Electrical stimulation electrode

• US 4,708,149 A
• Filed: 01/27/1986
• Issued: 11/24/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jens Axelgaard
• Original Assignee: Jens Axelgaard
• Inventors: Axelgaard, Jens, Grussing, Theodore
• Primary Examiner(s): Echols, Percy W.
• Application Number:
  US06/822,816
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 29/877-880, 128/640, 128/639, 128/641, 128/798, 128/802, 128/803, 156/148, 156/289, 428/230, 428/247, 428/256
• US Class Current: 607/152
• 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 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4921 with bonding

Abstract

A transcutaneous nerve and/or muscle stimulation electrode is provided which may be contoured to the skin areas of a patient and stretched therewith while impulse signals are electrically conducted into the body. This stretching ability is provided by a knit conductive fabric which is stretchable up to at least about 20% greater than the original conductive fabric dimension in a direction of stretch without loss of conductivity. A conductivity adhesive fills interstitial areas of the knit fabric and provides for adhering the electrode to the patient'"'"'s skin.

Claims

1. A flexible transcutaneous electrical nerve and/or muscle stimulation electrode produced by a method comprising the steps of:

knitting a conductive fiber to form a conductive fabric having a rhombus shaped pattern of twisted conductive fibers with an open knit of conductive fibers therebetween for supporting a conductive adhesive in interstitial areas therein;

disposing a flexible conductive adhesive within said interstitial areas and on one side of the conductive fabric;

interconnecting an electrical lead wire with said conductive fabric; and

disposing a non-conductive sheet on an opposite side of said conductive fabric.

2. The flexible transcutaneous electrical nerve and/or muscle stimulation electrode according to claim 1 wherein the conductive fiber is knitted for enabling the conductive fabric to be stretched up to about 100 percent greater than a first original conductive fabric dimension parallel to a smaller of the two rhombus diagonals.

3. The transcutaneous electrical nerve and/or muscle stimulation electrical according to claim 2 wherein the conductive fiber is knitted for enabling the conductive fabric to be stretched up to about 20 percent greater than a second original conductive fabric dimension parallel to a larger of the two rhombus diagonals.

4. A flexible transcutaneous electrical nerve and/or muscle stimulation electrode produced by a method comprising the steps of:

knitting a conductive fiber to form a conductive fabric having a rhombus shaped pattern of twisted conductive fibers with an open knit of conductive fibers therebetween for supporting a conductive adhesive in interstitial areas therein;

pouring a gellable liquid conductive adhesive within said interstitial areas and on one side of said conductive fabric;

causing said gellable liquid adhesive conductive adhesive to form into a gel-like conductive adhesive;

interconnecting an electrical lead wire to the conductive fabric; and

,

disposing a non-conductive sheet on an opposite side of the conductive fabric.

5. A method for the manufacture of a muscle and/or nerve stimulation electrode comprising the steps of;

knitting a conductive fiber to form a conductive fabric having a rhombus shaped pattern of twisted conductive fibers with an open knit of conductive fibers therebetween for supporting a conductive adhesive in interstitial areas therein;

disposing a flexible conductive adhesive within said interstitial areas and on one side of the conductive fabric;

interconnecting an electrical lead wire with said conductive fabric; and

disposing a non-conductive sheet on an opposite side of said conductive fabric.

6. A method for the manufacture of a muscle and/or nerve stimulation electrode comprising the steps of:

knitting a conductive fiber to form a conductive fabric having a rhombus shaped pattern of twisted conductive fibers with an open knit of conductive fibers therebetween for supporting a conductive adhesive in interstitial areas therein;

pouring a gellable liquid conductive adhesive within said interstitial areas and on one side of said conductive fabric;

causing said gellable liquid adhesive conductive adhesive to form into a gel-like conductive adhesive;

interconnecting an electrical lead wire to the conductive fabric; and

,

disposing a non-conductive sheet on an opposite side of the conductive fabric.