Disposable medical electrode

• US 3,989,035 A
• Filed: 08/04/1975
• Issued: 11/02/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stemmen Laboratory Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Stemmen Laboratory Incorporated
• Inventors: Zuehlsdorff, Werner G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michell, Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US05/603,026
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.06 E, 128/2.1 E, 128/404, 128/410, 128/411, 128/417, 128/418, 128/DIG. 4
• US Class Current: 600/391
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0217 Electrolyte containing
• 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

Abstract

An electrode for attachment to the skin includes an electrode body of flexible sheet material coated with adhesive for attachment to the skin and manufactured of either liquid absorbent or liquid impervious material. Attached to this flexible sheet by a male snap fastener member is a liquid vapor barrier sheet which is likewise coated with adhesive for adhesion to a liquid absorbent sponge member which is filled with electrolyte. A thin, moisture impervious carrier sheet is attached to the adhesive coating on both the moisture impervious sheet and the flexible body and is additionally attached, through a heat sealing process, to a cup member which prohibits evaporation or migration of the electrolyte from the liquid absorbent sponge member prior to use. A soft, flexible, annular sealing member may be attached to the moisture and liquid vapor barrier sheet to surround the electrolyte-filled sponge member during use to prohibit migration of electrolyte between the adhesive coated sheet and the patient'"'"'s skin. This construction results in a long shelf life electrode which may be effectively used on a patient for extended periods of time.

Claims

1. A medical electrode, comprising:

a thin, flexible body member coated with adhesive on one side for adhesion to the skin of a patient and including a central aperture;

a thin flexible barrier sheet attached to said adhesive coating on said flexible body member, said sheet being impervious to moisture and liquid vapor and having a central aperture aligned with said body member aperture, the area of said sheet being smaller than the area of said body member to provide an exposed perimeter area of said body member surrounding said sheet in all directions;

an electrically conductive snap fastener passing through said body member aperture and said barrier sheet aperture, said fastener including an enlarged flange, said barrier sheet having a surface opposite said flexible body member abutting said enlarged flange to seal said aperture in said barrier sheet;

a thin carrier sheet formed of moisture impervious material attached to said body member adhesive, said carrier sheet having an aperture;

a liquid absorbent sponge member positioned against said enlarged flange of said snap fastener, said sponge member positioned within said aperture of said carrier sheet;

an electrolyte material impregnated within said sponge member; and

a vapor and moisture impervious cup member surrounding one side of said sponge member to enclose said sponge member between said cup member and said barrier sheet, said cup member including an annular flange attached to one surface of said carrier sheet.

2. A medical electrode as defined in claim 1 additionally comprising:

an adhesive coating on the surface of said moisture and liquid vapor barrier sheet opposite said flexible body member, said barrier sheet adhesive coating being attached to said thin carrier sheet and said liquid absorbent sponge member.

3. A medical electrode as defined in claim 2 additionally comprising:

an adhesive coating on the side of said moisture and liquid vapor barrier sheet adjacent said flexible body member attaching said barrier sheet to said body member.

4. A medical electrode as defined in claim 1 additionally comrpising:

means for sealing said annular flange of said cup member to said carrier sheet.

5. A medical electrode as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for sealing comprises:

a coating on said one surface of said thin carrier sheet, said coating having a predetermined melting temperature for heat sealing purposes; and

means on said annular flange of said cup member melting at said predetermined temperature for heat sealing to said coating on said thin carrier sheet.

6. A medical electrode as defined in claim 5 wherein said entire cup member including said annular flange is formed of material which melts at said predetermined temperature.

7. A medical electrode as defined in claim 1 wherein said thin carrier sheet is formed of polymeric material.

8. A medical electrode, comprising:

a flat electrode body member having an adhesive coating on one side;

a thin, flexible barrier sheet member impervious to moisture and liquid vapor, said barrier sheet having a surface area smaller than the surface area of said one side of said body member, said barrier sheet member attached to said adhesive coating;

an electrically conductive contact member passing through said body member and said barrier sheet member to provide an electrical terminal adjacent said barrier sheet member;

a liquid absorbent sponge member attached to said barrier sheet member and covering said electrical terminal; and

an electrolyte impregnated within said liquid absorbent sponge member in contact with said electrical terminal for contact to the skin of a patient.

9. A medical electrode as defined in claim 8 wherein said moisture and liquid vapor barrier sheet member is formed of polyethylene.

10. A medical electrode as defined in claim 8 additionally comprising:

means surrounding one side of said liquid absorbent sponge member opposite said barrier sheet member and sealed to said barrier sheet member for prohibiting evaporation and migration of said electrolyte during storage of said medical electrode.

11. A medical electrode as defined in claim 10 wherein said means for prohibiting migration and evaporation comprises:

an impervious carrier sheet attached to said flat electrode body member and including an aperture receiving said liquid absorbent sponge member; and

a cup member surrounding one side of said liquid absorbent sponge member to enclose said sponge member between said cup member and said barrier sheet member, said cup member melted into said impervious carrier sheet.

12. A medical electrode as defined in claim 8 wherein rigidity is imparted to the portion underlying said liquid absorbent sponge member by selecting a barrier sheet member having a predetermined flexibility.

13. A disposable pre-gelled medical electrode which has a long shelf life without the use of an outer foil container or like multiple packaging technique comprising:

an adhesive coated sheet for application to the skin of a patient;

an electrical terminal passing through said sheet;

an electrolyte impregnated sponge member in contact with said electrical terminal for contact with the skin of a patient;

a carrier sheet formed of polymeric material and attached to said adhesive coated sheet for protecting said adhesive coated sheet prior to application to the skin of a patient;

a coating on one surface of said carrier sheet, said coating having a predetermined melting temperature for heat sealing purposes; and

a vapor and moisture impervious cup member surrounding one side of said sponge member to enclose said sponge member between said cup member and said adhesive coated sheet, said cup member including an annular flange attached to said one surface of said carrier sheet melting at said predetermined temperature for heat sealing to said coating on said carrier sheet.

14. The disposable pre-gelled medical electrode as defined in claim 13 wherein said carrier sheet is formed of a multi-ply sheet of polypropylene containing additives and fillers such as KIMDURA synthetic paper.