To minimize pain during the recording of SSEPs, the contact impedance of the stimulator should be:

The goal of minimizing pain during the recording of somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) is critical for ensuring patient comfort and reliable data acquisition. A key factor in achieving this is maintaining appropriate contact impedance of the stimulator.

When the contact impedance is lower, it allows for more effective current flow during stimulation. This means that the electric pulses used to elicit SSEPs can be delivered more efficiently, which can help to reduce the intensity of the stimulation needed to achieve an adequate response. If the impedance is less than 5,000 ohms, it typically indicates that the skin-electrode interface has good conductivity and low resistance, facilitating a more comfortable stimulation experience for the patient.

In contrast, higher levels of impedance, such as those above 5,000 ohms, may lead to suboptimal stimulation, making it necessary to increase the output power from the stimulator to achieve the same level of neural activation. This can, in turn, lead to increased discomfort and pain for the patient, compromising not just their comfort but potentially the quality of the evoked potential recordings as well.

Thus, maintaining a contact impedance of less than 5,000 ohms is essential for minimizing pain and ensuring effective stimulation during SSEP recordings.