Method of formation of bio-electrode lamina

• US 5,042,144 A
• Filed: 09/22/1989
• Issued: 08/27/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Health Concepts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Health Concepts Incorporated
• Inventors: Fletcher, Douglas W., Shimada, Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Arbes, Carl J.
• Application Number:
  US07/411,416
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 29/825, 29/847, 29/884, 156/235, 156/244.11, 264/171, 204/418, 204/415, 204/419
• US Class Current: 29/825
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/125 characterised by the manufacture of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/259 using conductive adhesive means, e.g. gels
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0496 characterised by using specific chemical compositions, e.g. hydrogel compositions, adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4921 with bonding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49222 forming array of contacts or terminals

Abstract

A method of forming a conductive lamina for use with and to form a bio-medical electrode device comprising the steps of providing a non-conductive base structure, providing a mixture of an electrically conductive substance and a media component, depositing the mixture onto the base structure, and curing the mixture. The method further comprises the step of mixing the electrical conductant and the media component in a closed cell, positive pressure kinetic mixer. The method further comprises the steps of combining a urethane base and a polyhydric alcohol to form the media component and delaying the mixing of the media component and the electrical conductant for a predetermined time period. In another embodiment, the method comprises the steps of combining a photo-initiator, a cross-linking agent, and low pH acrylic monomers to form a precomponent, and mixing the precomponent with the glycol to form the media component. The method further comprises the step of cooling the mixture prior to depositing it onto the base structure, and exposing the mixture to ultraviolet energy for a predetermined time period.

Claims

1. A method of forming a conductive lamina for a bio-medical electrode structure, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a non-conductive base structure;

b. combining a urethane base and a polyhydric alcohol to form a media component;

c. mixing an electrically conductive substance with said media component;

d. depositing said mixture onto said base structure; and

e. curing said mixture on said base structure, whereby said mixture forms a conductive lamina on said base structure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said base structure consists of a thin layer of material having first and second opposing sides, and further comprising the step of providing means to electrically connect said first and second sides of said base structure.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of providing means to electrically connect includes the steps of placing a conductive eyelet on said first side of said base layer, placing a conductive snap on said second side of said base structure, and connecting said snap to said eyelet through said base structure.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of providing a current dispersion layer on said first side of said base structure, to thereby electrically connect said dispersion layer with said means to electrically connect.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of providing said current dispersion layer includes applying a conductive substance to said base layer by vapor deposition, said substance being selected from the group consisting of carbon film, tin, aluminum, silver/silver chloride ink, and carbon ink.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of providing said current dispersion layer includes applying a nylon mesh substrate coated with a metal to said base layer.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of delaying the mixing of said media component and said electrical conductant for a predetermined time period subsequent to said step of combining said urethane base and said polyhydric alcohol.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said polyhydric alcohol is a glycol copolymer, and further comprising the step of combining a high molecular weight glycol and a low molecular weight glycol to form said glycol copolymer.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of combining a photo-initiator, a cross-linking agent, and low pH acrylic monomers to form a precomponent, and mixing said precomponent with a glycol to form said media component.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of cooling said mixture prior to said step of depositing said mixture onto said base structure, and wherein said step of curing said mixture includes exposing said mixture to ultraviolet energy for a predetermined time period.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of depositing said mixture includes extruding a continuous stream of said mixture on said base structure.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said base structure is a sheet of material having a predetermined width and a predetermined length, and further comprising the step of propelling said base structure sheet in a lengthwise direction, whereby a said mixture is deposited on said base structure sheet in a continuous layer.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of separating said base layer sheet at predetermined intervals to provide individual electrodes.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of depositing said mixture includes dispensing a predetermined amount of said mixture onto said base structure in contact with said means to electrically connect and permitting said mixture to flow into a generally circular configuration thereon.

15. The method of claim 2, comprising the step of providing said means to electrically connect at a plurality of predetermined locations on said base structure, said base structure having a predetermined length, and further comprising the steps of moving said base structure in a lengthwise direction, dispensing said mixture at each said means to electrically connect so that said mixture is deposited on said means to electrically connect, and separating said base structure at predetermined locations between said means to electrically connect to form individual electrodes.

16. A method of making a disposable, self-adhering lamina for use with a bio-medical electrode structure for placement on the body surface of a patient and adapted to be used with an electro-medical diagnostic or therapeutic apparatus, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a non-conductive base structure layer;

b. mixing a hydrophilic media component comprising a urethane base and a polyhydric alcohol, and a conductant without agitation in a closed cell, positive pressure system to form a mixture;

c. depositing said mixture from said closed cell system onto said base structure layer; and

d. curing said mixture for a predetermined time period, whereby said mixture forms a semi-solid, conductive and adhesive lamina on said base structure.

17. A method of making a disposable, self-adhering bio-medical electrode for placement on the body surface of a patient and for use with an electro-medical diagnostic or therapeutic apparatus, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a non-conductive base structure layer having first and second sides;

b. forming a conductive signal transmission layer on said first side of said base structure layer;

c. providing means to electrically connect said signal transmission layer to the electro-medical apparatus, said means to connect being exposed for contact on said second side of said base structure layer;

d. mixing a hydrophilic, urethane base with a polyhydric alcohol in a closed cell, positive pressure kinetic mixer system to form a water soluble resin;

e. mixing said resin with a conductant to form a hydrophilic media mixture;

f. depositing said media mixture from said closed cell system on said signal transmission layer; and

g. curing said media mixture for a predetermined time period, whereby said media mixture forms a conductive, adhesive, low impedance, semi-solid lamina layer on said signal transmission layer.