Skin conducting electrode assembly

• US 4,269,189 A
• Filed: 07/09/1979
• Issued: 05/26/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Consolidated Medical Equipment Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Consolidated Medical Equipment Incorporated
• Inventors: Abraham, William W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US06/055,811
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 128/639-641, 128/644, 128/303.13, 128/783, 128/798, 128/802, 128/803
• US Class Current: 606/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/16 Indifferent or passive electrodes for grounding

Abstract

A disposable skin conducting electrode assembly and electrode is disclosed for use on a patient wherein the electrode assembly comprises a gel pad, an electrode and an adhesive pad. The electrode is a thin conductive plate containing an interior area or aperture. In one particular embodiment, the electrode is doughnut shaped. The gel pad covers one side of the conductive plate and is similarly shaped. The adhesive pad covers the other side of the electrode and extends over the aperture and beyond the periphery of the gel pad. The adhesive provides good contact around the external edges of the gel pad, and due to the aperture, the adhesive pad provides good adhesive contact to the patient around internal edges of the gel pad as well. An external conductor is connectable to a conductive, single piece solid metal stud or post attached to the electrode and extending through an orifice in the adhesive pad.

Claims

1. A skin conducting electrode assembly for use on a patient comprising in combination,

an electrode comprising a thin conductive plate containing a wholly enclosed interior aperture therein defined by an inner edge of the electrode, the shapes of both the outer edge of the electrode and the inner edge of the electrode being rounded;

means for making an electrical connection to said electrode;

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

a gel pad in contact with the other side of the electrode and extending slightly beyond the inner and outer edges of the electrode so as to prevent direct contact by the electrode with the skin of a patient, said gel pad including a wholly enclosed interior aperture, said adheisve pad extending beyond the outer edge of said gel pad around the entire periphery thereto and extending over the interior aperture in the gel pad, said interior aperture in said gel pad corresponding in shape to the shape of the interior aperture of the electrode, and being of a size such as to ensure that when the electrode assembly is placed in contact with a patient'"'"'s skin, said adhesive pad seals the electrode assembly both around the the periphery thereof and within said interior aperture of said gel pad to maintain said electrode assembly in firm contact with the skin of the patient.

2. A skin conducting electrode assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrode and said gel pad include a plurality of wholly enclosed interior apertures.

3. A skin conducting electrode assembly for use on a patient comprising, in combination,

an electrode comprising a thin conductive plate having at least one wholly enclosed interior aperture therein;

means for making an electrical connection to said electrode;

a gel pad in contact with one side of said electrode and extending beyond the edges of said electrode to prevent direct contact of said electrode with the skin of the patient, said gel pad having at least one wholly enclosed interior aperture corresponding in shape to the shape of said at least one wholly enclosed interior aperture in said electrode;

an adhesive pad in adhesive contact with the other side of said electrode, said adhesive pad extending beyond the outer edges of said gel pad around the entire periphery thereof and over said gel pad aperture;

the said at least one wholly enclosed interior aperture in said electrode and said at least one wholly enclosed interior aperture in said gel pad being sufficiently large to ensure that when the electrode assembly is placed in contact with a patient'"'"'s skin, said adhesive pad seals the electrode assembly both around the periphery thereof and within said at least one interior aperture in said electrode and said at least one interior aperture in said gel pad so as to maintain said gel pad and said electrode in firm contact with the skin of the patient.

4. A skin conducting electrode assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said thin conductive plate and said gel pad each have a plurality of wholly enclosed interior apertures therein.

5. A skin conducting electrode assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said electrode is circular shaped and said aperture in said electrode is circular shaped.

6. A skin conducting electrode assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the inside diameter of said electrode aperture is 1/20 or more of the outside diameter of said electrode.

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