Wireless electrode having activatable power cell

• US 20030187339A1
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Carim, Hatim M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,708,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis

Abstract

The present invention provides a power source for biomedical electrodes and other electronic devices comprising a galvanic cell in a state of partial construction. The galvanic cell generally comprises an anode conductor, a cathode conductor and electrolyte-containing substance. The anode is in electrical contact with a first quantity of electrically conductive medium and the cathode is in electrical contact with a second quantity of electrically conductive medium. The electrolyte-containing substance is separated from at least one of the anode or cathode until the cell is activated by allowing the electrolyte-containing substance to contact the anode and the cathode. Use of the galvanic cell in a drug delivery device is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A biomedical electrode for communicating information between a patient and a remote location, the biomedical electrode comprising:

a first quantity of electrically conductive medium in electrical contact with a signal processing circuit adapted to communicate information to the remote location;

a galvanic cell connected to the signal processing circuit, the galvanic cell comprising

an anode conductor, a cathode conductor, and electrolyte-containing substance, wherein

the electrolyte-containing substance is separated from at least one of the anode conductor and the cathode conductor until the biomedical electrode is to be used on the patient.

2. The biomedical electrode according to claim 1 further comprising a second conductive medium in electrical contact with the signal processing circuit.

3. The biomedical electrode according to claim 1 wherein the signal processing circuit is attached to a substrate.

4. The biomedical electrode according to claim 3 wherein the substrate is a flexible polymer film.

5. The biomedical electrode according to claim 4 further comprising a first backing adjacent to the substrate.

6. The biomedical electrode according to claim 4 wherein at least one of the anode conductor or the cathode conductor is a metal-bearing ink attached to the substrate.

7. The biomedical electrode according to claim 1 wherein the first conductive medium is selected from the group consisting of electrolyte-containing gels and electrolyte-containing conductive adhesives.

8. The biomedical electrode according to claim 7 wherein the electrolyte-containing substance is made from the same material as the first conductive medium.

9. The biomedical electrode according to claim 1 wherein the electrolyte-containing substance is separated from at least one of the anode conductor and the cathode conductor by a removable liner.

10. The biomedical electrode according to claim 9 wherein the removable liner has a J-fold.

11. A method of obtaining and communicating electrical signals of electrophysiological or electrobiological origin from a patient, the method comprising:

providing a biomedical electrode comprising

a first quantity of electrically conductive medium in electrical contact with a signal processing circuit;

a galvanic cell connected to the signal processing circuit, the galvanic cell comprising

an anode conductor, a cathode conductor, and electrolyte-containing substance, wherein

the electrolyte-containing substance is separated from at least one of the anode conductor and the cathode conductor;

providing a second quantity of conductive medium in electrical contact with the signal processing circuit;

causing the electrolyte containing substance to contact the anode conductor and the cathode conductor;

applying the first quantity of conductive medium and the second quantity of conductive medium to the patient;

transducing electrical signals from the patient'"'"'s body so as to obtain diagnostic or therapeutic information; and

transmitting the information via the signal processing circuit.

12. A device for delivering a pharmaceutically active agent, the device comprising:

a first quantity of electrically conductive medium and a second quantity of electrically conductive medium;

a galvanic cell comprising

an anode conductor, a cathode conductor, and electrolyte-containing substance, wherein

the anode conductor is in electrical contact with the first quantity of electrically conductive medium and the cathode conductor is electrical contact with the second quantity of electrically conductive medium, and wherein

the electrolyte-containing substance is separated from at least one of the anode conductor and the cathode conductor until the device is to be used on the patient; and

at least one quantity of pharmaceutically active agent capable of existing in an ionized state incorporated within at least one of the first quantity of electrically conductive medium or the second quantity of electrically conductive medium.

13. The drug delivery device according to claim 12 wherein the first quantity of electrically conductive medium, the second quantity of electrically conductive medium, the anode conductor, and the cathode conductor are attached to a substrate.

14. The drug delivery device according to claim 12 wherein at least one quantity of pharmaceutically active agent is incorporated within both the first quantity of electrically conductive medium and the second quantity of electrically conductive medium.

15. The drug delivery device according to claim 13 wherein the substrate is a flexible polymer film.

16. The drug delivery device according to claim 15 further comprising a first backing adjacent to the substrate.

17. The drug delivery device according to claim 15 wherein at least one of the anode conductor or the cathode conductor is a metal bearing ink attached to the substrate.

18. The drug delivery device according to claim 12 wherein the first conductive medium and the second conductive medium is selected from the group consisting of electrolyte-containing gels and electrolyte-containing conductive adhesives.

19. The drug delivery device according to claim 18 wherein the electrolyte-containing substance is made from the same material as the first conductive medium.

20. The drug delivery device according to claim 12 wherein the electrolyte-containing substance is separated from at least one of the anode conductor and the cathode conductor by a removable liner.

21. The drug delivery device according to claim 20 wherein the removable liner has a J-fold.

22. A device for delivering a pharmaceutically active agent, the device comprising:

a galvanic cell comprising an anode conductor, a cathode conductor, and two fields of electrolyte-containing substance wherein prior to activation at least one field of electrolyte-containing substance is separated from at least one of the anode and cathode conductors and following activation the anode conductor is in electrical contact with one field of electrolyte-containing substance and the cathode conductor is electrical contact the second field of electrolyte-containing substance, and wherein

at least one quantity of pharmaceutically active agent capable of existing in an ionized state is incorporated within at least one of the fields of electrolyte-containing substance.