Electrode assembly and methods of using the same in the respiratory and/or cardiac monitoring of an infant

• US 3,888,240 A
• Filed: 05/08/1974
• Issued: 06/10/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ING Limited (ANZ Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Herbert E. Reinhold Jr, Richard B. Toren
• Inventors: Reinhold, Herbert E. Jr., Toren, Richard B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/468,137
• Time in Patent Office: 398 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.6E,2.6R,2.1E,379,404,416-418,DIG.4
• US Class Current: 600/390
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses

Abstract

A disposable electrode assembly and method of using the same in the respiratory and/or cardiac monitoring of an infant comprising a pad or very fine open pore polyurethane providing an infant back receiving area of approximately 4 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inches on which a plurality of separate flexible carbon powder impregnated polyvinyl chloride sheet electrodes are affixed in surface-to-surface engagement so as to be intimately contacted by the skin of an infant'"'"''"'"'s back received on said back receiving pad area. The pad has portions converging outwardly from opposite sides of the back receiving area for extending generally beneath the armpits and along the lower edge of the rib cage of an infant where they are held to the sides of the infant'"'"''"'"'s torso by integral pad straps releasably adjustably secured together across the infant'"'"''"'"'s chest above the belly area by Velcro fastener elements. Snap fastener terminal elements are provided for effecting a detachable electrical connection with the leads of the monitoring instrument.

Claims

1. A disposable electrode assembly for use in respiratory and/or cardiac monitoring of an infant comprising a sheet-like pad of soft pliable non-conductive material having an infant back receiving area of approximately 4 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inches, a plurality of separate flexible sheet form electrodes extending substantially throughout the back receiving area of said pad so as to be intimately contacted by the skin of an infant'"'"''"'"'s back received on said back receiving pad area, said pad having portions converging outwardly from opposite sides of said back receiving area for extending generally beneath the armpits and along the lower edge of the rib cage of an infant when said converging side portions are held to the sides of the infant'"'"''"'"'s torso, strap means of soft pliable material for extending across the chest cage of the infant centrally between said converging side portions, means for releasably adjustably securing said strap means in the aforesaid extending relation to thereby hold said converging side portions against the sides of the infant'"'"''"'"'s torso so that said flexible sheet-form electrodes are maintained in skin contact with the infant'"'"''"'"'s back without relative surfaceto-surface movement therebetween when the infant moves to either side from a normal back supported position or is moved into a front supported position, and terminal means for effecting a detachable electrical connection of said electrodes with the leads of a monitoring instrument.

2. A disposable electrode assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said electrodes are affixed in surface-to-surface engagement with said pad and are formed of conductive particle impregnated plastic material.

3. A disposable electrode assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said conductive particle impregnated plastic material comprises carbon powder impregnated in polyvinyl chloride.

4. A disposable electrode assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said pad is formed of a sheet of very fine open pore foamed plastic material.

5. A disposable electrode assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said foamed plastic material is polyurethane.

6. A disposable electrode assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said strap means includes an integral strap portion extending centrally outwardly from each converging pad portion.

7. A disposable electrode assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein said releasable adjustable strap securing means comprises cooperating Velcro fastening strips on each strap portion.

8. A disposable electrode assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said terminal means includes an integral portion on each electrode extending outwardly from said back receiving area in surface-to-surface engagement with said pad and a male snap fastener element of conductive material secured to each integral electrode portion.

9. A disposable electrode assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said plurality of electrodes include four electrodes arranged in quadrant fashion within said back receiving area.

10. A disposable electrode assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said pad includes an integral infant head and terminal carrying portion extending from said back receiving area in a direction toward and beyond the head of an infant whose back is received on said back receiving portion, said terminal means including an integral strip extending from the periphery of each electrode through said pad and in surface-to-surface engagement with the exterior surface thereof to a position adjacent the free end of said integral infant head receiving and terminal carrying pad portion and a male snap fastener element of conductive material secured between the end of each integral electrode strip and the associated pad free end portion.

11. A disposable electrode assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said terminal means includes an integral portion on each electrode extending along the associated converging side portion of said pad and a male snap fastener element of conductive material secured to each integral electrode portion.

12. A method of monitoring the respiration and/or ECG of an infant which comprises the steps of positioning the infant'"'"''"'"'s back into skin engagement with a plurality of generally coplanar flexible sheet form electrodes substantially throughout the back area of the infant while flexibly retaining the electrodes in a generally fixed relation with respect to one another within said generally coplanar relationship, applying a slight flexible retaining pressure along the infant'"'"''"'"'s sides generally between the lower edge portion of the rib cage and the armpits and across the infant'"'"''"'"'s chest above the belly area to the aforesaid flexible retention of the electrodes to maintain the aforesaid skin engagement between the infant'"'"''"'"'s back and the electrodes, and utilizing the skin engagement of the electrodes with the infant'"'"''"'"'s back to establish a circuit for the change in resistance in the infant'"'"''"'"'s thorax and/or the electrical activity of the infant'"'"''"'"'s heart to a monitoring device capable of providing an indication of the infant'"'"''"'"'s respiration and/or ECG based upon the electrical signals conveyed thereto through the established circuit.

13. A method as defined in claim 12 wherein a small quantity of water is placed upon the skin engaging surface of the electrodes before positioning the infant'"'"''"'"'s back into skin engagement therewith.