Medical electrode assembly

• US 4,444,194 A
• Filed: 03/08/1982
• Issued: 04/24/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Conmed Corporation (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: NDM, Inc.
• Inventors: Burcham, Larry R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US06/356,097
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 128/639-641, 128/644, 128/798, 128/802, 128/803, 128/303.13
• US Class Current: 600/394
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0217 Electrolyte containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor

Abstract

The eyelet of a snap fastener conductor extends both through an adhesively coated supporting sheet and a gel pad whereupon a flange on the eyelet cooperates with the gel pad to form a cup-like cavity in which electrolyte gel is placed. The supporting sheet is formed from a substantially moisture and water vapor impervious material and cooperates with a cover that is also substantially moisture and water vapor impervious having a cavity receiving the gel pad to prevent gel dry out. The gel pad receiving cavity has a centrally located plug that enters the cup-like cavity during assembly to displace the gel into adjacent portions of the gel pad and also to resist substantial movement of the snap fastener conductor when a lead wire is attached.

Claims

1. In a disposable medical electrode assembly of the type having a pre-gelled medical electrode including a supporting sheet having an adhesive coating on one surface, a foam gel pad adjacent said one surface, a conductor comprising a snap fastener part projecting through said supporting sheet and said gel pad and squeezing a portion of said gel pad against said supporting sheet, surrounding portions of said gel pad cooperating with said snap fastener part to form a cup-like cavity, and a cover engaging said adhesively coated surface and receiving said gel pad, the improvement wherein said cover comprises a sheet construction formed to include a substantially planar panel secured to said supporting sheet by the adhesive coating thereon, said sheet construction further including a gel pad receiving cavity comprising a protuberance projecting from said panel, said protuberance having a bottom wall and a plug extending from said bottom wall toward said panel, said plug being partly received in said cup-like cavity.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said sheet construction comprises a single piece of plastic.

3. The assembly of claim 1 or 2 wherein said plug is in the form of a truncated cone.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said protuberance has an outer wall in the form of a truncated cone.

5. The assembly of claim 1 or 2 wherein said plug is coaxial with said protuberance.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said conductor further comprises another snap fastener part adapted for connection to a lead wire, and said plug has a base remote from said bottom wall and located adjacent said first mentioned snap fastener part whereby said plug resists substantial movement of said snap fastener part when a lead wire is being attached to said another snap fastener part.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said medical electrode further comprises an electrolyte gel received in said cup-like cavity and said plug is shaped and sized to force said gel outwardly into said gel pad when said medical electrode is assembled onto said cover.

8. In a disposable medical electrode assembly of the type comprising a pre-gelled electrode having a thin flexible sheet having an adhesive coating on one surface, a gel pad adjacent said one surface, a conductor including a flange squeezing a part of said gel pad against said sheet, surrounding portions of said gel pad cooperating with said flange to form a cup-like cavity, an electrolytic gel within said cavity and said gel pad, and a cover engaging said adhesively coated surface and receiving said gel pad, the improvement wherein said cover comprises a substantially planar panel surrounding said gel pad and engaging said adhesive coating, said cover being formed to provide means defining a gel pad receiving cavity including an outer wall surrounding the outer margin of said gel pad, a bottom wall spaced from said panel by a distance approximately equal to the height of said gel pad, and a plug spaced from said outer wall and extending from said bottom wall toward said conductor flange and so shaped and sized that it projects into said cup-like cavity.

9. The improvement of claim 8 wherein said plug is located in said gel pad receiving cavity coaxially with said conductor flange.

10. The improvement of claim 8 or 9 wherein said plug is in the form of a truncated cone.

11. The improvement of claim 8 wherein said conductor comprises a snap fastener part.

12. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said conductor further comprises lead wire attachment means for attachment of a lead wire thereto, and said plug has a base remote from said bottom wall and located adjacent said conductor flange whereby said plug resists substantial movement of said conductor flange when a lead wire is attached to said lead wire attachment means.

13. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said plug is shaped and sized to force said gel outwardly into said gel pad when said medical electrode is assembled onto said cover.