Skin screw electrode

• US 20080262335A1
• Filed: 02/04/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
• Original Assignee: University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
• Inventors: Sun, Mingui, Sclabassi, Robert J., Liang, Wei, Marcanio, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,112,139 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0017 transmitting optical signals transmission by light H04B10/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6839 Anchoring means, e.g. barbs
• 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 1/0464 Specially adapted for promoting tissue growth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0468 Specially adapted for promoting wound healing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0472 Structure-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin

Abstract

Electrodes providing excellent recording and physical stability. The present invention encompasses electrodes that include a plurality of small teeth that possess a novel design shape and orientation. The shallow and relatively long teeth preferably run parallel to the rim of the electrode that presses against the patient'"'"'s skin. When the electrode is twisted onto skin, the tiny teeth penetrate the stratum corneum and move nearly horizontally under the stratum corneum, thus anchoring the electrode securely to the skin. The electrodes of the present invention cause minimal discomfort to the patient since the small teeth do not extend to the pain fibers which are located in deeper layers of the skin. The electrodes may house a wide diversity of electronic components to enable numerous experimental and medical implementations. The electrodes the present invention may also be used wirelessly either singularly or as an array so that no electrode leads extend away from the patients body. The electrodes of the present invention may be fabricated using precision photo-chemical etching techniques that are well known in the art. The present invention also includes an electrode installation device that preferably employs the electrodes of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electrode for attachment to skin of a patient, comprising:

a cylindrical electrode body, said electrode body including a proximal rim that is adapted to be pressed against the skin of the patient, wherein said proximal rim includes a plurality of teeth that that extend parallel to said proximal rim; and

a cap that is connected to a distal rim of said electrode body.

2. The electrode of claim 1, wherein said teeth are located around the entirety of said proximal rim.

3. The electrode of claim 1, wherein said teeth are between about 0.005 and 0.05 inches long.

4. The electrode of claim 1, wherein said teeth are adapted to penetrate the stratum corneum of said skin, but not as deep as the layer containing pain fibers.

5. The electrode of claim 1, wherein said teeth extend from about 0.002″

to about 0.005″

from said rim.

6. The electrode of claim 1, wherein said teeth are angled away from said proximal rim from about 2°

to about 50°

.

7. The electrode of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of recessed areas at the base of said plurality of said teeth, wherein said plurality of recessed areas are adapted to accommodate any hair located on the surface of said skin.

8. The electrode of claim 1, wherein said electrode is fabricated from a conductive material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, copper alloy, conductive polymer, gold alloy, and platinum.

9. The electrode of claim 1, wherein said teeth are electroplated or coated with a silver-silver chloride, gold, iridium, or conductive metal oxide.

10. The electrode of claim 1, wherein said electrode body and said cap are magnetic.

11. The electrode of claim 10, further comprising an electrical lead wire connected to said cap.

12. The electrode of claim 1, further comprising an amplifier, a telemetric circuit, and a transmitter.

13. The electrode of claim 12, wherein said amplifier, telemetric circuit, and amplifier are located in the interior of said electrode body.

14. The electrode of claim 13, wherein said electrode is adapted to transmit information to a receiver wirelessly.

15. The electrode of claim 1, wherein said electrode is a recording electrode.

16. The electrode of claim 1, wherein said electrode is a stimulating electrode.

17. The electrode of claim 15, wherein said electrode is adapted for use in EEG, EKG, or EMG.

18. The electrode of claim 1, wherein said electrode body comprises:

a first portion in the form of a cylinder that includes said electrode teeth on the proximal end of said first portion; and

a second portion that is distal to said first portion, said second portion comprising a constraining wall, said constraining wall including an alignment notch along its outside face, wherein the distal aspect of said first portion is adapted to fit snugly over the proximal aspect of said second portion to the level of said alignment notch.

26. An array of electrodes according to claim 1, wherein said electrodes are interconnected via wire leads, wherein said wire leads are adapted to transfer data and power from one electrode to another.

27. The array of claim 26, wherein said wire leads are further adapted to act as an RF antenna for the transmission of data from said array of electrodes to a receiving computer.

28. The array of claim 26, wherein said array includes a central electrode that includes an electronic component selected from the group consisting of power switch, an infrared light emitter, and gain control.

19. A method of fabricating an electrode, comprising the steps of:

applying an etchant-resistant chemical to the surface of a sheet of metal in a pattern, said pattern including a plurality of teeth on a top side of said pattern;

etching said metal with an etchant solution;

forming a first cylinder from said non-etched metal; and

attaching said first cylinder to a second cylinder to form an electrode body.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein forming step includes tack welding said first cylinder.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said second cylinder is made of the same type of metal as the first cylinder.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said second cylinder is plastic.

23. An apparatus for the application of electrodes, comprising:

a chamber adapted to accept a pack of said electrodes;

a body containing said chamber;

a stepping assembling, comprising;

a gear; and

buttons, wherein said buttons are disposed outside of said body; and

a spring, wherein said spring is adapted to advance said pack of electrodes following application of one electrode.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a position sensor, wherein said position sensor is adapted to measure electrode location.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said position sensor further comprises an RF circuit adapted to transmit information regarding said electrode location to a computer.