Improving the Performance of Implantable Electrostimulation Devices Using Electrically Conducting Polymers

There is growing and continued interest in the development of new electrical stimulation and sensing devices for diverse biomedical applications such as cochlear prosthetics, deep brain stimulation, and cardiac rhythm management. Biotectix has developed BT DOT electrode coatings made from novel electrically conducting polymer formulations based on based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) commonly known as PEDOT. These coatings enable intimate, long-term electrical and biological connections between implantable electrodes and the target tissue, offering the conductivity and stability of metals with the ease of processing and biological functionality of polymers. In this paper, we compare the in vitro electrical performance of three types of implantable electrostimulation devices: active fixation pacing leads, cochlear electrodes, and spinal cord stimulators with and without the BT DOT coatings. Significant decreases in impedance and polarization were observed along with significant increased charge storage capacity. The results suggest that such coatings may enable future medical device design improvements such as smaller device profiles and extended battery life.