Biomedical electrode construction

• US 5,215,087 A
• Filed: 04/16/1991
• Issued: 06/01/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Company
• Original Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Inventors: Anderson, Clifford J., Strand, Jerome E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US07/686,049
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 128/639-641, 128/798, 128/802, 128/803, 606/32
• US Class Current: 600/392
• 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: A61B 5/28 for electrocardiography [ECG]

Abstract

A biomedical electrode 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 and accessible to an opposite side. 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. A method of assembling a strip of biomedical electrodes is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A biomedical electrode comprising:

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

(b) a conductor member having a pad portion and a tab portion, said conductor member being oriented in said electrode with a first surface of said pad portion on said first side of said insulator construction, and with said tab portion positioned in said opening and accessible from said second side of said insulator construction;

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

(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;

wherein

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

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

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

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

(3) said opening is surrounded by said second border portion;

(4) said opening is larger than said first surface of said conductor member tab portion;

(5) said insulator construction comprises first and second sections;

(6) said opening is in said first section,

(7) said second section is positioned between said layer of conductive adhesive and a second surface of said conductor member tab portion directed away from said insulator construction first section first side; and

(8) said second section is positioned to cover said layer of conductive adhesive at said opening.

2. The biomedical electrode according to claim 1, further comprising:

(a) a strip of double-stick adhesive tape positioned between said second surface of said conductor member tab portion, at a location adjacent said conductor member pad portion second surface, and a side of said second section directed away from said conductive adhesive, whereby said conductor member tab portion has a tip portion within said opening adjacent to, but not adhered directly to, said second section.

3. The biomedical electrode according to claim 2, wherein

(a) said insulator construction first section comprises a polymeric plastic backing;

and

(b) said insulator construction second section comprises a non-conductive natural or synthetic material.

4. The biomedical electrode according to claim 3, 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.

5. The biomedical electrode according to claim 4, wherein

(a) said conductive layer comprises silver/silver chloride;

and

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

6. The biomedical electrode according to claim 1, further comprising:

(a) a release liner covering said layer of conductive adhesive and said layer of skin adhesive, said release liner including a line of perforations adjacent a line of junction of said layer of conductive adhesive and said layer of skin adhesive.

7. The biomedical electrode according to claim 1, wherein said insulator construction is flexible and wherein said conductor member is substantially flat and flexible.

9. The biomedical electrode according to claim 2, further comprising:

(a) a strip of electrically conductive, pressure-sensitive adhesive positioned between said first electrically conductive carbon-containing web, at a location adjacent to said conductor member pad portion second surface, and a side of said second electrically conductive carbon-containing web directed away from said conductive adhesive, whereby said conductor member tab portion has a tip portion within said opening adjacent electrically conductive carbon-containing web; and

a release liner covering said layer of conductive adhesive and said layer of skin adhesive.

10. The biomedical electrode according to claim 9, wherein

(a) said insulator construction comprises a polymeric plastic backing;

and

(b) each said first and second electrically conductive carbon-containing web comprises a non-woven fabric impregnated with carbon ink.

11. The biomedical electrode according to claim 10, wherein

(a) said strip of electrically conductive, pressure-sensitive adhesive includes a silver particles;

(b) said polymeric plastic backing comprises a non-woven pad of melt brown polyurethane fibre; and

(c) said release liner includes a line of perforations adjacent a line of junction of said layer of conductive adhesive and said layer of skin adhesive.

12. The biomedical electrode according to claim 7, wherein said insulator construction is flexible and wherein said conductor member is substantially flat and flexible.

8. A biomedical electrode comprising;

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

(b) a conductor member having a pad portion and a tab portion having opposing first and second surfaces, said conductor member being oriented in said electrode with a first surface of said pad portion on said first side of said insulator construction and with said tab portion positioned in said opening and with said second surface of said tab portion accessible from said second side of said insulator construction;

wherein said first surface of said conductor member comprises a strip of non-conductive material and said second surface of said conductor member comprises a layer of a first electrically conductive carbon-containing web;

(c) a layer of conductive adhesive contacting a side of said first electrically conductive carbon-containing web opposite said strip of non-conductive material;

(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 second electrically conductive carbon-containing web positioned between said layer of conductive adhesive and said second surface of said conductor member tab portion;

wherein said second electrically conductive carbon-containing web is positioned to cover said layer of conductive adhesive at said opening;

wherein

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

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

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

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

(3) said opening and is surrounded by said second border portion; and

(4) said opening is larger than said first surface and said second surface of said conductor member tab portion;