Electrode comprising an embedded layer, and a method for producing same

• US 10,347,386 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2012
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA
• Original Assignee: Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA
• Inventors: Reinhardt, Holger, Anhalt, Klaus-Peter, Opitz, Lucien
• Primary Examiner(s): Stoklosa, Joseph A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Antiskay, Brian M
• Application Number:
  US14/117,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20140209351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,622 Days
• Field of Search: 600372, 600382-393, 600508-509
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/00 Conductors or conductive bodies characterised by the conductive materials; Selection of materials as conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 13/0036 Details

Abstract

An electrode for transcutaneously transmitting electronic signals with a first layer that is designed to retain a liquid, also at least as a result of a capillary force, and an electrically conductive polymer layer, which contains conductive particles. The first layer is partially permeated by the polymer layer such that it protrudes out of said polymer layer on at least one first side. The first layer is designed to retain a liquid, also at least as a result of a capillary force, and the electrode includes an electrode contacting layer which is partially embedded in the polymer layer, such that it protrudes out of the polymer layer on a second side opposite the first side.

Claims

1. An electrode for transcutaneously transmitting electronic signals, comprising:

a first layer arranged and configured to contact a person'"'"'s skin;

an electrically conductive polymer layer containing conductive particles, the first layer being only partially permeated by the electrically conductive polymer layer such that the first layer protrudes out of the electrically conductive polymer layer on a first side, the first layer being designed to retain a liquid at least as a result of a capillary force;

an electrode contacting layer, which is partially embedded in the electrically conductive polymer layer, such that the electrode contacting layer protrudes out of the electrically conductive polymer layer on a second side opposite the first side;

a polyurethane film arranged to contact the person'"'"'s skin and to prevent the polymer layer from coming into contact with the person'"'"'s skin.

2. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the first layer comprises a nonwoven material.

3. The electrode according to claim 2, wherein a connecting wire is arranged on the electrode contacting layer.

4. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the electrode contacting layer comprises a layer of conductive textile.

5. The electrode according to claim 4, wherein the conductive textile is a textile that is coated with a metal.

6. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the electrode contacting layer comprises a metallic ink printed onto a carrier film.

7. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive polymer layer contains conductive pigments, graphite, electrically conductive carbon black, CNTs or dendritic metallic particles that act as conductive particles.

8. A bandage with at least one electrode according to claim 1.

9. The bandage according to claim 8, wherein the at least one electrode is arranged on one strap of the bandage such that the at least one electrode can be detached.

10. An electrode for transcutaneously transmitting electronic signals, comprising:

a first side;

a second side opposite the first side;

an electrically conductive polymer layer containing conductive particles;

a liquid retaining layer configured to retain liquids through a capillary force, the liquid retaining layer being only partially permeated by the electrically conductive polymer layer such that the liquid retaining layer protrudes out of the electrically conductive polymer layer on at least the first side, the liquid retaining layer arranged and configured to contact a person'"'"'s skin, the liquid retaining layer comprising a nano nonwoven material;

an electrode contacting layer only partially embedded in the electrically conductive polymer layer and protruding out of the electrically conductive polymer layer on the second side.

11. The electrode according to claim 10, further comprising a connecting wire arranged on the electrode contacting layer.

12. The electrode according to claim 10, wherein the electrode contacting layer comprises a layer of conductive textile.

13. The electrode according to claim 12, wherein the conductive textile is coated with metal.

14. The electrode according to claim 13, wherein the metal is silver.

15. The electrode according to claim 10, wherein the electrode contacting layer comprises a silver ink printed onto a carrier film.

16. The electrode according to claim 10, wherein the electrically conductive polymer layer comprises at least one of conductive pigments, graphite, electrically conductive carbon black, CNTs and dendritic metallic particles that act as conductive particles.

17. An electrode for transcutaneously transmitting electronic signals, comprising:

a first side;

a second side opposite the first side;

an electrically conductive polymer layer containing conductive particles, the conductive particles being sized in a micrometer range of about 1 micron;

a liquid retaining layer configured to retain liquids through a capillary force, the liquid retaining layer being only partially permeated by the electrically conductive polymer layer such that the liquid retaining layer protrudes out of the electrically conductive polymer layer on at least the first side, the liquid retaining layer arranged and configured to contact a person'"'"'s skin;

an electrode contacting layer only partially embedded in the electrically conductive polymer layer and protruding out of the electrically conductive polymer layer on the second side.

18. The electrode according to claim 17, wherein the liquid retaining layer comprising a nano nonwoven material.

19. The electrode according to claim 17, wherein the electrode contacting layer comprises a layer of conductive textile.

20. The electrode according to claim 17, wherein the electrically conductive polymer layer comprises at least one of conductive pigments, graphite, electrically conductive carbon black, CNTs and dendritic metallic particles that act as the conductive particles.