APPARATUS FOR SENSING PHYSIOLOGICAL POTENTIALS

• US 3,826,246 A
• Filed: 03/07/1973
• Issued: 07/30/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert William Johnson, William J. Raddi
• Original Assignee: Robert William Johnson, William J. Raddi
• Inventors: Raddi, William J., Johnson, Robert William
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US05/337,262
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.6E,2.6B,2.6R,2.12,2.1R,2.5R,DIG.4,2.1E,410,411,416,418,404
• US Class Current: 600/382
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/303 Patient cord assembly, e.g. cable harness
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/308 for electrocardiography [ECG]

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for sensing physiological potentials of a living body. There is provided a first band for at least partially encircling a part of the living body and having a first electrode mounted thereon. The first electrode is adapted for connection to an instrument for amplifying the physiological potentials of the living body. A second band is provided for at least partially encirling another part of the living body and has a second and a third electrode located thereon. The second and third electrodes each are adapted for connection to the instrument for amplifying the physiological potentials of the living body.

Claims

1. An electrode system for use with an instrument constructed and arranged for the measurement of physiological potentials of a patient wherein the instrument has at least three input terminals, one being a positive input terminal, one being a negative input terminal and one being a signal ground terminal, the electrode system comprising:

a. a first band for encircling a part of the body of the patient and having a first electrode located thereon;

b. a first electrical conductor having opposite ends, one end of the first electrical conductor being electrically connected to the first electrode and the opposite end thereof being connected to the positive input terminal of the instrument;

c. a second band for encircling another part of the body of the patient and having a second and third electrode located thereon; and

d. second and third electrical conductors, each having opposite ends, one end of the second electrical conductor being electrically connected to the second electrode and the opposite end thereof being electrically connected to the negative input terminal of the instrument, one end of the third electrical conductor being electrically connected to the third electrode and the opposite end thereof being electrically connected to the signal ground terminal of the instrument.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the first band is fabricated of electrically conductive material with the first electrode being electrically connected thereto.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the second band is fabricated of electrically conductive material with the second electrode being electrically connected thereto, a piece of electrically insulating material, the third electrode being electrically insulated from the second band by the piece of electrically insulating material.

4. An electrode system for use with an amplifier adapted for the measurement of physiological potentials of a patient wherein the amplifier has three input terminals, one being a positive input terminal, one being a negative input terminal and one being a signal ground terminal, the electrode system comprising:

a. a first conductive band having its opposite ends electrically interconnected, the first conductive band being constructed and arranged for physical and electrical contact with the skin surfaces of a limb of the patient;

b. a first electrical conductor having opposite ends, one end of the first electrical conductor being electrically connected to the first conductive band and the opposite end thereof being (for) electrically (interconnecting the first conductive band with the) connected to the positive input terminal of the amplifier, c. a second conductive band having its opposite ends interconnected by an electrode assembly, the second conductive band and the electrode assembly each being constructed and arranged for physical and electrical contact with the skin surfaces of a limb of the patient, the electrode assembly comprising;

i. an upper conductive plate;

ii. a lower conductive plate; and

iii. a member of electrically insulating material interposed between the upper and lower conductive plates;

the upper conductive plate of the electrode assembly being electrically connected to the second conductive band. d. a second electrical conductor having opposite ends, one end of the second electrical conductor being electrically connected to the lower conductive plate and the opposite end thereof being (for) electrically (interconnecting the lower conductive plate) connected to the negative input terminal of the amplifier; and

e. a third electrical conductor having opposite ends, one end of the third electrical conductor being electrically connected to the upper conductive plate and the oPposite end thereof being (for) electrically (interconnecting the upper conductive plate) connected to the signal ground terminal of the amplifier.

5. An electrode system as defined in claim 4 wherein the first conductive band has its opposite ends electrically interconnected by a first electrode assembly comprising:

i. an upper metallic plate; and

ii. a lower metallic plate, the upper and lower metallic plates being electrically connected together.

6. An electrode system for use with an amplifier constructed and arranged for the amplification of physiological potentials of a patient wherein the amplifier has three input terminals, one being a positive input terminal, one being a negative input terminal and one being a signal ground terminal, the electrode system comprising:

a. a first metallic stretch band having its opposite ends interconnected by a first electrode assembly, the first metallic stretch band and at least one portion of the first electrode assembly being constructed and arranged for physical and electrical contact with the skin surfaces of a limb of the patient, the first electrode assembly comprising;

i. a first upper metallic plate portion;

ii. a first lower metallic plate portion; and

iii. a first block of electrically insulating material interposed between the first upper and lower metallic plate portions, the first upper metallic plate portion being secured to an upper portion of the block of insulating material and the first lower metallic plate portion being secured to a lower portion of the first block of insulating material, the first upper metallic plate portion being physically and electrically connected to the opposite ends of the first metallic stretch band;

b. a first cable having first and second electrical conductors, the first and second electrical conductors being insulated from one another, the first electrical conductor being electrically connected at one end thereof to the first lower metallic plate portion and the opposite end thereof being (constructed and arranged for electrical connection) electrically connected to the positive input terminal of the amplifier, c. a second metallic stretch band having its opposite ends interconnected by a second electrode assembly, the second metallic stretch band and at least one portion of the second electrode assembly being constructed and arranged for physical and electrical contact with the skin surfaces of a limb of the patient, the second electrode assembly comprising;

i. a second upper metallic plate portion;

ii. a second lower metallic plate portion; and

iii. a second block of electrically insulating material interposed between the second upper and lower metallic plate portions, the second upper metallic plate being secured to an upper portion of the second block of insulating material and the second lower metallic plate portion being secured to a lower portion of the second block of insulating material, the second upper metallic plate portion being physically and electrically connected to the opposite ends of the second metallic stretch band;

d. a second cable having first and second electrical conductors, the first and second electrical conductors of the second cable being insulated from one another, the first electrical conductor of the second cable being electrically connected at one end thereof to the second lower metallic plate portion and the opposite end thereof being (constructed and arranged for electrical connection) electrically connected to the negative input terminal of the amplifier, the second electrical conductor of the second cable being electrically connected at one end thereof to the second metallic stretch band and the opposite end thereof being (constructed and arranged for electrical connection) electrically connected to the signal ground terminal of the amplifier.

7. An electrode system as defined in claim 6 wherein the second electrical conductor of the first cable is electrically cOnnected at one end thereof to the first metallic stretch band and is electrically connected at its opposite end to the signal ground terminal of the amplifier.

8. An electrode system as defined in claim 7 wherein the second electrical conductor of the first cable is electrically connected at said one end thereof to the first metallic stretch band via a first resistor and wherein the second electrical conductor of the second cable is electrically connected at said one end thereof to the second metallic stretch band via a second resistor.

9. An electrode system as defined in claim 7 including a first resistor connected to the said opposite end of the second electrical conductor of the first cable, wherein the said opposite end of the second electrical conductor of the first cable is electrically connected to the signal ground terminal of the amplifier via said first resistor, and a second resistor connected to the said opposite end of the second electrical conductor of the second cable, wherein the said opposite end of the second electrical conductor of the second cable is electrically connected to the signal ground terminal of the amplifier via said second resistor.