Patent ID: 8306623

Claim:
A method, comprising: generating a first pulse to apply to a bodily tissue via an electrode, Wherein the first pulse has a first applied waveform that is charge-balanced and voltage-balanced and wherein the first applied waveform has a duration less than a charging time constant of an electrode-electrolyte interface between the electrode and the bodily tissue; applying the first pulse having the first applied waveform to the bodily tissue; sensing a first waveform response to the first pulse; measuring a morphology of the first waveform response; generating a second pulse to apply to the bodily tissue via an electrode, wherein the second pulse has a second applied waveform that is charge-balanced and voltage-balanced and wherein the second applied waveform has a duration that is different from the duration of the first applied waveform and less than the charging time constant of the electrode-electrolyte interface between the electrode and the bodily tissue; applying the second pulse having the second applied waveform to the bodily tissue; sensing a second waveform response to the second pulse; measuring a morphology of the second waveform response; determining a difference between the morphology of the first waveform response and the morphology of the second waveform response; and determining a tissue characteristic based on at least the difference between the morphology of the first waveform response and the morphology of the second waveform response.