TiN: a suitable coating for defibrillator electrodes?

The electrochemical behavior of porous TiN coating for defibrillator electrodes was investigated by in vitro studies. A commercially available Ti patch was compared with a Ti patch coated with a layer of porous TiN. Similarly, the influence of the TiN coating on a Pt/Ir intracardial electrode was tested. Porous TiN coatings were made by reactive sputtering on the plain electrodes. Electrode potential measurements were performed during monophasic anodic and cathodic defibrillator shocks delivering energies between 1 J and 49 J. Porous TiN coating of Pt/Ir coils was found suitable to deliver cathodal pulses, while a plain coil remains recommended for anodic shocks. TiN coating was of benefit for conventional Ti patches. Particularly, in the case of anodic shocks, the TiN layer protected the Ti-mesh from immediate oxidation. However, above 70 anodic shocks of 49 J, the TiN coating underwent oxidation to an oxynitride. An estimated 180 anodic shocks of 10 J could be delivered before TiN oxidation became measurable by increased polarization.