DISPOSABLE ELECTRODE

• US 3,805,769 A
• Filed: 05/24/1973
• Issued: 04/23/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert W. Sessions
• Original Assignee: Robert W. Sessions
• Inventors: Sessions, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/363,717
• Time in Patent Office: 334 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.6E,2.1E,404,411,417,418,DIG.4 136/175 29/629,630
• US Class Current: 600/392
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/125 characterised by the manufacture of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• 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 5/274 using snap or button fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A disposable electrode structure for operatively connecting electrical equipment to the surface of live skin of a patient, employing a self-contained electrical conductive material for affecting the connection, and cover means for protectively sealing said conductive material, readily removable from the electrode structure at time of use.

Claims

1. A disposable type electrode for operatively connecting electrical equipment to the surface of live skin of a patient, comprising a sheet of relatively porous material having an adhesive coating on one face thereof adapted to adhere to such a skin surface, said sheet having an opening therein, a second sheet of relatively impermeable material completely spanning the area of said opening, said second sheet having an adhesive coating on the adjacent face thereof contacting said first sheet for retaining the same in assembled relation an electrical terminal extending-through and secured to said second sheet on a portion thereof extending across the opening in said first sheet, said terminal having means at the outer side of said second sheet for effecting connection with an electrical conductor, and having a contact portion disposed in the opening said first sheet, the area of said opening being greater than the area of said contact portion to provide an annular area therearound at which the adhesive coating of said second sheet is exposed, a pad of porous material disposed at the opening in said first sheet and engaged with said contact portion, said pad having an area greater than that of said contact portion and retained in operative position in engagement therewith by the exposed adhesive coating of said second sheet, and a quantity of electrically conductive material contained on said pad, preapplied thereto and forming therewith a unitary part of the electrode, operative to produce a conductive connection between said connector and live skin in contact with said pad when said first sheet is applied to such live skin and retained in position by the adhesive coating of such sheet. on a portion thereof extending across the opening in said first sheet, said terminal having means at the outer side of said second sheet for effecting connection with an electrical conductor, and having a contact portion disposed in the opening said first sheet, the area of said opening being greater than the area of said contact portion to provide an annular area therearound at which the adhesive coating of said second sheet is exposed, a pad of porous material disposed at the opening in said first sheet and engaged with said contact portion, said pad having an area greater than that of said contact portion and retained in operative position in engagement therewith by the exposed adhesive coating of said second sheet, and a quantity of electrically conductive material contained on said pad, preapplied thereto and forming therewith a unitary part of the electrode, operative to produce a conductive connection between said connector and live skin in contact with said pad when said first sheet is applied to such live skin and retained in position by the adhesive coating of such sheet.

2. An electrode according to claim 1, wherein the dimensions of the opening in said first sheet of the electrode structure are greater than the corresponding outer dimensions of said pad to provide an annular space between said pad and first sheet at which the adhesive coating on said second sheet is exposed, and closure means in sealing engagement with said second sheet.

3. An electrode according to claim 1 wherein said pad, respective sheets and the opening in said first sheet are respectively circular in configuration, with the respective components and said terminal being disposed on a common axis.

4. An electrode according to claim 1, wherein said electrical terminal comprises an outer connector member and an inner contact member engaged therewith, each of which is provided with a base portion in contact with the adjacent face of said second sheet, that of the inner member being in engagement with the adhesive coating on said second sheet, said inner member extending through said second sheet and engaging said outer member with said second sheet clamped between said base portions.

5. As an article of manufacture, a disposable type electrode for operatively connecting electrical equipment to tHe surface of live skin of a patient, comprising a sheet of material having an adhesive coating on one face thereof adapted to adhere to such a skin surface, said sheet having an opening therein, a second sheet of material completely spanning the area of said opening with its peripheral portions adhesively secured to said first sheet to retain the same in assembled relation, an electrical terminal extending through and secured to said second sheet on a portion thereof extending across the opening in said first sheet, said terminal having means at the outer side of second sheet for effecting connection with an electrical conductor, and having a contact portion, disposed in the opening in said first sheet, a pad of porous material disposed at the opening in said first sheet and engaged with the adjacent contact portion, said pad being retained in position by adhesive surrounding said adjacent contact portion, a quantity of electrically conductive material contained on said pad operative to produce a conductive connection between said connector and live skin in contact with said pad when said first sheet is applied to such live skin and retained in position by the adhesive coating of said sheet, and a protective cover structure for said pad and exposed adhesive of said first sheet, of a size to extend across and engage said adhesive of the first sheet, the adhesive-engaged surface of said cover structure being such that the latter may be easily stripped from such adhesive, said cover structure having means for spacing the portion of said cover structure covering said pad, outwardly from peripheral portions of said cover structure, forming a recess at the inner side thereof, into which said pad extends.

6. An article of manufacture according to claim 5, wherein said cover structure comprises a protective sheet engaged with the adhesive of the said first sheet, and having an opening therein greater in size than said pad, an annular spacing member encircling the opening in such sheet and having an internal size greater than that of said pad and an external size greater than the opening in such protective sheet, and a cover sheet greater in size than said spacing member overlying the latter and having a coating of adhesive on the adjacent face in engagement with said spacing member, the peripheral edges of said cover sheet extending laterally outward from said spacing member and in adhesive engagement with the outer face of the adjacent sheet of said cover member.

7. An article of manufacture according to claim 6, wherein said sheet of the cover assembly contacting the adhesive of said first sheet is provided with a cut therein extending from the opening therein to the periphery thereof for facilitating stripping of such sheet from said first sheet and thereby the cover assembly from the electrode structure.

8. An article of manufacture according to claim 7, wherein the surface of said sheet of the cover assembly contacting the adhesive of said first sheet is provided with a coating of a material which will permit relatively easy stripping of said sheet from the first sheet.

9. An article of manufacture according to claim 8, wherein said surface coating comprises a silicone composition.

10. An article of manufacture according to claim 7, wherein said pad, spacing member, respective sheets and the openings therein are respectively circular in configuration, with the respective components and said terminal being disposed on a common axis.

11. An article of manufacture according to claim 6, wherein the dimensions of the respective openings in said first sheet of the electrode structure and said protective sheet are greater than the corresponding inner dimensions of said spacing ring, whereby said pad and its contents are sealed by said ring, the second sheet of the electrode structure and said cover sheet of the cover assembly, said sheets being secured to said ring by the respective adhesive coatings.

12. An article of manufacture according to claim 6, wherein saId electrical terminal comprises an outer connector member and an inner contact member engaged therewith, each of which is provided with a base portion in contact with the adjacent face of said second sheet, that of the inner member being in engagement with the adhesive coating on said second sheet, said inner member extending through said second sheet and engaging said outer member with said second sheet clamped between said base portions.

13. An article of manufacture according to claim 5, comprising a path of material secured to said cover assembly and having a relatively rough exterior surface which may be employed to roughen the skin surface of the patient at the point of application of the electrode thereto.

14. An article of manufacture according to claim 13, wherein said patch comprises a strip of adhesive backed synthetic rubber or the like adhesively secured to said cover assembly.

15. An article of manufacture according to claim 5, wherein said cover assembly is provided with a porous pad disposed within said annular spacing member and secured to the assembly by the adhesive coating on said protective sheet, with said last-mentioned pad disposed in opposition to the gel-supporting pad of the electrode structure.

16. A method of fabricating a disposable electrode and protective cover assembly therefor, comprising the steps of forming an opening, in an elongated strip of adhesively coated sheet material, defining the central portion of the electrode, mounting an adhesively coated second sheet of relatively impermeable material across said opening utilizing therefor, the adhesive on said second sheet, mounting and electrical terminal on said second sheet, which terminal includes a contact disposed at the adhesively coated face thereof and substantially centered in said opening, applying a protective sheet, having an opening formed therein, of a size approximately that of said first opening, to the adhesive surface of said strip with such opening in aligned relation with the opening in said strip, mounting a pad, greater in size than said contact portion, to said second sheet by means of the adhesive thereon with said pad in superimposed relation on said portion, said pad being less in size than the opening in said strip whereby an annularly shaped area of the adhesive on said second sheet remains exposed, applying to such assembled structure a ring-like member having an inner peripheral size greater than that of said pad and less than that of the opening in said strip with said spacing member encircling said pad and engaged with the adhesive of the second sheet, applying a conductive material to said pad, covering said spacing member with an adhesively coated sheet of relatively impermeable material having a peripheral size greater than the outer periphery of spacing member and less than that of the outer periphery of said protective sheet, securing said cover sheet by means of the adhesive thereon to said spacing member and the protective sheet, thereby sealing the pad and conductive material thereon in the chamber defined by said spacing member and said second and cover sheets, and severing the assembled electrode and protected cover assembled from said elongated strip.

17. A method according to claim 16 comprising the additional step of cutting said protective sheet, prior to its engagement with said first sheet, along a generally radial line extending from the opening therein to the peripheral edge of such sheet.

18. A method according to claim 16, comprising the additional step of applying to the outer face of said cover sheet, prior to the severance of the structure from said elongated strip, a piece of abrading-type cleaning material having an adhesive coating on the face thereof applied to said cover sheet by means of which said cleaning material is secured thereto.

19. A method according to claim 16 wherein the step of mounting said electrical terminal to said second sheet is effected prior to the mounting of the latter on said strip.

20. A Method according to claim 16 wherein the step of mounting said electrical terminal to said second sheet is effected following mounting of the latter on said strip.

21. A disposable type electrode for operatively connecting electrical equipment to the surface of live skin of a patient, comprising a relatively large sheet of relatively porous material having an adhesive coating on one face thereof adapted to adhere to such a skin surface, a second relatively small sheet of relatively impermeable material centrally disposed with respect to said first sheet and secured thereto with the peripheral edges of the second sheet spaced inwardly from the peripheral edges of the first sheet, said second sheet having an adhesive coating on the face thereof corresponding to the adhesively coated face of said first sheet, said sheets being retained in assembled relation by the adhesive of one of said sheets engaged with the adjacent face of the other of said sheets, and with the central portion of the adhesively coated face of said second sheet being exposed, an electrical terminal extending through the exposed central portion of said second sheet, said terminal having a contact portion disposed at the adhesively coated face thereof and means, extending outwardly from the other face thereof, arranged for effecting connection with an electrical conductor, the area of said adhesive coated face of said second sheet being greater than the area of said contact portion to provide an exposed area therearound, a pad of porous material disposed at and engaged with said contact portion, said pad having an area greater than that of said contact portion and retained in operative position in engagement therewith by the exposed adhesive coating of said second sheet, and a quantity of electrically conductive material contained on said pad, preapplied thereto and forming therewith a unitary part of the electrode, operative to produce a conductive connection between said contact portion and live skin in contact with said pad when said first sheet is applied to such live skin and retained in position by the adhesive coating of such sheet.

22. As an article of manufacture, a disposable type electrode for operatively connecting electrical equipment to the surface of live skin of a patient, comprising a relatively large sheet of relatively porous material having an adhesive coating on one face thereof adapted to adhere to such a skin surface, a second relatively small sheet of relatively impermeable material centrally disposed with respect to said first sheet and secured thereto with the peripheral edges of the second sheet spaced inwardly from the peripheral edges of the first sheet, said second sheet having an adhesive coating on the face thereof corresponding to the adhesively coated face of said first sheet, said sheets being retained in assembled relation by the adhesive of one of said sheets engaged with the adjacent face of the other of said sheets, and with the central portion of the adhesively coated face of said second sheet being exposed, an electrical terminal extending through the exposed central portion of said second sheet, said terminal having a contact portion disposed at the adhesively coated face thereof and means, extending outwardly from the other face thereof, arranged for effecting connection with an electrical conductor, the area of said adhesive coated face of said second sheet being greater than the area of said contact to provide an exposed area therearound, a pad of porous material disposed at and engaged with said contact portion, said pad having an area greater than that of said contact portion and retained in operative position in engagement therewith by the exposed adhesive coating of said second sheet, and a quantity of electrically conductive material contained on said pad, preapplied thereto and forming therewith a unitary part of the electrode, operative to produce a conductive connection between said contact portion and live skin in contact with said pad when said first sheet is applied to such live skin and retained in position by the adhesive coating of such sheet, and a protective cover structure for said pad and exposed adhesive of said first sheet, of a size to extend across and engage said adhesive of the first sheet, the adhesive engaged surface of said cover structure being such that the latter may be easily stripped from such adhesive, said cover structure, covering said pad, outwardly from peripheral portions of said cover structure, forming a recess at the inner side thereof, into which said pad extends.

23. An article of manufacture according to claim 22, wherein the outer periphery of the exposed area of the adhesively coated face of said second sheet is of a size to overlie and adhesively engage the adjacent portion of said cover structure and form a seal therebetween whereby the pad and preapplied conductive gel are thereby sealed between said second sheet and said cover structure.

24. A method of fabricating a disposable electrode and protective cover assembly therefor, comprising the steps of disposing on an elongated strip of adhesively coated sheet material, a relatively small adhesively coated second sheet of relatively impermeable material with the adhesively coated faces of said first and second sheets being correspondingly oriented and with second sheet being secured to said first sheet by the adhesive on one of said sheets, and with the central portion of the adhesively coated face of said relatively smaller second sheet being exposed, mounting an electrical terminal on said second sheet, which terminal includes a contact portion disposed at and less in size than the exposed adhesively coated face of said second sheet substantially centered thereon whereby said exposed face forms an annularly shaped adhesive coated area therearound, applying a protective sheet, having an opening formed therein of a size approximately that of the exposed adhesively coated face of said second sheet, to the adhesive surface of said strip with such opening in aligned relation with said exposed adhesively coated face of said second sheet, mounting a pad, greater in size that said contact portion, to said second sheet by means of the adhesive thereon, with said pad in superimposed relation on said portion, said pad being less in size than the exposed adhesively coated face of said second sheet whereby an annularly shaped area of adhesive on said second sheet remains exposed, applying a conductive material to said pad, covering said pad with a cover structure of relatively impermeable material having a peripheral size greater than the outer periphery of the exposed adhesively coated face of said second sheet and having an outwardly extending central portion of a size to enclose said pad securing the adjacent peripheral portions of said outwardly extending portion to said second sheet by means of the exposed adhesive thereon, thereby sealing the pad and conductive material thereon in the chamber defined by the outwardly extending portion of said cover structure and said second sheet, and severing the assembled electrode and protective cover structure from said elongated strip.