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An investigation of upper extremity impedance modeling and sensory thresholds in envelope wave electrical stimulation

Renling Zou1, Yuhao Liu1, Yicai Wu1, Liang Zhao1, Jigao Dai1, Xiufang Hu1, Xuezhi Yin2 


1School of Health Sciences and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200000, China. 2Shanghai Berry Electronic Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200000, China.


Address correspondence to: Renling Zou, School of Health Sciences and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, No.516 Jungong Road, Shanghai 200000, China. E-mail: zou renling@usst.edu.cn.


Acknowledgement: This work was supported by Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (21S31906000), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Grant (61803265), and Medical-in dustrial cross-project of USST Grant (1022308524).


DOI: https://doi.org/10.61189/434505lacrsk


Received April 24, 2024; Accepted June 25, 2024; Published December 31, 2024 


Highlights 

 ● This study introduces a novel impedance model for the human upper limb, providing a highly accurate fit be tween frequency and impedance values. 

 ● The newly proposed Voltage Perception Threshold (VPT) method offers a more reliable measure of electrical stimulus sensation, independent of current magnitude and output frequency, compared to the traditional Current Perception Threshold (CPT).


Abstract

Objectives: To investigate how impedance values and sensory thresholds at various human upper limb sites af fect the parameter settings of electrical stimulation equipment in low and medium frequency envelope electrical stimulation therapy. Methods: The study involved testing different upper limb sites on 22 healthy subjects (ages 21-25, 11 males and 11 females) by adjusting the modulation wave frequency, carrier frequency, and current in tensity of the output. Five types of electrodes of various sizes were used in the tests. Results: The impedance test results for the human upper limb showed a wide range of impedance values across electrodes of different sizes. A new impedance model of the human upper limb was proposed, which accurately fits the relationship between frequency and impedance values. In electrical stimulus sensory experiments, the voltage perception threshold (VPT) introduced in this study was identified as a novel metric for electrical stimulus sensation. Unlike the current perception threshold, VPT does not consider the effects of current magnitude and output frequency. The range of sensory thresholds was 6-8 V, while the suprathreshold was 9-11 V. Neither experiment showed gender differenc es. Conclusions: Determining the value of the power supply and the output intensity of device power amplification circuitry based on the VPT can provide a more precise therapeutic dose for electrical stimulation therapy.

Keywords: Electrical stimulation, human impedance, voltage perception threshold, envelope

Zou RL, Liu YH, Wu YC, et al. An investigation of upper extremity impedance  modeling and sensory thresholds in envelope wave electrical stimulation. Prog in Med Devices. 2024 Dec;2(4):133-143. DOI: 10.61189/434505lacrsk
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