Multi-pad, multi-function electrode

• US 4,955,381 A
• Filed: 08/26/1988
• Issued: 09/11/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Conmed Corporation (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cardiotronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Way, Tim J., Butler, L. Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US07/237,513
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 128/639-641, 128/644, 128/783, 128/798, 128/799, 128/802, 128/803, 128/419 D
• US Class Current: 600/393
• 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 5/263 characterised by the electrode materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/268 containing conductive polymers, e.g. PEDOT:PSS polymers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/28 for electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0408 Use-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence

Abstract

An electrode having multiple conductive polymer pads for performing multiple, electrical physiological functions from a single set of electrodes with respect to a patient at or about the same time, such as defibrillating, pacing, and monitoring of that patient'"'"'s heart, is described. The electrode is advantageously integrated into a cardiac system having stimulating means coupled to the electrode for delivering electrical impulses to the electrode to be used to stimulate the patient'"'"'s heart, and monitoring means also coupled to the electrode for receiving and displaying electrical impulses produced by the patient'"'"'s heart.

The conductive polymers which comprise the pads are optionally inherently adhesive, so that the pads will adhere to a patient'"'"'s body over their entire surface area. Moveover, they are rubber-based, will not smear or leave a residue on a patient'"'"'s skin, have lower impedance, and depolarize faster compared with present saline-based gels, further contributing to the multi-functional capability. Also, the lower impedance enables the voltage generator in the cardiac system of which the electrode is a part to deliver a particular current pulse with less voltage, enabling the voltage generator, and the cardiac system in general, to be smaller, more compact, and less costly.

Claims

1. An electrode for stimulating and monitoring a patient'"'"'s heart at or about the same time comprising:

a stimulating conductive polymer pad having a first surface for contacting a patient and delivering stimulating electrical impulses to that patient'"'"'s heart, and having a second surface;

a monitoring conductive polymer pad having a first surface smaller in area than said stimulating pad first surface for contacting that patient and receiving electrical impulses from that patient'"'"'s heart at or about the same time that said stimulating electrical impulses are being delivered, and having a second surface;

a peelable cover substantially covering said first polymer pad surfaces when the electrode is not in use;

a metal foil cover having substantially the same shape as the stimulating conductive polymer pad and having a front surface substantially covering the second surface thereof, and having a back surface;

a metal foil cover having substantially the same shape as the monitoring conductive polymer pad and having a front surface substantially covering the second surface thereof, and having a back surface;

a plastic foam cover adhered against the back surfaces of the metal foil covers and having two holes exposing apart of each metal foil cover;

two insulated wires having exposed ends which are respectively inserted into the two holes in the plastic foam cover and electrically coupled to the exposed part of the metal foil covers; and

a wire retainer placed over the holes in the plastic foam cover after the wires have been inserted, which adheres to the plastic foam cover.

2. A non-invasive electrode comprising:

at least two spaced conductive polymer pads, each pad having an impedance lower than a conventional gel electrode pad, and each pad having a surface arranged to be placed in contact with a patient'"'"'s skin, for stimulating and monitoring the patient'"'"'s heart at or about the same time wherein at least a first one of said conductive polymer pads has an area of about 50 cm² or more for delivering electrical impulses to the patient'"'"'s heart from stimulating means adapted to be electrically coupled to said first pad in order to stimulate the heart while at least one other of said conductive polymer pads is spaced from said first pad by at least 2 cm. for receiving electrical impulses from that patient'"'"'s heart and delivering said impulses to monitoring means adapted to be electrically coupled to said other pad in order to monitor the heart at or about the same time said first pad is delivering said stimulating electrical impulses;

non-conducting backing means for integrally connecting said first and other pads;

means for electrically coupling said first pad to said stimulating means which produces said stimulating electrical impulses; and

means for electrically coupling said other pad to said monitoring means which displays said monitoring electrical impulses.

3. A cardiac system comprising:

at least a pair of electrodes wherein at least a first one of said electrodes is noninvasive, and wherein said first electrode has at least two spaced conductive polymer pads integrally connected by means of a non-conducting backing wherein at least a first one of said pads has an area of about 50 cm² or more and is selected to deliver electrical impulses to a patient'"'"'s heart in order to stimulate it, while at least one other of said pads is selected to receive electrical impulses at or about the same time from that patient'"'"'s heart in order to monitor it;

stimulating means electrically coupled to said first pad for producing said stimulating electrical impulses; and

monitoring means electrically coupled to said other pad for receiving and displaying said monitoring electrical impulses.

4. The cardiac system of claim 3 wherein said stimulating means comprises:

a defibrillator for generating defibrillating electrical impulses;

defibrillator paddles electrically coupled to said defibrillator for externally delivering said defibrillating electrical impulses;

an external pacemaker/defibrillator pass-through coupled to said first pad having releasably depressible defibrillator input plates for pacing in contact with said defibrillator paddles at a particular level of force and receiving said defibrillating electrical impulses, wherein said defibrillating electrical impulses are passed through and delivered to said patient'"'"'s heart through said first pad when said level of force is sufficient to depress said input plates, and wherein said pass-through generates and delivers pacing electrical impulses through said first pad when said level of force is not sufficient to depress said input plates.

5. The cardiac system of claim 4 wherein said monitoring means comprises an EKG monitor electrically coupled to said pass-through, wherein said pass-through passes electrical impulses received form said other pad to said monitor unaltered.

6. A non-invasive electrode comprising:

at least two spaced conductive polymer pads, each pad having an impedance lower than a conventional gel electrode pad, and each pad having a surface arranged to be placed in contact with a patient'"'"'s skin, for pacing and monitoring the patient'"'"'s heart at or about the same time wherein at least a first one of said conductive polymer pads has an area of about 50 cm² or more for delivering electrical impulses to the patient'"'"'s heart from pacing means adapted to be electrically coupled to said first pad in order to pace the heart, while at least one other of said conductive polymer pads is spaced from said first pad by at least 2 cm. for receiving electrical impulses from said patient'"'"'s heart and delivering said impulses to monitoring means adapted to be electrically coupled to said other pad in order to monitor the heart at or about the same time said first pad is delivering said pacing electrical impulses;

non-conducting backing means for integrally connecting said first and other pads;

means for electrically coupling said first pad to said pacing means which produces said pacing electrical impulses; and

means for electrically coupling said other pad to said monitoring means which displays said monitoring electrical impulses.

7. A process for performing more than one electrical, cardiac function at or about the same time with respect to a patient'"'"'s heart from a noninvasive electrode having at least two spaced conductive polymer pads, wherein at least a first one of said pads has an area of about 50 cm² or more, comprising the steps of:

delivering electrical impulses to said patient'"'"'s heart through said first pad; and

receiving electrical impulses at or about the same time from said patient'"'"'s heart through at least one other of said pads.

8. A cardiac system comprising:

at least a pair of electrodes wherein at least a first one of said electrodes is noninvasive, and said first electrode has at least two spaced conductive polymer pads integrally connected by means of a non-conductive backing wherein at least a first one of said pads is selected to deliver electrical impulses to a patient'"'"'s heart in order to stimulate it, while at least one other of said pads is selected to receive electrical impulses at or about the same time from the patient'"'"'s heart in order to monitor it;

a defibrillator for generating defibrillating electrical impulses;

defibrillating paddles electrically coupled to said defibrillator for externally delivering said defibrillating electrical impulses;

an external pacemaker/defibrillator pass-through coupled to said first pad having releasably depressible defibrillator input plates for placing in contact with said defibrillator paddles at a particular level of force and receiving said defibrillating electrical impulses are passed through and delivered to said patient'"'"'s heart through said first pad when said level of force is sufficient to depress said input plates, and wherein said pass-through generates and delivers pacing electrical impulses through said first pad when said level of force is not sufficient to depress said input plates; and

monitoring means electrically coupled to said other pad for receiving and displaying said monitoring electrical impulses.

9. The cardiac system of claim 8 wherein said monitoring means comprises an EKG monitor electrically coupled to said pass-through, wherein said pass-through passes electrical impulses received from said other pad to said monitor unaltered.