Diagnostic electrode assembly

• US 4,077,397 A
• Filed: 03/25/1976
• Issued: 03/07/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Baxter Travenol Laboratories Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Baxter Travenol Laboratories Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Daugherty, Charles W., Ellis, William Garrettson, Heavner, Paul William Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US05/670,403
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.06 E, 128/2.1 E, 128/172.1, 128/404, 128/405, 128/410, 128/411, 128/416, 128/417, 128/418, 128/DIG. 4
• US Class Current: 600/392
• 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 5/263 characterised by the electrode materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/266 containing electrolytes, conductive gels or pastes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0847 through an aperture at the junction of two walls
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/288 for artificial respiration or heart massage

Abstract

A disposable electrode assembly for establishing electrical contact with an underlying skin surface includes a relatively thin base member having a central hub portion and an adhesive-coated undersurface, a conductive gel-impregnated sponge contact contained in a downwardly facing recess located in the hub, and a relatively thick and inflexible cover member coextensive with the base member. In storage the cover member is attached to the undersurface of the base member by the adhesive and the sponge is confined within the recess. Prior to use the base member is peeled away from the cover member to expose the adhesive surface, which when applied to a skin surface holds the sponge contact in compression-contact therewith. A thumb recess is provided along the margin of the cover member to facilitate removal of the cover member.

Claims

1. A disposable electrode assembly for establishing an electrical connection to an underlying skin surface comprising, in combination:

a relatively flexible base member formed of electrically-insulating material having an outside surface and an inside surface;

contact means on said base member for establishing electrical contact with said underlying skin surface, said contact means including a first contact portion on said outside surface and a second contact portion in electrical communication with said first contact portion on said inside surface;

a cover member having an inside surface substantially coextensive with said inside surface of said base member, said cover member being, overall, substantially less flexible than the major extent of said base member and including a thumb recess along its margin at the inside surface to facilitate peeling said base member away therefrom; and

an adhesive layer on the inside surface of said base member holding said inside surface of said cover member against said inside surface of said base member so as to increase the rigidity of said electrode assembly during storage, said base member being peelable away from said cover member to enable said adhesive layer to be placed in contact with the underlying skin surface to hold said second contact portion in contact with the skin surface while the electrode assembly is in use.

2. A disposable electrode assembly for establishing an electrical connection to an underlying skin surface comprising, in combination:

a base member formed of electrically-insulating material having an outside surface and an inside surface;

said base member including a raised hub portion on said outside surface and a relatively flexible flange portion surrounding said hub portion, said hub portion including a recess forming an open-ended chamber on said inside surface, and a connecting aperture extending from said chamber to said outside surface;

means comprising an electrically conductive terminal having a first portion on said outside surface, a second portion in said open-ended chamber, and a third portion extending through said connecting aperture, said first portion being adapted to receive a connecting terminal;

means comprising a sponge-like contact member saturated with electrically conductive fluid disposed within said chamber in contact with said second portion of said terminal for establishing an electrically conductive path between said terminal and said adjacent skin surface;

a cover member having an inside surface substantially coextensive with said inside surface of said base member, said cover member being, overall, substantially less flexible than said flange portion of said base member and including a thumb recess along its margin at the inside surface to facilitate peeling said base member away therefrom; and

an adhesive layer on the inside surface of said base member holding said inside surface of said cover member against said inside surface of said base member so as to enclose said sponge-like contact member within said open-ended chamber and increase the rigidity of said electrode assembly during storage, said base member being peelable away from said cover member to enable said adhesive layer to be placed in contact with the underlying skin surface to hold said sponge-like contact member in contact with the skin while the electrode assembly is in use.

3. A disposable electrode assembly for establishing an electrical connection to an underlying skin surface comprising, in combination:

a relatively flexible disc-shaped base member formed of electrically-insulating material having an outside surface and a flat inside surface;

said base member including a raised center hub portion on said outside surface and a relatively flexible flange portion surrounding said hub portion, said hub portion including a first recess forming a first open-ended chamber on said outside surface, a second recess axially aligned with said first recess forming a second open-ended chamber on said inside surface, and a connecting aperture extending between said first and second open-ended chambers;

means comprising an electrically conductive terminal having a first portion adapted to receive a connecting terminal in said first chamber, and a second portion including a contact surface in said second chamber, said first and second portions being connected through said connecting aperture;

means comprising a sponge-like contact member saturated with electrically conductive fluid disposed within said second chamber in contact with said contact and dimensioned to extend through the open end thereof;

a disc-shaped cover member having an inside surface substantially coextensive with said inside surface of said base member, said cover member being, overall, substantially less flexible than said flange portion of said base member and including a thumb recess along its circumference at said inside surface to facilitate peeling said base member away therefrom; and

an adhesive layer on the inside surface of said base member retaining said inside surface of said cover member against said inside surface of said base member so as to enclose said contact member within said second open-ended chamber and increase the rigidity of said electrode assembly during storage, said base member being peelable away from said cover member to expose said layer of adhesive for contact with the underlying skin surface to hold said sponge-like contact member in contact with the skin surface while the electrode assembly is in use.

4. In a disposable electrode assembly for establishing an electrical connection with an underlying skin surface, said electrode assembly comprising a relatively flexible base member formed of electrically-insulating material defining an outside surface and an adhesive carrying inside surface, said base member carrying an electrically conductive terminal on said inside surface and adapted for holding said terminal in contact with the skin surface, said terminal communicating with said outside surface, and a cover member being, overall, substantially less flexible than the major extent of said base member, said cover member having an inside surface attached to and being substantially coextensive with said adhesive carrying surface so as to enclose said terminal and increase the rigidity of said electrode assembly during storage, the improvement wherein said cover member includes a thumb recess about its margin at the inside surface to facilitate peeling said base member away from said cover member to enable said adhesive carrying inside surface to be placed in contact with the underlying skin surface to hold the electrically conductive terminal in contact with the skin while the electrode assembly is in use.

5. In a disposable electrode assembly for establishing an electrical connection with an underlying skin surface, said electrode assembly comprising a relatively flexible base member formed of electrically-insulating material defining an outside surface and an adhesive carrying inside surface having an open-ended chamber thereon, said base member containing within said chamber a sponge-like electrical contact member projecting outwardly in an expanded state beyond said adhesive carrying surface, said contact member having a portion communicating with the outside surface, and a cover member being, overall, substantially less flexible than the major extent of said base member, said cover member having an inside surface attached to and being substantially coextensive with said adhesive carrying surface so as to enclose said sponge-like contact member in a compressed state within said chamber and increase the rigidity of individual ones of said electrode assemblies during storage, the improvement wherein said cover member includes a thumb recess about its margin at said inside surface to facilitate peeling said base member away from said cover member to enable said adhesive carrying inside surface to be placed in contact with the underlying skin surface to hold the sponge-like contact member in contact with the skin while the electrode assembly is in use.