Local skin hyperthermia due to transcutaneous electrode heat
Seguin, J.H.; Perlstein, P.H.
Journal of Perinatology Official Journal of the California Perinatal Association 8(4): 393-395
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0743-8346 PMID: 3236113 Document Number: 326308
The hypothesis that a transcutaneous monitor electrode can heat skin beyond the electrode edge was tested. This heating would cause a skin thermistor probe, if placed too close to the transcutaneous electrode, to transduce an artifactually high skin temperature. In a skin servo control system, this might result in a cooler environment than desired. Eight premature newborns in humidified incubators were tested once each between one and five days of age. Mean skin temperatures at 0.5 cm, 1.5 cm, and 2.5 cm from the electrode edge were significantly higher after electrode placement, although there were virtually no temperature changes in two of the subjects. Transcutaneous monitor electrodes can heat the surrounding skin. This may affect environment temperature in a skin servo control system if the skin probe is placed too close to the transcutaneous electrode.