Electrode Arrangement and Measuring Device for Measuring the Electrical Activity in an Electrically Active Tissue

• US 20110282177A1
• Filed: 06/04/2008
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Gerate GmbH (MED-EL Corporation)
• Original Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Gerate GmbH (MED-EL Corporation)
• Inventors: Schmidt, Wolfram, Pau, Hans Wilhelm, Schmitz, Klaus-Peter, Behrend, Detlef, Sternberg, Katrin
• Granted Patent: US 8,725,227 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/386
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/121 evaluating hearing capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 Ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6848 Needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0541 Cochlear electrodes

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrode arrangement and a measuring device for measuring the action flow and/or the action potential of an electrically active tissue. The aim of the invention is to provide a simple and economically producible electrode for measuring action flows and/or action potentials in electrically active tissues (preferably the stapedius muscle tissue), ensuring that the electrode is fixed securely, but reversibly, in the muscle tissue and that the muscle tissue is disturbed as little as possible. The electrode arrangement according to the invention comprises a first electrode (2) and a fixing element (3), the first electrode (2) being connected to a first, long electrical line (4) and consisting of a long base body (6) comprising a first end (7) and a second end (8). The first electrical line (4) is connected to the base body (6) in the region of the second end (8) thereof, and means are provided for reversibly fixing the fixing element (3) to the first electrode (2).

Claims

1. An electrode configuration for measuring the action current and/or the action potential of electrically active tissue (1), having:

a first electrode (2) and a fixation element (3), the first electrode (2) being connected to a first, oblong electrical line (4), and the first electrode (2) comprising an elongate main body (6) having a first end (7) and a second end (8), the first electrical line (4) being connected to the main body (6) in the area of its second end (8), and means being provided for the fixation of the fixation element (3) on the first electrode (2).

2. The electorate configuration according to claim 1,

characterized in that the fixation element (3) is implemented as the elongate second electrode (3).

3. The electrode configuration according to claim 2,

characterized in that the second electrode (3) is connected to a second oblong electrical line.

4. The electrode configuration according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the main body (6) has the shape of a hollow cylinder, open along its longitudinal axis, the lateral surface being implemented in the form of a circular arc in cross-section, and the centerpoint angle of the circular arc being between 165°

and 195° and

/or the main body (6) being implemented from a rigid material.

5. The electrode configuration according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the main body (6) has a through opening (9) on its lateral surface or on its external surface.

6. The electrode configuration according to claim 5,

characterized in that the cross-section of the through opening (9) corresponds to the cross-section of the second electrode (3) in such a way that the second electrode (3) may be inserted or plugged into the through opening (9).

7. The electrode configuration according to claim 5,

characterized in that the lateral extension of the through opening (9) is between 100% and 200% of the lateral extension of the second electrode (3).

8. The electrode configuration according to claim 5,

characterized in that the lateral extension of the through opening (9) is between 100% and 150% of the lateral extension of the second electrode (3).

9. The electrode configuration according to claim 5,

characterized in that the lateral extension of the through opening (9) is between 101% and 130% of the lateral extension of the second electrode (3).

10. The electrode configuration according to claim 5,

characterized in that the through opening (9) has an electrical insulation layer on its inner surface.

11. The electrode configuration according to claim 10,

characterized in that the insulation layer comprises insulation ceramic or sapphire and/or has a thickness between 10 and 30 μ

m.

12. The electrode configuration according to claim 11,

characterized in that the insulation layer comprises A₂O₃, TiO₂, or a glass ceramic.

13. The electrode configuration according to claim 5,

characterized in that the second electrode (3) has an electrical insulation in relation to the through opening (9) of the main body (6).

14. The electrode configuration according to claim 13,

characterized in that the electrical insulation comprises silicone or polyurethane elastomers.

15. The electrode configuration according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the main body (6) has a diameter of 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm.

16. The electrode configuration according to one of claims 2-15,

characterized in that the second electrode (3) has a diameter of 0.2 mm to 2 mm.

17. The electrode configuration according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the main body (6) has a length of 0.8 mm to 1.4 mm.

18. The electrode configuration according to one of claims 2-17,

characterized in that the second electrode (3) has a length of 1.5 mm to 3.0 mm.

19. The electrode configuration according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the first electrode (2) comprises CrCoMo, Pt, PtIr, Ti, TiAl₄V₆, and/or the second electrode (3) comprises the same material as the first electrode (2).

20. The electrode configuration according to claim 19,

characterized in that the first electrical line (4) comprises the same material as the first electrode (2) and/or the second electrical line (5) comprises the same material as the first electrical line (4).

21. The electrode configuration according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the first electrical line (4) has a length of 10 mm to 100 cm and the second electrical line (5) has a length of 10 mm to 100 cm.

22. The electrode configuration according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the first electrical line (4) is connected to the first electrode (2) using a soldered, clamped, or welded connection.

23. The electrode configuration according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the main body (6) has a bevel in the area of its first end (7), which has an angle between 10°

and 80°

to the longitudinal axis of the main body (6).

24. The electrode configuration according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the main body (6) has a bevel in the area of its first end (7), which has an angle between 30°

and 60°

to the longitudinal axis of the main body (6).

25. The electrode configuration according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the first electrode (2) is implemented as a monopolar electrode and the fixation element (3) comprises an electrically insulating material.

26. The electrode configuration according to claim 25,

characterized in that the first electrical line (4) is connected in a formfitting and/or friction-locked way to a voltmeter (12) or a current meter.

27. The electrode configuration according to one of claims 25 and 26,

characterized in that the first electrical line (4) is connected using a connection plug as a detachable clamp, plug, or screw connection to a voltmeter (12) or current meter.

28. The electrode configuration according to one of claims 2-24 and 26-27,

characterized in that the first electrode (2) and the second electrode (3) are implemented as a bipolar measuring configuration.

29. The electrode configuration according to one of claims 26-28,

characterized in that the first electrical line (4) and the second electrode (3) are connected to a voltmeter (12) or a current meter.

30. The electrode configuration according to one of claims 25-27,

characterized in that the voltmeter (12) is designed to measure the electrical potential applied to the first electrode (2) in relation to a reference potential and/or the voltmeter (12) is designed to measure the electrical potential applied to the electrode in relation to the zero potential (ground).

31. The electrode configuration according to one of claims 26-29,

characterized in that the voltmeter (12) is designed to measure the electrical potential applied between the first electrode (2) and the second electrode (3).

32. The electrode configuration according to one of claims 25-31,

characterized in that the oblong electrode main body (1) and/or the first electrical line (4) have an electrically conductive core and an electrically insulating sheath.

33. The electrode configuration according to one of claims 28, 29, and 31,

characterized in that the second electrode (3) has an electrically conductive core and an electrically insulating sheath.

34. The electrode configuration according to one of claims 32 and 33,

characterized in that the insulation has a wall thickness between 2 and 30 μ

m and/or the insulation comprises a biocompatible elastomer.

35. The electrode configuration according to one of claims 32 and 34,

characterized in that the electrically conductive core of the electrode main body (1) is only exposed in the area of the second electrode, the electrically conductive core of the electrode main body (1) not directly contacting the electrically conductive core of the second electrode (3).

36. The electrode configuration according to one of claims 33 and 34,

characterized in that the electrically conductive core of the second electrode (3) is only exposed in the area of the electrode main body (1), the electrically conductive core of the electrode main body (1) not directly contacting the electrically conductive core of the second electrode (3).

37. The electrode configuration according to one of claims 35 and 36,

characterized in that the exposed area has an area of 0.02 to 15 mm².