Medical electrode

• US 4,409,981 A
• Filed: 07/20/1981
• Issued: 10/18/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Company
• Original Assignee: 3M Company
• Inventors: Lundberg, Chris A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US06/285,254
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 128/639-641, 128/644, 128/798, 128/802, 128/803
• US Class Current: 600/392
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/125 characterised by the manufacture of electrodes
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/273 Connection of cords, cables or leads to electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2535/00 Medical equipment, e.g. bandage, prostheses, catheter medical patches B32B2556/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 33/00 Layered products characterised by particular properties or particular surface features, e.g. particular surface coatings; Layered products designed for particular purposes not covered by another single class
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/06 permitting easy separation
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A disposable medical electrode having a configuration wherein the various sheets forming the electrode have at least two common edges thereby affording the manufacture of the electrode by a method comprising the cutting and laminating together of various continuous webs, the location and placement of which can be controlled, in an automatable process.

Claims

1. A disposable medical electrode for connecting electrical equipment to the skin of a patient, which electrode has been cut from a plurality of elongate webs, said electrode comprising

a first sheet comprising a first surface adapted to adhere to the skin of a patient, a second surface and at least two edges connecting the first surface to the second surface, said first sheet having an opening therethrough which is spaced from each of the edges of said first sheet,

a removable release liner sheet laminated to said first surface of said first sheet and covering said opening, said release liner and the perphery of said opening defining a reservoir within the electrode,

a relatively stiff but yet resilient second sheet comprising (1) a first surface affixed to the second surface of said first sheet opposite said release liner, (2) a second surface and (3) at least two edges connecting the first surface to the second surface and in common with said edges of said first sheet, said second sheet covering said opening, and having a hole therethrough adapted to receive a connecting lead for the electrical equipment, said hole being positioned adjacent said opening,

a conductive gel within said reservoir, and

a third sheet comprising (1) a first surface affixed to the second surface of said second sheet opposite said first sheet, (2) a second surface and (3) at least two edges connecting the first surface to the second surface and in common with said edges of said first and second sheets, said third sheet covering said hole.

2. A disposable electrode as claimed in claim 1 wherein said third sheet is releasably affixed to said second sheet to permit the removal, thereby affording access to said hole for the insertion of the connecting lead into said reservoir.

3. A disposable electrode as claimed in claim 1 wherein said third sheet remains affixed to said second sheet and wherein said third sheet is a puncturable material affording the piercing of said third sheet through the application of external force on the connecting lead, and the insertion of the connecting lead into said reservoir through the puncture above said hole.

4. An electrode strip comprising a release liner strip and a predetermined number of electrodes adhesively attached to said release liner strip, each of said electrodes comprising

a first rectangular sheet having opposing surfaces, one of which is adapted to adhere to the skin of the patient and which is not adhering to said release liner strip, said first sheet having an internal opening between said surfaces,

a stiff resilient second rectangular sheet affixed to said surface of said first sheet opposite said release liner, covering said opening, said second sheet having a hole therethrough which is smaller in area than said opening, said hole being essentially centrally positioned with respect to said opening, said release liner, said second sheet, and the periphery of said opening defining a reservoir within the electrode, said second sheet and said first sheet having at least two common edges resulting from the method of manufacture,

a conductive gel within said reservoir, and

a third rectangular sheet affixed to said second sheet, on the surface opposite said first sheet, covering said hole, said third sheet having at least two common edges with said first and second sheets.