Medical electrode for preventing the passage of harmful current to a patient

• US 20030014045A1
• Filed: 07/11/2001
• Published: 01/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Russell
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Russell
• Inventors: Russell, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/903,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20030014045A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/301 providing electrical separation, e.g. by using isolating transformers or optocouplers

Abstract

A medical electrode designed to prevent the passage of harmful electric current to a patient, thereby preventing tissue damage and electrocution. In the preferred embodiment, the inventive medical electrode is comprised of a proximal end, a distal end, a conductive lead connecting the proximal and distal ends, and a fuse located upon the medical electrode for preventing the passage of harmful electric current to a patient. For additional protection from induction current, the preferred location of the fuse is aft of the conductive lead element of the electrode. While a fuse is used in the preferred embodiment, the fuse could be replaced with a diode or a circuit breaker.

Claims

1. A medical electrode for preventing the passage of harmful current to a patient, the electrode comprising:

a distal end for connecting to a medical device;

a proximal end for connecting to a patient;

a conductive lead connected between the distal and proximal ends; and

a current stoppage means connected to the electrode at a location for preventing the passage of harmful current to the proximal end.

2. The medical electrode of claim 1, wherein the current stoppage means is connected in-line upon the conductive lead of the electrode.

3. The medical electrode of claim 1, wherein the current stoppage means is coupled to the electrode at a location for stopping the passage to the proximal end of both harmful power source electric current and harmful inductive current.

4. The medical electrode of claim 3, wherein the current stoppage means is coupled aft of the conductive lead.

5. The medical electrode of claim 4, wherein the current stoppage means is coupled to the proximal end of the electrode.

6. The medical electrode of claim 1, wherein the current stoppage means is a fuse.

7. The medical electrode of claim 6, wherein the fuse is an indicator fuse.

8. The medical electrode of claim 1, wherein the current stoppage means is a circuit breaker.

9. The medical electrode of claim 1, wherein the current stoppage means is a diode.

10. The medical electrode of claim 3, wherein the current stoppage means is a fuse.

11. The medical electrode of claim 10, wherein the fuse in an indicator fuse.

12. The medical electrode of claim 3, wherein the current stoppage means is a circuit breaker.

13. The medical electrode of claim 3, wherein the current stoppage means is a diode.

14. The medical electrode of claim 1, wherein the proximal end further comprises a needle.

15. The medical electrode of claim 1, wherein the proximal end further comprises a plate.

16. The medical electrode of claim 1, wherein the proximal end further comprises a strap.

17. The medical electrode of claim 1, wherein the proximal end further comprises a clip.

18. The medical electrode of claim 1, wherein the proximal end further comprises an earplug.

19. The medical electrode of claim 1, wherein the proximal end further comprises a contact lens.

20. The medical electrode of claim 1, wherein the proximal end further comprises a separable structure having a first member and a second member, the second member being separable from the first member.

21. The medical electrode of claim 20, wherein the first member is positioned atop the second member, the second member having a surface for directly contacting a patient, the current stoppage means being connected to the second member so that when the first and second members are separated, the current stoppage means remains with the second member.

22. The medical electrode of claim 21, further comprising a snap for separably connecting the first and second members together, a first portion of the snap connected to the first member and a second portion of the snap connected to the second member, the second portion of the snap including said current stoppage means.

23. The medical electrode of claim 22, wherein the first portion of the snap is a female portion and the second portion of the snap is a male portion, the male and female portions being separably connectible, the male portion including a fuse.

25. The medical electrode of claim 24, wherein the current stoppage means is coupled to the electrode at a location aft of the conductive lead.

26. The medical electrode of claim 24, wherein the current stoppage means is an approximately {fraction (1/16)} A indicator fuse.

27. The medical electrode of claim 24, wherein the current stoppage means is an approximately {fraction (1/16)} A pico fuse.

28. The medical electrode of claim 24, wherein the current stoppage means is a circuit breaker.

29. The medical electrode of claim 24, wherein the current stoppage means is a diode.

24. A medical electrode for preventing the passage of harmful current to a patient, the electrode comprising:

a distal end for connecting to a medical device;

a proximal end for connecting to a patient;

a conductive lead connected between the distal and proximal ends; and

a current stoppage means connected to the electrode at a location for stopping the passage to the proximal end of both harmful power source electric current and harmful inductive current.