Biological electrode and connector for the same

• US 20040039275A1
• Filed: 08/12/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nikon Kohden Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
• Inventors: Sato, Takanori, Nonaka, Yasuyuki, Igarashi, Hirohito
• Granted Patent: US 7,085,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/251 Means for maintaining electrode contact with the body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

A conductive member is adapted to be attached onto a living tissue to detect a bioelectrical signal. A retainer retains the conductive member on the living tissue. A lead member is partly brought into contact with the conductive member to lead out the bioelectrical signal to a connector. A waterproof sheet covers the lead member in a watertight manner, while exposing a portion of the lead member from which the biological signal is led out.

Claims

1. A biological electrode electrically connected to a connector, the biological electrode comprising:

a conductive member, adapted to be attached onto a living tissue to detect a bioelectrical signal;

a retainer, which retains the conductive member on the living tissue;

a lead member, partly brought into contact with the conductive member to lead out the bioelectrical signal to the connector; and

a waterproof sheet, covering the lead member in a watertight manner, while exposing a first portion of the lead member from which the biological signal is led out.

2. The biological electrode as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lead member is plate-shaped, and the water proof sheet is laminated on both sides of the plate-shaped lead member.

3. The biological electrode as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first portion is circular.

4. The biological electrode as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a protector, which prevents external vibrations from transmitting to the conductive member.

5. A connector for a biological electrode which detects a bioelectric signal, the connector comprising:

a pair of nipping members, adapted to nip the biological electrode therebetween;

a conductive member, adapted to be brought into contact with a lead member of the biological electrode from which the detected bioelectric signal is led out; and

an elastic packing member, which waterpoofs the conductive member, in a case where the nipping members nip the biological electrode.

6. The connector as set forth in claim 5, wherein the conductive member comprises a protrusion provided on one of the nipping members, and an indentation provided on the other one of the nipping members, into which the protrusion is fitted while nipping the lead member therebetween.

7. The connector as set forth in claim 6, wherein the protrusion has conductivity.

8. The connector as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

the protrusion is semi-spherical having a first curvature radius, and the indentation is semi-spherical having a second curvature radius smaller than the first curvature radius; and

the indentation has elasticity.

9. The connector as set forth in claim 6, wherein the elastic packing member annularly surrounds the protrusion.

10. The connector as set forth in claim 9, further comprising an annular protrusion operable to push the elastic packing member outward, in a case where the protrusion is fitted into the indentation.

11. The connector as set forth in claim 10, wherein an outer periphery of the annular protrusion is tapered.

12. The connector as set forth in claim 11, wherein an inner periphery of the elastic packing member is tapered.

13. The connector as set forth in claim 9, further comprising an annular protrusion operable to push the elastic packing member inward, in a case where the protrusion is fitted into the indentation.

14. The connector as set forth in claim 13, wherein an inner periphery of the annular protrusion is tapered.

15. The connector as set forth in claim 14, wherein an outer periphery of the elastic packing member is tapered.

16. A connector for a biological electrode which detects a bioelectric signal, the connector comprising:

a pair of nipping members, adapted to nip the biological electrode therebetween, one of the nipping members provided with a protrusion, and the other one of the nipping members provided with an indentation into which the protrusion is fitted while nipping therebetween a lead member of the biological electrode from which the detected bioelectric signal is led out.

17. The connector as set forth in claim 16, wherein the protrusion has conductivity.

18. The connector as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

the protrusion is semi-spherical having a first curvature radius, and the indentation is semi-spherical having a second curvature radius smaller than the first curvature radius; and

the indentation has elasticity.

19. A connector for a biological electrode which detects a bioelectric signal, the connector comprising:

a pair of nipping members, adapted to nip the biological electrode therebetween;

an engagement member, adapted to be engaged with a lead member of the biological electrode from which the detected bioelectric signal is led out; and

a conductive member, adapted to be brought into contact with the lead member, in a case where the engagement member engages with the lead member.