Precordial electrocardiogram electrode connector

• US 20030068914A1
• Filed: 10/04/2001
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unilead International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Unilead International Incorporated
• Inventors: Wenger, William K., Kelly, Robert J., OʼConnor, Paul, McGrath, Tom, Black, Craig K., Pedersen, Matthew, Merry, Rodney J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,623,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/259
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/303 Patient cord assembly, e.g. cable harness
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/308 for electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/512 assembled by screw or screws
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an electrocardiogram electrode connector for connecting an electrode to an electrocardiogram device that solves the problems with the Prior Art noted above as well as providing numerous advantages. The connector of the present invention comprises a lower portion having an electrode end and an ECG end, and an upper portion pivotally connected to the lower portion. The upper portion likewise has an electrode end and an ECG end. The connector also comprises a spring between the lower portion and the upper portion to bias the electrode ends together to clamp about an electrode. Further, the connector comprises an electrical assembly having an elastomeric electrical connector to provide electrical continuity between the electrode and the ECG device when the electrode ends of the lower portion and the upper portion of the connector are biased together.

Claims

1. An electrocardiogram (ECG) electrode connector for connecting an electrode to an ECG device, comprising:

a lower portion having an electrode end, an ECG end, and a top and lower surface;

an upper portion pivotally connected to the lower portion, the upper portion having an electrode and an ECG end;

a spring between the lower portion and the upper portion to bias the electrode ends together; and

an electrical assembly comprising an elastomeric electrical connector to provide electrical continuity between the electrode and the ECG device when the electrode ends of the lower portion and the upper portion of the connector are biased together.

2. The connector of claim 1, further comprising an elastomeric covering on a portion of the lower surface of the lower portion.

3. The connector of claim 1, further comprising first and second raised side extensions located on the lower portion, wherein the upper portion fits in between the first and second side extensions.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the spring is a leaf style spring.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the electrode is a precordial electrode.

6. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a locator pin located on a surface of the connector, wherein the pin is suitably sized to accommodate sizing holes located on an electrode mask.

7. The connector of claim 1, further comprising an indentation located on a surface of the connector to suitably provide a viewing window to an electrode mask.

8. The connector of claim 1, further comprising grasping points bounded by projecting portions defined on the connector lower portion.

9. The connector of claim 1, wherein the lower portion is a different color than the upper portion.

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein the lower portion is black, and the upper portion is gray.

11. An electrocardiogram (ECG) electrode connector for connecting an electrode to an ECG device, comprising:

a base portion, the base portion having an electrode end, an ECG end, and a top and lower surface wherein a locator pin is located on a surface of the base at the electrode end;

an upper portion pivotally connected to the base portion, the upper portion having an electrode end and an ECG end, wherein the upper portion electrode end includes an indentation suitably sized to surround the pin on at least one side thereof;

a spring between the base portion and the upper portion to bias the electrode ends of the base portion and upper portion together; and

an electrical assembly, for providing electrical continuity between the electrode and the ECG device.

12. The connector of claim 11, further comprising an elastomeric covering on a portion of the lower surface of the base.

13. The connector of claim 11, further comprising first and second raised side extensions located on the base portion, wherein the upper portion fits in between the first and second side extensions.

14. The connector of claim 11, wherein the spring is a leaf spring.

15. The connector of claim 11, further comprising a first and second base member forming the base portion, wherein the upper base member includes the locator pin that is surrounded by the indentation.

16. The connector of claim 11, wherein the locator pin is suitably sized to accommodate sizing holes located on an electrode mask.

17. The connector of claim 11, wherein the electrical assembly further comprises an elastomeric electrical connector to provide electrical continuity between the electrode and the ECG device when the electrode ends of the base portion and the upper portion of the connector are biased together.

18. The connector of claim 11, wherein the electrode is a precordial electrode.

19. The connector of claim 11, further comprising grasping points bounded by projecting portions defined on the connector base portion.

20. The connector of claim 11, wherein the base portion is a different color than the upper portion.

21. The connector of claim 20, wherein the base portion is black, and the upper portion is gray.

22. An electrocardiogram (ECG) electrode system comprising:

an electrode mask;

an ECG device for processing ECG signals sensed by the electrode mask; and

an electrode connector for connecting the electrode mask to the ECG device;

the electrode connector comprising;

a base portion having an electrode end, an ECG end, and a top and lower surface;

an upper portion pivotally connected to the base portion, the upper portion having an electrode end and an ECG end;

a spring between the base portion and the upper portion to bias the electrode ends of the base and upper portions together to clamp the electrode mask; and

an electrical assembly comprising an elastomeric electrical connector to provide electrical continuity between the electrode mask and the ECG device.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the electrode connector further comprises an elastomeric covering on a portion of the lower surface of the base portion.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the electrode connector further comprises a first and second raised side extension located on the base portion, wherein the upper portion fits in between the first and second side extensions.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the spring is a leaf style spring.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the electrode mask is a precordial electrode mask.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the electrode connector further comprises a locator pin located on a surface of the base portion, wherein the pin is suitably sized to accommodate sizing holes located on the electrode mask.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein the electrode connector further comprises an indentation located on a surface of the upper portion to suitably provide a viewing window to the electrode mask.

29. The system of claim 22, wherein the electrode connector further comprises grasping points bounded by projecting portions defined on the connector base portion.

30. The system of claim 22, wherein the base portion is a different color than the upper portion.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the base portion is black and the upper portion is gray.

32. An electrocardiogram (ECG) electrode system, comprising:

an electrode mask;

an ECG device for processing ECG signals sensed by the electrode mask; and

an electrode connector for connecting the electrode mask to the ECG device;

the electrode connector comprising;

a base portion, the base portion having an electrode end, an ECG end, and a top and lower surface wherein a locator pin is located on a surface of the base at the electrode end;

upper portion pivotally connected to the base portion, the upper portion having an electrode end and an ECG end, wherein the upper portion electrode end includes an indentation suitably sized to surround the pin on at least one side thereof,

a spring between the base portion and the upper portion to bias the electrode ends of the base portion and upper portion together; and

an electrical assembly, for providing electrical continuity between the electrode mask and the ECG device.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the electrode connector further comprises an elastomeric covering on a portion of the lower surface of the base portion.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the electrode connector further comprises first and second raised side extensions located on the base portion, wherein the upper portion fits in between the first and second side extensions.

35. The system of claim 32, wherein the spring is a leaf style spring.

36. The system of claim 32, wherein the electrode mask is a precordial electrode mask.

37. The system of claim 32, wherein the pin is suitably sized to accommodate sizing holes located on the electrode mask.

38. The system of claim 32, wherein the electrical assembly further comprises an elastomeric electrical connector portion, to provide electrical continuity between the electrode mask and the ECG device when the electrode ends of the base portion and the upper portion of the connector are biased together.

39. The system of claim 32, wherein the electrode connector further comprises grasping points bounded by projecting portions defined on the connector base portion.

40. The system of claim 32, wherein the base portion is a different color than the upper portion.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the base portion is black and the upper portion is gray.

42. A method of using a bias-closed connector to connect an electrode mask to an ECG device, the method, comprising:

providing an electrode mask having a plurality of sizing holes;

selecting one of the sizing holes based upon a patient'"'"'s size;

inserting a connecting portion of the mask in the electrode connector by manually opening the connector and fitting the selected sizing hole to a pin located on a surface of the connector; and

closing the connector by releasing the ends so that the mask is held within the connector at least in part by the pin and an indentation formed on the connector.