Capacitor electrode stimulates nerve or muscle without oxidation-reduction reactions

Porous tantalum disks, available as "slugs" from the capacitor industry, have large available surface area and a thin insulating coating of tantalum pentoxide. When implanted, they fill with extracellular fluid and operate as capacitor-stimulating electrodes having high capacitance per unit volume. Capable of stimulating excitable tissue without generating electrochemical by-products, these electrodes should provide a safer interface between neural prosthetic devices and human tissue.