Nonlinearity of Cardiac Pacemaker Electrodes

Nonlinear properties of electrodes immersed in saline were studied in the time domain and frequency domain. Three electrode materials were tested: platinum-iridium, Elgiloy, and stainless steel. For time domain measurements, current pulses of 1.0 to 2.0 ms duration and varying amplitudes were applied to the electrodes. Frequency domain measurements of polarization impedance were made with an impedance bridge, utilizing sinusoidal currents of varying amplitudes at frequencies between 0.1 and 10 kHz.