Medical electrode

• US 20060030767A1
• Filed: 06/13/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leonhard Lang KG
• Original Assignee: Leonhard Lang KG
• Inventors: Lang, Burrhus, Wilfinger, Markus
• Granted Patent: US 7,512,449 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/257 using adhesive means, e.g. adhesive pads or tapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/259 using conductive adhesive means, e.g. gels

Abstract

Medical electrode for conducting signals, in particular for conducting signals from the human skin, which is built up in at least two layers, wherein a preferably metallic signal conductor which can be connected to the signal-emitting subject, preferably in the form of a signal-conducting layer, is arranged between an upper top layer and an adhesive layer which can be brought into contact with the signal-emitting subject, and which has a tapping pad, an electrically insulating covering element being arranged between the tapping pad and the signal-emitting subject, at least one side of the preferably planar covering element being electrically conductive in construction.

Claims

1. Medical electrode for conducting signals, in particular for conducting signals from the human skin, which is built up in at least two layers, wherein a signal conductor which can be connected to the signal-emitting subject is arranged between an upper top layer and an adhesive layer which can be brought into contact with the signal-emitting subject, and which has a tapping pad, an electrically insulating covering element being arranged between the tapping pad and the signal-emitting subject, and wherein at least one side of the covering element is electrically conductive in construction.

2. Electrode according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive side of the covering element is formed by an electrically conductive element having a grid-like construction.

3. Electrode according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive side of the covering element is formed by an electrically conductive foam.

4. Electrode according to claim 1, wherein the covering element is constructed as a film having a first electrically insulating carrier layer and a second electrically conductive layer.

5. Electrode according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive side of the covering element is separated galvanically from the signal conductor.

6. Electrode according to claim 5, wherein the signal conductor and the electrically conductive side of the covering element are arranged with vertical spacing from one another.

7. Electrode according to claim 1, wherein the signal conductor is connected to the signal-emitting subject via an electrically conductive gel.

8. Electrode according to claim 1, wherein the tapping pad has a tapping element which is in electrical contact with the signal conductor and is accessible from the side of the electrode facing away from the signal-emitting subject.

9. Electrode according to claim 1, wherein the covering element is connected to the tapping pad.

10. Electrode according to claim 1, wherein the covering element or the carrier layer of the covering element is constructed in one piece with the upper top layer of the electrode.

11. Electrode according to claim 10, wherein the electrically conductive side of the covering element extends at least in part to the upper side of the upper top layer.

12. Electrode according to claim 1, wherein a skin-friendly electrically insulating plaster element is arranged on the side of the adhesive layer facing the signal-emitting subject.

13. Electrode according to claim 12, wherein the covering element or the electrically insulating carrier layer of the covering element is formed by the plaster element.

31. Electrode according to claim 1, 14 or 29, wherein at least one electrically conductive layer which is separated galvanically from the signal conductor is constructed such that it can be brought into contact with a conductor for conducting the interference signals or for earthing.

32. Electrode according to claim 31, wherein a connection element is arranged on the electrically conductive layer or connected to the electrically conductive layer for detachable fixing of the conductor to the electrically conductive layer.

36. Electrode according to claim 1, 14 or 29, wherein the signal conductor, which can be connected to the signal-emitting subject, is metallic in construction.

37. Electrode according to claim 1, 14 or 29, wherein the signal conductor is in the form of a signal-conducting layer.

38. Electrode according to claim 1 or 23, wherein the covering element is planar.

39. Electrode according to claim 1 or 23, wherein the covering element is constructed as a two-layered film.

40. Electrode according to claim 6, wherein the signal conductor and the electrically conductive side of the covering element are arranged with vertical spacing from one another, overlapping at least in regions.

41. Electrode according to claim 7, wherein the electrically conductive gel can be arranged in an opening of the adhesive layer.

42. Electrode according to claim 8, wherein the tapping element is in the form of a stud.

14. Medical electrode for conducting signals, in particular for conducting signals from the human skin, having a top layer, an adhesive layer for sticking the electrode on to the skin and a signal conductor which can be connected to the signal-emitting subject, wherein at least the side of the top layer facing away from the signal-emitting subject is electrically conductive in construction at least in regions.

15. Electrode according to claim 14, wherein the under-side of the top layer is also electrically conductive in construction at least in regions.

16. Electrode according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the electrically conductive side of the top layer is formed by an electrically conductive element having a grid-like construction.

17. Electrode according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the electrically conductive side of the top layer is formed by an electrically conductive foam.

18. Electrode according to claim 14, wherein the electrically conductive layer is formed by a printed-on electrically conductive layer.

19. Electrode according to claim 14, wherein the top layer is constructed as a film having a first electrically insulating carrier layer and a second electrically conductive layer.

20. Electrode according to claim 14, wherein the electrically conductive side is constructed as a film having a first electrically insulating carrier layer and a second electrically conductive layer.

21. Electrode according to claim 14, wherein the electrically conductive side of the top layer is separated galvanically from the signal conductor and wherein the electrically conductive separate regions of the top layer which may be present are connected electrically.

22. Electrode according to claim 14, wherein the electrode has a tapping pad.

23. Electrode according to claim 22, wherein a covering element is arranged on the side of the tapping pad facing the signal-emitting subject.

24. Electrode according to claim 23, wherein the covering element is constructed in one piece with the top layer.

25. Electrode according to claim 23, wherein at least one side of the covering element is electrically conductive in construction, the electrically conductive side of the covering element being separated galvanically from the signal conductor.

26. Electrode according to claim 25, wherein the electrically conductive side of the top layer, the signal conductor and the electrically conductive side of the covering element are arranged with vertical spacing from one another.

27. Electrode according to claim 14, wherein a skin-friendly electrically insulating plaster element is arranged on the side of the adhesive layer facing the signal-emitting subject.

28. Electrode according to claim 27, wherein the plaster element at least partly masks the tapping pad, the part of the plaster element masking the tapping pad being electrically conductive in construction on its side facing the tapping pad.

43. Electrode according to claim 19, wherein the top layer is constructed as a two-layered film.

44. Electrode according to claim 20, wherein the electrically conductive side is constructed as a two-layered film.

45. Electrode according to claim 21, wherein the electrically conductive side of the top layer is separated galvanically from the signal conductor and wherein the electrically conductive separate regions of the top layer which may be present are connected electrically to one another.

46. Electrode according to claim 23, wherein an electrically insulating covering element is arranged on the side of the tapping pad facing the signal-emitting subject.

47. Electrode according to claim 26, wherein the electrically conductive side of the top layer, the signal conductor and the electrically conductive side of the covering element are arranged with vertical spacing from one another, overlapping at least in regions.

29. Medical electrode for conducting signals, in particular for conducting signals from the human skin, having a top layer, an adhesive layer for sticking the electrode on to the skin, a signal conductor which can be connected to the signal-emitting subject, and at least one additional electrically conductive layer which shields the signal conductor against interference signals.

30. Electrode according to claim 29, wherein the electrode has a tapping pad.

33. Electrode according to claim 29, wherein the signals of the signal conductor and the interference signals of the electrically conductive layer are transmitted via a lead which has two galvanically separated conductors.

34. Electrode according to claim 33, wherein the two conductors of the lead are arranged or constructed coaxially, it being possible for the inner conductor to be brought into contact with the signal conductor.

35. Electrode according to claim 33, wherein the lead has a connection element by means of which the electrically conductive layer and the signal conductor can be brought into contact simultaneously with their corresponding conductors of the lead.

48. Electrode according to claim 29, wherein the at least one additional electrically conductive layer is in the form of a Faraday shield or cup.