ELECTRODE WITH CHARGE-OPERATED INDICATOR

• US 20140275823A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Lane, John A., Freer, Benjamin, Quinn, David E., Kroon, Frederik W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,808,170 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0462 Apparatus with built-in sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0257 Proximity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/259 using conductive adhesive means, e.g. gels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/28 for electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7221 Determining signal validity, reliability or quality A61B5/7207 and A61B5/7217 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/74 Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient indicating measured values G01D7/00; user input means input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00

Abstract

An electrode includes separate first and second electrical contacts to contact the skin of a subject. A charge-holding structure is electrically connected between the first and second contacts. An indicator is operatively coupled to the charge-holding structure so that the indicator changes visibly in response to a change in the charge stored in the charge-holding structure. The electrode can include a rectifier across the contacts. A container for electrodes includes an electrical supply and a plurality of receptacles for electrodes so that a voltage difference is maintained across conductors of each receptacle (and contacts of an electrode therein) for at least one week. A method of making electrodes includes arranging the contacts over a support, connecting the charge-holding structure between them, arranging the indicator over the support, and charging the charge-holding structure so that the indicator has a first visual appearance.

Claims

1. An electrode, comprising:

a) first and second electrical contacts adapted to contact the skin of a subject;

b) a charge-holding structure electrically connected between the first and second electrical contacts; and

c) an indicator coupled to the charge-holding structure so that the indicator changes state in response to a change in the charge stored in the charge-holding structure.

2. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein:

a) the charge-holding structure includes spaced-apart first and second conductors connected to the first and second electrical contacts, respectively; and

b) the at least one indicator includes an electronic ink arranged between the first and second conductors and controlled by the charge between the first and second conductors.

3. The electrode according to claim 2, further including a support that contains the electronic ink, the support having a subject side and an opposed non-subject side, wherein:

a) the first and second electrical contacts are arranged over the subject side of the support; and

b) the first conductor is disposed over the subject side.

4. The electrode according to claim 3, wherein the second conductor is arranged over the non-subject side, the electrode further including a via through the support that electrically connects the second conductor to the second electrical contact.

5. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the second electrical contact surrounds the first electrical contact.

6. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrical contacts are positioned so that neither surrounds the other.

7. The electrode according to claim 1, further including a support having a subject side, wherein the first and second electrical contacts are disposed over the subject side of the support.

8. The electrode according to claim 7, the support further including a non-subject side opposed to the subject side, wherein an aperture is defined in the non-subject side of the support so that the indicator is visible through the aperture.

9. The electrode according to claim 7, wherein the support includes a non-subject side opposite the subject side and the indicator is disposed over the non-subject side.

10. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the indicator is adapted to visibly show a first indication when the charge-holding structure is holding a first selected charge and to visibly show a second indication different from the first indication when the charge-holding structure is holding a second selected charge.

11. The electrode according to claim 10, wherein the first selected charge has higher magnitude than the selected second charge.

12. The electrode according to claim 1, further including a release liner having respective electrical terminals electrically connected to the first and second electrical contacts, respectively.

13. The electrode according to claim 1, further including a charge-transport unit electrically connected between the first and second electrical contacts.

14. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the electrode is an electrocardiogram (ECG) patient-contact electrode.

15. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the indicator includes an electrochromic display element.

16. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second electrical contacts includes conductive adhesive.

17. The electrode according to claim 1, further including an electrical terminal electrically connected to the first electrical contact.

18. The electrode according to claim 17, wherein further including a support having a subject side and an opposed non-subject side, wherein the first and second electrical contacts are disposed over the subject side of the support and the electrical terminal is disposed over the non-subject side.

19. The electrode according to claim 1, further including a non-biopotential sensor and an output interface adapted to provide information sensed by the non-biopotential sensor.

20. The electrode according to claim 19, wherein the non-biopotential sensor is adapted to sense the temperature of the skin of the subject when the electrode is applied to the skin of the subject.

21. The electrode according to claim 1, further including an electrical supply associated with the electrode to maintain a voltage difference between the first and second contacts while the electrode is stored in a container.

22. An electrode, comprising:

a) first and second electrical contacts;

b) a rectifier electrically connected between the first and second contacts;

c) a first electrical terminal electrically connected to the first electrical contact;

d) a charge-holding structure electrically connected between the first and second electrical contacts; and

e) an indicator coupled to the charge-holding structure so that the indicator changes state in response to a change in the charge stored in the charge-holding structure.

23. The electrode according to claim 22, wherein the rectifier includes a diode.

24. The electrode according to claim 22, wherein the rectifier is electrically connected so that its forward-conduction direction is from the first electrical contact to the second electrical contact.

25. The electrode according to claim 22, wherein the electrode is configured for application to the skin of a subject and the second electrical contact is positioned so that the second electrical contact has a capacitive electrical connection with the subject upon at least one of:

a) improper application of the electrode; and

b) partial peeling of the electrode off the skin after proper application.

26. A method of making a patient-contact device for a medical sensing system, the method comprising:

a) arranging first and second electrical contacts over a support;

b) electrically connecting a charge-holding structure between the first and second electrical contacts;

c) arranging an indicator over the support, the indicator coupled to the charge-holding structure so that the indicator changes state in response to a change in the charge stored in the charge-holding structure; and

d) charging the charge-holding structure so that the indicator has a first visual appearance.

27. The method according to claim 26, further including configuring the patient-contact device for application to the skin of a subject, wherein upon proper application the charge-holding structure at least partly discharges through the first electrical contact, the subject'"'"'s skin, and the second electrical contact, and the indicator takes on a second visual appearance different from the first visual appearance.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein the arranging-contacts step includes arranging respective areas of conductive adhesive over the support for the first and second electrical contacts.