Physiological electrode systems
First Claim
1. A physiological electrode system for use in conveying electrical signals to and from between the human body and certain electrical devices comprising:
- a first non-invasive electrode element to be attached to the skin of a patient;
a second non-invasive electrode element to be attached to the skin of the patient, said first and second electrode elements capable of producing desired operation of each of a monitoring device, a stimulating device and a therapeutic device;
interrelating means for selectively separately connecting said electrode elements to a monitoring device, a stimulating device or a therapeutic device to produce desired operation of each such device through said electrode elements, the monitoring device, the stimulating device and the therapeutic device being otherwise separate and unrelated, said interrelating means providing for the simultaneous connection of said electrode elements to at least two of said devices; and
protective means associated with said interrelating means for selectively permitting desired combinations of the monitoring device, the stimulating device and the therapeutic device to be simultaneously connected to the patient solely through said first and second electrode elements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Physiological electrode systems are based upon the utilization of a single pair of electrode elements to provide for physiological function monitoring of a patient, electrical stimulation of the patient, and electrical therapeutic treatment of the patient. The monitoring instrument, the stimulating instrument and the therapeutic instrument may be connected to the electrode elements separately or in various combinations. Preferably, the electrode elements are provided as a disposable set which are connected to the various instruments through appropriate cables. These cables may be interrelated to permit combinations of the instruments to be simultaneously connected to the electrode elements, with suitable protection being provided to prevent the instruments from adversely affecting one another. Aspects of the cables and electrode sets may be utilized to provide separate monitoring, stimulating and therapeutic electrode systems. An electrode element structure employing tin and stannous chloride provides system and individual function benefits.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A physiological electrode system for use in conveying electrical signals to and from between the human body and certain electrical devices comprising:
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a first non-invasive electrode element to be attached to the skin of a patient; a second non-invasive electrode element to be attached to the skin of the patient, said first and second electrode elements capable of producing desired operation of each of a monitoring device, a stimulating device and a therapeutic device; interrelating means for selectively separately connecting said electrode elements to a monitoring device, a stimulating device or a therapeutic device to produce desired operation of each such device through said electrode elements, the monitoring device, the stimulating device and the therapeutic device being otherwise separate and unrelated, said interrelating means providing for the simultaneous connection of said electrode elements to at least two of said devices; and protective means associated with said interrelating means for selectively permitting desired combinations of the monitoring device, the stimulating device and the therapeutic device to be simultaneously connected to the patient solely through said first and second electrode elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 30)
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20. A physiological electrode system comprising:
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a first electrode element to be attached to a patient; a second electrode element to be attached to the patient; interrelating means providing the capability for selectively connecting said electrode elements to an ECG, a stimulating device and a therapeutic device to produce desired operation of each such device through said electrode elements, the ECG, the stimulating device and the therapeutic device being otherwise separate and unrelated, said interrelating means comprising; connecting plug means; a first electrically conducting line connected between said first electrode element and said connecting plug means; a second electrically conducting line connected between said second electrode element and said connecting plug means; an ECG cable having one end to be connected to the ECG; an ECG electrode connector secured to the other end of said ECG cable and adapted to engage said connecting plug means; and a body tissue impedance simulating circuit to permit said first and second electrode elements to provide input information to the ECG from the patient that normally requires the use of a minimum of three separate electrodes; and protective means associated with said interrelating means for selectively permitting desired combinations of the ECG, the stimulating device and the therapeutic device to be simultaneously connected to the patient solely through said first and second electrode elements. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A physiological electrode system comprising:
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a first electrode element to be attached to a patient; a second electrode element to be attached to the patient; interrelating means providing the capability for selectively connecting said electrode elements to a monitoring device, a defibrillator and a therapeutic device to produce desired operation of each such device through said electrode elements, the monitoring device, the defibrillator and the therapeutic device being otherwise separate and unrelated, said interrelating means comprising; connecting plug means; a first electrically conducting line connected between said first electrode element and said connecting plug means; a second electrically conducting line connected between said second electrode element and said connecting plug means; a defibrillator cable having a first end to be connected to the defibrillator; a defibrillator electrode connector secured to the other end of said defibrillator cable and adapted to engage said connecting plug means; and defibrillator discharge control means to permit an operator to cause a pulse of defibrillating energy to be passed to the patient through said defibrillator cable when desired; protective means associated with said interrelating means for selectively permitting desired combinations of the monitoring device, the defibrillator and the therapeutic device to be simultaneously connected to the patient solely through said first and second electrode elements; a paddle adapter provided for permitting use of said first and second electrode elements for defibrillation with a defibrillator having conventional paddles, said adapter having a pair of electrically conducting plates to be contacted by the defibrillator paddles, the first end of said defibrillator cable connected to said adapter rather than the defibrillator to receive defibrillation pulses from said conducting plates; and an audible alarm arrangement to indicate to an operator that the paddles are in proper contact with said plates to pass a defibrillator pulse to said defibrillator cable and to warn personnel to get away from the patient. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A physiological electrode systems comprising:
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a first electrode element to be attached to a patient; a second electrode element to be attached to the patient; a paddle adapter provided for permitting use of said first and second electrode elements for defibrillation with a defibrillator having conventional paddles, said adapter having a pair of electrically conducting plates to be contacted by the defibrillator paddles; interrelating means providing the capability for selectively connecting said electrode elements to an ECG, a defibrillator and a therapeutic device to produce desired operation of each such device through said electrode elements, the ECG, the defibrillator and the therapeutic device being otherwise separate and unrelated, said interrelating means comprising; connecting plug means; a first electrically conducting line connected between said first electrode element and said connecting plug means; a second electrically conducting line connected between said second electrode element and said connecting plug means; a defibrillator cable having a first end to be connected to the defibrillator, the first end of said defibrillator cable connected to said adapter rather than the defibrillator to receive defibrillation pulses from said conducting plates; an ECG cable having one end to be connected to the ECG and the other end connected to said adapter to obtain ECG signals through said defibrillator cable; and a body impedance simulating circuit to permit said first and second electrode elements to provide input information to the ECG from the patient that normally requires the use of a minimum of three separate electrodes; and protective means associated with said interrelating means for selectively permitting desired combinations of the ECG, the defibrillator and the therapeutic device to be simultaneously connected to the patient solely through said first and second electrode elements. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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31. A physiological electrode system comprising:
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a first electrode element to be attached to a patient; a second electrode element to be attached to the patient; interrelating means providing the capability for selectively connecting said electrode elements to a monitoring device, a stimulating device and an ESU to produce desired operation of each such device through said electrode elements, the monitoring device, the stimulating device and the ESU being otherwise separate and unrelated, said interrelating means comprising; connecting plug means; a first electrically conducting line connected between said first electrode element and said connecting plug means; a second electrically conducting line connected between said second electrode element and said connecting plug means; an ESU cable having one end to be connected to the ESU, said ESU cable including two conducting leads connected to the RF return input of the ESU; an ESU electrode connector secured to the other end of said ESU cable and adapted to engage said connecting plug means; and electrical conducting means in said plug means to interconnect the ends of said conducting leads when said plug means engages said ESU connector, thereby permitting the passage of a cord fault test DC current through said conducting leads to indicate that a path for the return of the RF signals to the ESU has been completed before the ESU is permitted to become operational; and protective means associated with said interrelating means for selectively permitting desired combinations of the monitoring device, the stimulating device and the ESU to be simultaneously connected to the patient solely through said first and second electrode elements, said protective means comprising capacitive coupling means connecting said second conducting line to said conducting leads in said ESU cable to provide a return path for the ESU signals, to protect the ESU from stimulating device energy pulses, and to protect the patient from shock currents.
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32. A physiological electrode system comprising:
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a first non-invasive electrode element to be attached to the skin of a patient; a second non-invasive electrode element to be attached to the skin of the patient; a first conducting means to electrically connect said first electrode element to a first input of a physiological monitoring device; second conducting means to electrically connect said second electrode element to a second input of the physiological monitoring device, said first and second conducting means conveying electrical signals having an information content regarding a physiological function of the patient from the patient to the physiological monitoring device; third conducting means electrically connected to a therapeutic device; high pass filter means connected to provide a low impedance path between said third conducting means and at least one of said first and second electrode elements for the therapeutic device signals, while providing a high impedance path for the physiological function signals; low pass filter means connected to provide a low impedance path between the physiological monitoring device and said first and second electrode elements for the physiological function signals while providing a high impedance path for the therapeutic device signals; fourth and fifth conducting means to connect a stimulating device to said first and second electrode elements; and a high voltage protection circuit to prevent signals from said stimulating device from damaging the physiological monitoring device. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. A physiological electrode system providing for the connection of a monitoring device, a therapeutic device or a stimulating device to a patient through a single common instrument-to-body interface and comprsing:
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first and second electrode elements to be attached to the patient'"'"'s body, said electrode elements constructed to have the characteristics required for monitoring, stimulating and therapeutic applications, including the capability of handling relatively large energy requirements for stimulating and therapeutic applications and the sensitivity to low level signals required for monitoring applications; standardized connecting plug means; first and second electrically conducting lines connected from said electrode elements to said connecting plug means, said electrode elements, said connecting plug means and said conducting lines constituting a disposable electrode set; connector means to engage said connecting plug means; and cable means electrically joined to said connector means for selectively connecting the monitoring device, the therapeutic device or the stimulating device to said electrode elements by engagement of said connector means and said connecting plug means. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification