Hydratable bioelectrode

• US 5,087,242 A
• Filed: 07/21/1989
• Issued: 02/11/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Encore Medical Asset Corporation (Enovis Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Iomed, Inc. (Enovis Corp.)
• Inventors: Jacobsen, Stephen C., Shimada, Jin, Petelenz, Tomasz J., Beck, Jon, Stephen, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): Finkel, Sharon
• Application Number:
  US07/383,939
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 604/20, 604/891.1, 128/802, 128/803, 128/898, 424/447-449
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0436 Material of the electrode

Abstract

A hydratable iontophoretic bioelectrode includes a layer of material for absorbing and holding an ionized fluid when placed in contact with the fluid. A conductive sheet of material is positioned in contact with one side of the layer of material and is connectable to an electrical charged source to receive a charge of the same polarity as the polarity of ions in the fluid. A support base holds the layer of material and conductive sheets in place to enable placement of the layer of material against the skin or tissue of a person into which ions from the ionized fluid are to be delivered. This is carried out by applying the charge in question to the conductive sheet to cause the ions in the layer of material to migrate therefrom into the person'"'"'s skin or tissue.

Claims

1. A hydratable bioelectrode for delivering ions of an ionized fluid into a person'"'"'s skin or tissue comprising

a layer of material for absorbing and holding the ionized fluid when placed in contact therewith,

a conductive sheet disposed in close proximity to the layer of material for receiving an electrical charge of the same polarity as the polarity of ions in the fluid to thereby cause such ions form the layer of material away from the conductive sheet, and

support means for holding the conductive sheet in close proximity to the layer of material,

wherein said layer of material is comprised of a support matrix impregnated with the hydratable polymer, said support matrix comprising a nylon mesh.

2. A bioelectrode as in claim 1 wherein said polymer and matrix is granulated.

3. A bioelectrode as in claim 1 wherein said polymer and matrix is fibrous.

4. A hydratable bioelectrode for delivering ions of an ionized fluid into a person'"'"'s skin or tissue comprising

a layer of material for absorbing and holding the ionized fluid when placed in contact therewith,

two coextensive sheets of material, at least one of the sheets comprising a conductive sheet, whose edges are formed together to define a cavity between the two sheets, at least one of said coextensive sheets being made of a hydrophilic material and at least one of the coextensive sheets being disposed in close proximity to the layer of material and at least one of the coextensive sheets being adapted for receiving an electrical charge of the same polarity as the polarity of ion sin the fluid to thereby cause such ions from the layer of material to move away from the conductive sheet, and

support means for holding the conductive sheet in close proximity to the layer of material,

wherein said layer of material is comprised of a support matrix impregnated with a granulated hydratable polymer.

6. A bioelectrode as in claim 4 or 5 wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamide, polyacrylate, and cellulose.

5. A hydratable bioelectrode for delivering ions of an ionized fluid into a person'"'"'s skin or tissue comprising

a layer of material for absorbing and holding the ionized fluid when placed in contact therewith,

two coextensive sheets of material, at least one of the sheets comprising a conductive sheet, whose edges are formed together to define a cavity between the two sheets, at least one of said coextensive sheets being made of a hydrophilic material and at least one of the coextensive sheets being disposed in close proximity to the layer of material and at least one of the coextensive sheets being adapted for receiving an electrical charge of the same polarity as the polarity of ions in the fluid to thereby cause such ions from the layer of material away from the conductive sheet, and

support means for holding the conductive sheet in close proximity to the layer of material,

wherein said layer of material is comprised of a support matrix impregnated with a fibrous hydratable polymer.