2018 Volume 66 Issue 5 Pages 333-339
To conduct intraoperative motor evoked potential (MEP) monitoring, it is necessary to apply on adequate amount of electrical intensity to the motor cortex. Direct cortical electrical stimulation by silicon electrode has two problems : 1) intraoperative displacement of the silicon electrode induces misjudgement of MEP monitoring, and 2) brain damage by electrical stimulation remains unclear. Fibrin glue, which is a biological tissue sealant, is investigated for the feasibility of utilizing it as a stimulation electrode.
The fibrin glue electrode consists of the fibrin glue and silicon strip electrode. The fibrin glue electrode is made as follows : 1. determining the placement of the electrode and putting the fibrin glue on the brain cortex. 2. placing the silicon electrode on the fibrin glue. 3. putting additional fibrin glue on the electrode for fixation. Two preclinical tests were conducted : a mechanical strength test and a stimulation test. The maximum strength force of the fibrin glue electrode was 43.3±7.6 gf (n＝4) in the strength test, which was sufficient to keep the position of the electrode stable intraoperatively. Rat brain tissue was stimulated by anodal high frequency stimulation for MEP monitoring in the stimulation test. The maximum depth of the lesion under the anodal electrode was measured and compared between the direct stimulation group and the fibrin glue electrode group. The maximum depth in the direct stimulation group was significantly deeper than that in the fibrin glue electrode.
The fibrin glue electrode decreases displacement of the stimulation electrode and electrical brain damage.
