Biomedical electrode construction

• US 5,078,139 A
• Filed: 06/06/1990
• Issued: 01/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Inventors: Niven, Clarence A., Strand, Jerome E., Craighead, Lawrence W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US07/534,161
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 128/639-641, 128/644, 128/798, 128/802, 128/803
• US Class Current: 600/393
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/259 using conductive adhesive means, e.g. gels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/28 for electrocardiography [ECG]

Abstract

A biomedical electrode is disclosed which generally comprises an insulator construction and a conductor member. The conductor member is preferably a thin flat, flexible member having a pad portion and a tab portion. The insulator construction is arranged such that the conductor member pad portion is positioned on one side of the insulator construction and the tab portion is generally positioned on an opposite side. Three general embodiments are disclosed which achieve this: a first comprising two overlapping sections of insulator material, with the tab portion of the conductor member extending outwardly from therebetween; a second in which two sections of insulator construction material are oriented in a substantially coplanar relationship to define a seam therebetween, through which a portion of the conductor member extends; and, a third in which the insulator construction includes a single sheet of material having a slot therein, through which a portion of the conductor member extends. For any of those three embodiments, a substantially flat arrangement results, with advantages associated therewith. Preferred arrangements having a field of conductive adhesive, associated with the pad portion of the conductor member, completely surrounded by a border of insulator construction and skin adhesive, are described.

Claims

1. A biomedical electrode comprising:

(a) an insulator construction having first and second opposite sides and including a flat sheet of substantially non-conductive material having a slit therein;

(b) a conductor member having a pad portion and a tab portion;

(i) said conductor member being oriented in said electrode with said pad portion positioned on said first side of said insulator construction, and with said tab portion positioned on said second side of said insulator construction, and said conductor member tab portion projecting through said slit; and

(c) a strip of insulating tape positioned on said insulator construction second side and over said slit and a portion of said conductor member tab portion projecting therethrough.

2. A biomedical electrode according to claim 1, wherein

(a) said conductor member comprises a strip of non-conductive plastic material having at least one side with a layer of conductive material adhered thereto.

3. A biomedical electrode according to claim 2, wherein

(a) said conductor member has a conductive layer of silver/silver chloride on only one side thereof;

said conductor member side having said conductive layer thereon comprising;

a side of said pad portion directed away from said insulator construction first side; and

, a side of said tab portion directed toward said insulator construction second side.

4. A biomedical electrode comprising:

(a) an insulator construction comprising a polymeric plastic backing, said insulator construction having first and second opposite sides and including a flat sheet of substantially non-conductive material having a slit therein;

(b) a conductor member having a pad portion and a tab portion;

(i) said conductor member being oriented in said electrode with said pad portion positioned on said first side of said insulator construction, and with said tab portion positioned on said second side of said insulator construction, and said conductor member tab portion projecting through said slit;

(ii) said insulator construction first side has a larger surface area than a first surface of said conductor member pad portion;

said first side defining a border portion surrounding said conductor member pad portion; and

(iii) said insulator construction second side has a larger surface area than a first surface of said conductor member tab portion;

said second side defining a border portion surrounding said conductor member tab portion;

(c) a layer of conductive adhesive on a side of said conductor member pad portion directed away from said insulator construction first side;

(d) a layer of skin adhesive on said insulator construction first side;

said layer of skin adhesive including a portion surrounding said layer of conductive adhesive; and

(e) a layer of scrim extending between at least a portion of said layer of conductive adhesive and at least a portion of said layer of skin adhesive.

5. A biomedical electrode according to claim 4, wherein

(a) said polymeric plastic backing comprises a non-woven pad of melt blown polyurethane fibre.