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Modeling Current Sources for Neural Stimulation in COMSOL.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Pelot, NA; Thio, BJ; Grill, WM
Published in: Frontiers in computational neuroscience
January 2018

Background: Computational modeling provides an important toolset for designing and analyzing neural stimulation devices to treat neurological disorders and diseases. Modeling enables efficient exploration of large parameter spaces, where preclinical and clinical studies would be infeasible. Current commercial finite element method software packages enable straightforward calculation of the potential distributions, but it is not always clear how to implement boundary conditions to appropriately represent metal stimulating electrodes. By quantifying the effects of different electrode representations on activation thresholds for model axons, we provide recommendations for accurate and efficient modeling of neural stimulating electrodes. Methods: We quantified the effects of different representations of current sources for neural stimulation in COMSOL Multiphysics for monopolar, bipolar, and multipolar electrode designs. Results: We recommend modeling each electrode contact as a thin platinum domain, modeling the electrode substrate with the conductivity of silicone, and either using a point current source in the center of each electrode contact or using a boundary current source. Alternatively, to avoid possible numerical instabilities associated with a large range of conductivity values (i.e., platinum and silicone) and to eliminate the small mesh elements required for thin electrode contacts, the electrode substrate can be assigned the conductivity of platinum by using insulating boundaries between the substrate and surrounding medium, and within the substrate to isolate the contacts from each other. When modeling more than one contact, we recommend using superposition by solving the model once for each contact, leaving inactive contacts floating, and superposing the resulting potentials. We computed comparable errors in activation thresholds across the different implementations in a simplified model (electrode in a homogeneous, isotropic medium), and in realistic models of rat spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and human deep brain stimulation, indicating that the recommended approaches are applicable to different stimulation targets.

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Published In

Frontiers in computational neuroscience

DOI

EISSN

1662-5188

ISSN

1662-5188

Publication Date

January 2018

Volume

12

Start / End Page

40

Related Subject Headings

  • 3209 Neurosciences
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1109 Neurosciences
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences
 

Citation

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Pelot, N. A., Thio, B. J., & Grill, W. M. (2018). Modeling Current Sources for Neural Stimulation in COMSOL. Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience, 12, 40. https://doi.org/10.3389/fncom.2018.00040
Pelot, Nicole A., Brandon J. Thio, and Warren M. Grill. “Modeling Current Sources for Neural Stimulation in COMSOL.Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience 12 (January 2018): 40. https://doi.org/10.3389/fncom.2018.00040.
Pelot NA, Thio BJ, Grill WM. Modeling Current Sources for Neural Stimulation in COMSOL. Frontiers in computational neuroscience. 2018 Jan;12:40.
Pelot, Nicole A., et al. “Modeling Current Sources for Neural Stimulation in COMSOL.Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience, vol. 12, Jan. 2018, p. 40. Epmc, doi:10.3389/fncom.2018.00040.
Pelot NA, Thio BJ, Grill WM. Modeling Current Sources for Neural Stimulation in COMSOL. Frontiers in computational neuroscience. 2018 Jan;12:40.

Published In

Frontiers in computational neuroscience

DOI

EISSN

1662-5188

ISSN

1662-5188

Publication Date

January 2018

Volume

12

Start / End Page

40

Related Subject Headings

  • 3209 Neurosciences
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1109 Neurosciences
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences