Comparing the effects of nanosecond electric pulses to those evoked by conventional electrical stimulation
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Authors
Buenaventura, Noah Gabriel
Issue Date
2024
Type
Poster
Language
en_US
Keywords
Biomedical Engineering , Electrostimulation , Neuromodulation
Alternative Title
Abstract
Electrical stimulation is a medical technique used in a wide variety of applications, from chronic pain management to smart prosthetics to neuromodulation. Conventionally, electrical stimulation is delivered in low voltage, millisecond-range pulses and comes in the form of implants that require invasive surgery, such as with pacemakers. Our research seeks to change this. Unlike conventional electric pulses (CEPs), nanosecond electric pulses (NEPs) offer a mechanism to target and stimulate tissues within the body without the need for invasive procedures. With that in mind, this project seeks to compare the effectiveness of CEPs to that of NEPs in evoking responses in bovine chromaffin cells. Using a combination of techniques such as cell dissociation and fluorescence microscopy, we are able to test each stimulation method on single cells and record the cells’ chemical responses in real time. The biomedical sector is one of constant technological innovation, and we see our research on electrical stimulation as one more step in the advancement of modern medicine.