Optimizing the Material, Inter-distance and Temperature Effect of Intramuscular Electrodes used to Stimulate the Thoracic Diaphragm

The technique of electrically stimulating the thoracic diaphragm is conducted by implanting a diaphragmatic pacemaker, in which the phrenic nerve is stimulated, resulting in stimulating the diaphragm. A diaphragmatic pacemaker is usually implanted for a long period of time. Intramuscular electrodes can be used for stimulating the diaphragm, for such conditions in which phrenic nerve stimulation cannot be done. The material and inter-distance of the stimulation electrodes are very important in order to stimulate the diaphragm in efficient manner. This paper explains the Optimization of material, interdistance and temperature effect of intramuscular electrodes used to stimulate the thoracic diaphragm. A model has been constructed and simulated on the software COMSOL Multiphysics, whose results shows that the threshold muscle stimulation is achieved when 1 volt is applied at the electrode, 15cm apart from each other. The result further suggested that this kind of electrical stimulation cannot produce significant thermal effect on the tissues.