Capacitive Medical Electrode

• US 20110160559A1
• Filed: 03/07/2011
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Juola, Lloyd Ohme, Shawn McCutcheon
• Original Assignee: John Juola, Lloyd Ohme, Shawn McCutcheon
• Inventors: McCutcheon, Shawn, Ohme, Lloyd, Juola, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,965,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0215 Silver or silver chloride containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/252 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/257 using adhesive means, e.g. adhesive pads or tapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/266 containing electrolytes, conductive gels or pastes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/277 Capacitive electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/048 Electrodes characterised by a specific connection between lead and electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0496 characterised by using specific chemical compositions, e.g. hydrogel compositions, adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence

Abstract

Medical electrodes in embodiments of the teachings may include one or more of the following features: (a) a metallic conductor, (b) the metallic conductor sandwiched between a first dielectric layer adjacent a top surface of the metallic conductor and a second dielectric layer located on a bottom surface of the metallic conductor, (c) a conducive gel coating on at least one of the first and second dielectric layers, (e) the metallic conductor, the dielectric layers, and the conductive gel being wrapped to form a multi-tiered electrode having a plurality of conductive surfaces, (f) an adhesive adhering the metallic conductor with the dielectric layers, (g) a tab connector to provide a connection to electrical monitoring equipment and (h) an attachment connector to provide electrical connection with a patient.

Claims

1. A medical electrode for transmitting an electrical signal to a patient, the electrode comprising:

a conductive ink layer having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a first dielectric film having an inner facing surface side and an outer facing surface, with the inner facing surface operatively connected to the top surface of the conductive ink layer; and

a layer of conductive substance located on one of the outer facing surface of the first dielectric film;

wherein the layer of conductive substance is galvanically isolated from the conductive ink layer; and

wherein the metallic layer and the layer of conductive substance form a capacitance.

2. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the conductive ink layer has a thickness of approximately 0.3 mil (0.007 mm).

3. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the first dielectric film has a thickness of approximately 0.5 mil (0.012 mm).

4. The electrode of claim 1, further comprising a second dielectric film having an inner facing surface and an outer facing surface, with the inner facing surface operatively connected to the bottom surface of the conductive ink layer and to the inner facing surface of the first dielectric film.

5. The electrode of claim 4, wherein the second dielectric film has a thickness of approximately 0.5 mil (0.007 mm).

6. The electrode of claim 4, wherein the conductive ink layer, the first dielectric film and the second dielectric film have a combined thickness of approximately 1.3 mil (0.033 mm).

7. The electrode of claim 4, wherein the first and second dielectric films are adhesively attached to each other.

8. The electrode of claim 7, wherein the layer of conductive substance comprises adhesive gel.

9. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the first dielectric film has a thickness that is greater than the conductive metallic layer.

10. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the conductive ink layer further comprises a non-conductive hole.

11. The electrode of claim 10, wherein the first dielectric film further comprises a hole, wherein the hole of the first dielectric film is in alignment with the non-conductive hole of the metallic layer and wherein the hole of the first dielectric film is smaller than the non-conductive hole of the ink layer.

12. A medical electrode suitable for capacitive coupling to a patient, the medical electrode comprising:

a dielectric layer having a first side and a second side;

conductive ink carried by the first side of the dielectric layer, with the conductive ink comprising a plurality of similarly shaped, sequentially arranged sections; and

a conductive gel connected to and carried by the second side of the dielectric layer opposite said plurality of sections of conductive ink;

in which capacitances formed between each section of the conductive ink and conductive gel coating combine to form a total capacitance of the electrode.

13. The electrode of claim 12, wherein the conductive ink comprises metallic material.

14. The electrode of claim 12, wherein each section has a length of approximately 1.5 inches.

15. The electrode of claim 12, wherein each section has an area of approximately 2 square inches.

16. The electrode of claim 12, wherein at least one section has a capacitance of approximately 7 nanofarads.

17. The electrode of claim 12, wherein the total capacitance is greater than 7 nanofarads.

18. The electrode of claim 12, wherein the total capacitance has a range of between approximately 7 nanofarads to approximately 40 nanofarads.

19. A capacitive medical electrode suitable for capacitive coupling to a patient, the electrode comprising. a dielectric substrate with first and second opposing surfaces, with the first surface bearing conductive ink and with the second surface bearing an electrolytic gel, with the dielectric substrate being of sufficient size and thickness such that there is substantially no electrical contact between the conductive ink and the electrolytic gel, and the conductive ink and the electrolytic gel form a capacitor.

20. The electrode of claim 19, wherein the dielectric substrate and the conductive ink have a combined thickness of approximately 0.8 mil (0.020 mm).