Electrode for electrostimulators

• US 20050278009A1
• Filed: 03/10/2005
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gian Domenico Dalla Bona, Joseph Oswaldo Diduro
• Original Assignee: Gian Domenico Dalla Bona, Joseph Oswaldo Diduro
• Inventors: Bona, Gian Domenico Dalla, Diduro, Joseph Oswaldo
• Application Number:
  US11/077,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20050278009A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/115
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0472 Structure-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/048 Electrodes characterised by a specific connection between lead and electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence

Abstract

An electrode (1;31;51) for electrostimulators comprising an insulating housing (2;32;52) in which are located a first conductor element (3;33;53) projecting from the insulating housing (2;32;52); a second conductor element (4;34;54) also projecting from the insulating housing (3;32;52) and electrical conductor means (5;44) appropriate to connect the conductor elements (3, 4; 33,34; 53,54) to the electrostimulator. One of the conductor elements (3,4; 33, 34; 53, 54) is connected to a yielding structure (6; 37; 55) that ensures the simultaneous contact of both conductor elements (3, 4; 33, 34; 43, 54) with the human body during the therapeutic treatment.

Claims

1. ) An electrode (1;

31;

51) for electrostimulators, comprising an insulating housing (2;

32;

52) in which are located

at least one first conductor element (3;

33;

53) projecting from the insulating housing (2;

32;

52);

at least one second conductor element (4;

34;

54) also projecting form the insulating housing (3;

32;

52);

electrical conductor means (5;

44) appropriate to connect the conductor elements (3, 4;

33, 34;

53, 54) to the electrostimulator,

characterized in that at least one of the conductor elements (3, 4;

33, 34;

53, 54) is connected to a yielding structure (6;

37;

55) suitable to ensure the simultaneous contact of the conductor elements (3, 4;

33, 34;

53, 54) with the human body during the therapeutic treatment.

2. ) An electrode (1;

31) in accordance with claim

     1), characterized in that this yielding structure (6;

37) is constituted by elastic means.

3. ) An electrode (51) in accordance with claim 1) characterized in that the yielding structure (55) is constituted by at least one of the conductor elements (53, 54).

4. ) An electrode (1;

31) in accordance with claim

     1), characterized in that the first conductor element (3;

33) is constituted by a ring fastened to the insulating housing (2;

32) on its side towards the area of the human body to be treated.

5. ) An electrode (1;

31;

51) in accordance with claim

     1), characterized in that the second conductor element (4) is constituted by a pin inserted in a bolt hole (7) effectuated in the insulating housing (2;

32;

52).

6. ) An electrode (1) in accordance with claim 5), characterized in that the second conductor element (4) can move freely inside of the bolt hole (7) and that it projects from the first conductor element (3) when the electrode (1) is in a non-use state.

7. ) An electrode (31) in accordance with claim 1), characterized in that the first conductor element (33) is constituted by a movable ring inside of a round chamber (35) provided for in the insulating housing (32).

8. ) An electrode (31) in accordance with claim 5), characterized in that this second conductor element (34) is fastened inside of the bolt hole (36) and re-enters as regards the first conductor element (33) when the electrode (31) is in a state of non-use.

9. ) An electrode (1) in accordance with claim 5), characterized in that the elastic means comprise a helicoidal spring (13) inserted in the bolt hole (7) in order to wind around the second conductor element (4) and render it yielding.

10. ) An electrode (1) in accordance with claim 1), characterized in that it comprises at least one conductor (14) inserted in a corresponding bolt hole (15, 16) closed by the first conductor element (3) against which it is fitted in order to ensure the electrical continuity with the electrical conductor means (5).

11. ) An electrode (31) in accordance with claim 2), characterized in that these elastic means comprise at least a couple of helicoidal springs (38, 39) inserted in corresponding bolt holes (40, 41, 42, 43) effectuated in the insulating housing (32) until being fitted against the first conductor element (33) in order to render it yielding.

12. ) An electrode (1) in accordance with claim 9), characterized in that the helicoid spring (13) presents an extremity (21) connected to the electrical conductor means (5) in order to ensure the continuity of current between this second conductor element (4) and the electrical conductor means (5).

13. ) An electrode (31) in accordance with claim 11), characterized in that at least one of the helicoidal springs (38, 39), connected between each other by means of a wire (47) of a conductor material, is connected to the electrical conductor means (44) in order to ensure the continuity of current between the first conductor element (33) and the electrical current conductors (44).

14. ) An electrode (31) in accordance with claim 7), characterized in that this second conductor element (34) is connected to the electrical current conductors (44).

15. ) An electrode (51) in accordance with claim 3), characterized in that at least one of the conductor elements (53, 54) is constituted by an intrinsically yielding material turned conducive.

16. ) An electrode (1;

31) in accordance with claim

     1), characterized in that the electrical current means (5;

44) are constituted by a couple of electrical wires (17, 18;

45, 46) inserted in corresponding holes (19, 20) effectuated in the insulating housing (2;

32).

17. ) An electrode (1;

31) in accordance with claim

     16), characterized in that the holes (19, 20) are laterally effectuated in the isolating housing (2, 32).

18. ) An electrode (1;

31) in accordance with claim

     1), characterized in that they comprise a cap (11;

49) positioned in a chamber (12) provided for at the top of the isolating housing (2;

32) and that it acts as back wall for the yielding structure (6;

37).

19. ) An electrode (1;

31) in accordance with claim

     5), characterized in that the bolt hole (7) presents a first part (72) of a lesser diameter and a second part (71) of a greater diameter.

20. ) An electrode (1;

31) in accordance with claim

     19), characterized in that the pin presents an end (8) that is connected to the first part (72) with a lesser diameter than the bolt hole (7).

21. ) An electrode (1;

31) in accordance with claim

     20), characterized in that that end (8) of the pin is delimited by a concentric ring (9) protruding from the pin.

22. ) An electrode (1;

31) in accordance with claim

     1), characterized in that the isolating housing (2;

32) presents a substantially cylindrical shape.