Skin conducting electrode and electrode assembly

• US 4,117,846 A
• Filed: 07/19/1977
• Issued: 10/03/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Consolidated Medical Equipment Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Consolidated Medical Equipment Incorporated
• Inventors: Williams, Frank R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US05/816,952
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 128/303.13, 128/404, 128/410, 128/411, 128/416-418, 128/2.06 B, 128/2.1 R, 128/DIG. 4
• US Class Current: 606/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0468 Specially adapted for promoting wound healing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/048 Electrodes characterised by a specific connection between lead and electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence

Abstract

A disposable skin conducting electrode assembly and electrode therefor for use on a patient wherein the electrode assembly comprises an electrolyte pad, an electrode and an adhesive pad. In one embodiment of the invention the electrode is a thin stainless steel plate having a periphery shaped to provide a plurality of recesses in the contour thereof and the adhesive pad is a solid sheet having greater overall length and width dimensions than the electrode. Thus the adhesive pad extends over the recesses in the periphery of the electrode and provides greater adhesive area for adhering the electrode assembly to the skin of the patient. An external conductor is connectable to a conductive, single piece, solid metal stud or post attached to the electrode extending through an orifice in the adhesive pad. A pair of washers are mounted on the stud on either side of the adhesive pad for mechanically retaining the stud and electrode in position.

Claims

1. A skin conducting electrode assembly for use on a patient comprising, in combination, an electrode, said electrode comprising a thin conductive plate having a main body portion and a plurality of projections around the periphery of the main body portion to provide at least one recess in the contour thereof;

means for making an electrical connection to said electrode;

an adhesive pad in adhesive contact with one side of said electrode;

a gel pad in contact with the other side of said electrode, said gel pad extending beyond the peripheral edges of the main body portion and the projections of the electrode, said adhesive pad extending over the at least one recess in the electrode and beyond the outer edges of the gel pad around the entire periphery thereof, the at least one recess between the projections being sufficiently large to insure that when the electrode assembly is placed in contact with a patient, the adhesive pad seals the assembly to the patient around the periphery thereof and within the at least one recess in the electrode to maintain the gel pad and electrode in firm contact with the skin and the gel pad covers the entire face and edges of the electrode to prevent direct contact of the electrode with the skin of the patient.

2. A skin conducting electrode assembly according to the claim 1 wherein said plurality of projections provide substantial conductive plate areas within the periphery of said projections.

3. A skin conducting electrode assembly for use on a patient comprising, in combination, an electrode, said electrode comprising a thin conductive plate having a main body portion and a plurality of projections around the periphery of the main body portion to provide a plurality of recesses in the contour thereof, the longitudinal distance across each of said recesses being at least as large as the longitudinal distance across each of said projections, means for making an electrical connection to said electrode, an adhesive pad in adhesive contact with one side of said electrode, a gel pad in contact with the other side of said electrode, said gel pad extending beyond the peripheral edges of the main body portion and projections of the electrode, said adhesive pad extending over the recesses in the electrode and beyond the outer edges of the gel pad around the entire periphery thereof whereby, when the electrode assembly is placed in contact with a patient, the adhesive pad seals the assembly to the patient around the entire periphery thereof and within the recesses in the electrode to maintain the gel pad and electrode in firm contact with the skin and the gel pad covers the entire face and edges of the electrode to prevent direct contact of the electrode with the skin of the patient.

4. A skin conducting electrode assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said adhesive pad has an aperture therein, and said electrical connection means comprising a conductive, one piece stud fixedly mounted on said electrode and extending through said aperture in said adhesive pad.

5. A skin conducting electrode assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said adhesive pad has an aperture therein, and said electrical connection means comprising a conductive, one piece stud fixedly mounted on said electrode, said stud terminating in a helmet shaped cap having an outwardly extending flange at the bottom, said stud extending through said aperture in said adhesive pad, a first retaining washer held on said stud beneath said outwardly extending flange and in contact with one side of said adhesive pad and a second retaining washer on said stud in contact with the other side of said adhesive pad.