BIOSTIMULATING ELECTRODE USING SOLID ELECTROLYTE MEMBRANE

PURPOSE:To obtain an electrode which gives electric stimuli to an organism without causing side effects or oxidation-reduction reactions of biosubstance, by coating chemical substances relevant to oxidation-reduction reactions with an ion-conductive diaphragm. CONSTITUTION:An electrode has a metal-conductive substrate 1 for supplying electricity from an outer power source, an electroactive substance 2 laid on the substrate 1 and a solid electrolyte membrane 3 covering both 1 and 2. The electroactive substance consists of both oxidized and reduced forms, and is desirable to show reversible electrode-reactions with ions penetrating through the solid electrolyte membrane 3. The solid electrolyte membrane used may be an ion-exchange membrane, a polymeric electrolyte membrane made of, e.g., a polyethylene oxide-alkali halid compound or a ceramic electrolyte membrane made of, e.g., Na3Zr2PSi2O12. The biostimulating electrode gives electric stimuli to an organism without causing oxidation-reduction reactions of biosubstance since the tissues are separated from the place of electrode- reactions.