CONDUCTIVE SILICONE MATERIAL FOR HUMAN SKIN ELECTRODE

• US 20110230749A1
• Filed: 03/22/2010
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDT Technology Limited (IDT International Limited)
• Original Assignee: IDT Technology Limited (IDT International Limited)
• Inventors: LI, Li, LEONG, Mun Hoong, CHAN, Raymond
• Granted Patent: US 8,355,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/393
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 77/20 containing silicon bound to unsaturated aliphatic groups C08G77/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/04 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 83/04 Polysiloxanes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A conductive silicone material for human skin electrode is disclosed. In one embodiment, the conductive silicone material comprises a mixture of silicone and carbon powder such that the mixture has a resistivity of 0.08 to 0.12 Ω·m and a Shore A hardness of 50 to 60. In an exemplary embodiment, the mixture comprises 60 to 80 weight percent silicone and 20 to 40 weight percent carbon powder. A sensor for detecting human biological signal using a conductive silicone electrode is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A conductive silicone material for human skin electrode comprising a mixture of silicone and carbon powder wherein the composition has a resistivity of 0.08 to 0.12 Ω

·

m and a shore A hardness of 50 to 60.

2. The conductive silicone material according to claim 1, wherein said silicone is methyl vinyl silicone.

3. The conductive silicone material according to claim 1, wherein said carbon powder has a size of 3-5 micrometers.

4. The conductive silicone material according to claim 1, further comprising:

a) About 60 to 80 weight percent of said silicone; and

b) About 20 to 40 weight percent of said carbon.

5. The conductive silicone material according to claim 1, further comprising:

a) 70 weight percent of said silicone; and

b) 30 weight percent of said carbon.

6. An article of manufacture comprising:

a) a body substrate;

b) at least two electrodes made of a conductive silicone material comprising a mixture of silicone and carbon powder, said at least two electrodes attached to said body substrate; and

c) an electronic unit electrically connected to said at least two electrodes.

7. The article of manufacture according to claim 6, wherein said body substrate is a fabric material and said at least two electrodes further comprises a non-conductive silicone material between said conductive silicone material and said body substrate.

8. The article of manufacture according to claim 7, wherein said at least two electrodes further comprises a fiber layer between said conductive silicone material and said non-conductive silicone material.

9. The article of manufacture according to claim 6, wherein said silicone of said conductive silicone material is methyl vinyl silicone.

10. The article of manufacture according to claim 6, wherein said carbon powder of said conductive silicone material has a size of 3-5 micrometers.

11. The article of manufacture according to claim 6, wherein said conductive silicone material further comprising:

a) About 60 to 80 weight percent of said silicone; and

b) About 20 to 40 weight percent of said carbon.

12. The article of manufacture according to claim 6, wherein said conductive silicone material further comprising

a) 70 weight percent of said silicone;

and

b) 30 weight percent of said carbon.

13. The article of manufacture according to claim 6, wherein said body substrate is a non-conductive silicone material.

14. The article of manufacture according to claim 6, wherein said electrodes have an input impedance of about 500 to 700 ohm.

15. A method comprising:

a) Providing raw silicone rubber;

b) Providing carbon powder;

c) Mechanically mixing said raw silicone rubber and said carbon powder; and

d) forming a human skin electrode from said mixture by injection molding.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

a) About 60 to 80 weight percent of said silicone; and

b) About 20 to 40 weight percent of said carbon.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

a) 70 weight percent of said silicone; and

b) 30 weight percent of said carbon.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of bonding said mixture to a non-conductive silicone material, wherein said bonding step comprises the steps of:

a) Heating said mixture and said non-conductive silicone material to a temperature of 160 to 200 degrees Celsius; and

b) Suppressing said mixture and said non-conductive silicone material together under a pressure of 10 to 30 kg/cm for at least 10 minutes.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said bonding step further comprises the step of providing a fiber layer sandwiched between said mixture and said non-conductive silicone material before said heating step.