Electrodes:
Able to conduct small current across the interface between the body and
the electronic measuring circuit.
Oxidation is dominant when the current flow is from electrode to
electrolyte, and reduction dominate when the current flow is in the
opposite.
The net current that crosses the interface, passing from the electrode to
electrolyte consist of
Electrons moving in a direction opposite to that of current
in the electrode.
Cations moving in the same direction.
Anions moving in direction opposite to that of current in electrolyte.
Properties of Bio Electrodes:
Good conductors.
Low impedance.
Should not polarize when a current flows through them.
Should establish a good contact with the body and not cause
motion.
Should not cause itching swelling or discomfort to the patient.
Metal should not be toxic.
Mechanically rugged.
Easy to clean.
Electrode – Skin/Tissue Interface
Interface between body and electronic measuring device.
Conducts current across the interface.
Ions carry current in the body.
Electrodes are capable of changing ionic current into electronic
current.
Termed as Electrode – Electrolyte or Electrode – Tissue Interface.
Electrode – Skin/Tissue Interface
Half Cell Potential
The potential difference that is caused by the ability of electrons to flow from
one half cell to the other.
Electrons are able to move between electrodes as the chemical reaction is a
redox reaction.
Half cell potential is altered when there is current flowing in the electrode due
to electrode polarization.
When the metal comes in contact with solution, the electrolyte surrounding the
metal is at different electric potential from rest of the solution.
A second electrode is required to find half-cell potential- hydrogen
Half-Cell potential is determined by
Metal involved
Concentration of its ion in solution
Temperature
Nernst Equation in context of Half Cell Potential
Nernst Equation governs the half-cell potential.
When two ionic solutions of different concentration are separated
by semipermeable membrane, an electric potential exists across the
membrane.
a1 and a2 are the ionic activity of the ions on each side of the membrane.
Ionic activity is the availability of an ionic species in solution to enter
into a reaction.
Polarization
Normally Standard Half Cell Potential (E0) is an equilibrium value and
assumes zero-current across the interface.
When current flows, the half-cell potential, E 0 , changes.
Overpotential ( V p ): Difference between non-zero current and zero-current
half-cell potentials; also called the polarization potential.
Ohmic Overpotential ( V r ) : Due to the resistance of the electrolyte (voltage drop
along the path of ionic flow).
Concentration Overpotential ( V c ): Due to a redistribution of the ions in the
vicinity of the electrode-electrolyte interface (concentration changes).
Activation Overpotential ( V a ): Due to metal ions going into solution (must
overcome an energy barrier, the activation energy) or due to metal plating out
of solution onto the electrode (a second activation energy).
Mechanism Contributed to Overpotential
Ohmic overpotential: Voltage drop along the path of the current, and
current changes resistance of electrolyte and thus, a voltage drop does
not follow ohm’s law.
Concentration overpotential: Current changes the distribution of ions at
the electrode-electrolyte interface
Activation overpotential: Current changes the rate of oxidation and
reduction. Since the activation energy barriers for oxidation and
reduction are different, the net activation energy depends on the
direction of current and this difference appear as voltage.
Polarizable Electrodes
Perfectly Polarizable Electrodes
Electrodes in which no actual charge crosses the electrode-electrolyte interface
when a current is applied.
The current across the interface is a displacement current and the electrode
behaves like a capacitor.
Overpotential is due concentration.
Example: Platinum electrode