Electrode for reducing the surface resistivity of skin and method

• US 5,289,822 A
• Filed: 12/01/1992
• Issued: 03/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Physiometrix, Inc. (Pfizer Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Physiometrix, Inc. (Pfizer Inc.)
• Inventors: Imran, Mir A., Highe, Albert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Application Number:
  US07/983,823
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 128/639-641, 128/644, 128/798, 128/802-803, 428/327, 428/343-344, 428/350, 428/355-356, 252/511, 607/149, 607/152-153
• US Class Current: 600/397
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/259 using conductive adhesive means, e.g. gels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/254 Polymeric or resinous material

Abstract

Electrode adapted to be placed in contact with the skin of a patient for reducing the surface resistivity of the skin of the patient and comprising a member formed of a dry-conductive material and having an outer surface adapted to be placed in contact with the skin of the patient. A composition is disposed on at least a portion of the surface of the member. The composition as is the surface of a plurality of water-containing vesicles.

Claims

1. An electrode adapted to be placed in contact with the skin of a patient for reducing the surface resistivity of the skin of the patient, the electrode comprising a member formed of a dry-conductive material and having an outer surface adapted to be placed in contact with the skin of the patient, a composition disposed in at least a portion of the surface of the member, said composition including a plurality of water-containing vesicles.

2. An electrode as in claim 1 wherein the water-containing vesicles are coated on a portion of the outer surface of the electrode.

3. An electrode as in claim 1 wherein said water-containing vesicles are intermixed in the dry conductive material of the member.

4. An electrode as in claim 1 wherein said vesicles are in the form of a crosslinked hydrophilic-type polymer.

5. An electrode as in claim 4 wherein when said vesicles are swollen, the swollen vesicles contain less than 20% by weight of the crosslinked hydrophilic-type polymer.

6. An electrode as in claim 4 wherein the crosslinked polymer has a crosslink density that permits the polymer to swell a maximum of 5-50 times its weight when exposed to pure water.

7. An electrode as in claim 1 wherein said vesicles contain a humectant.

8. An electrode as in claim 7 wherein said humectant is glycerin.

9. An electrode as in claim 8 wherein the vesicles contain a salt.

10. An electrode as in claim 9 wherein said salt is selected from potassium chloride and sodium chloride.

11. An electrode as in claim 7 wherein said humectant is a deliquescent salt.

12. An electrode as in claim 11 wherein said deliquescent salt is potassium acetate.

13. An electrode as in claim 1 wherein the vesicles have a crosslinking density ranging from 0.5%-12%.

14. An electrode as in claim 1 wherein said vesicles incorporate a tackifier.

15. An electrode as in claim 14 wherein said tackifier is in the form of a water-soluble polymer.

16. An electrode as in claim 15 wherein said water-soluble polymer is provided with a reactive functional group.

17. An electrode as in claim 1 wherein said vesicles form a paste.

18. In a composition for the treatment of an electrode adapted to be placed in contact with the skin of the patient for reducing the surface resistivity of the skin of the patient, a plurality of beads formed of a crosslinked hydrophilic polymer, said beads having absorbed therein a mixture increasing the size of the beads from 5-50 times its original size, the mixture being comprised of a humectant and water.

19. A composition as in claim 18 wherein said humectant is glycerin.

20. A composition as in claim 19 wherein said composition includes a salt.

21. A composition as in claim 18 wherein said humectant is a deliquescent salt.

22. A composition as in claim 18 wherein said mixture includes a tackifier.

23. A composition as in claim 22 wherein said tackifier is a water-soluble polymer.

24. A composition as in claim 18 which said mixture has a consistency of paste.

25. In a method for providing a composition for the treatment of an electrode for reducing surface resistivity, providing a batch of crosslinked hydrophilic polymer-type beads having a size less than 90 microns, adding to the beads a mixture of a humectant and water, permitting the beads to absorb the mixture and expand in size to provide a composition having a consistency of paste.

26. A method as in claim 25 together with the step of adding glycerin as a humectant and adding a salt to the mixture.

27. A method as in claim 25 together with the step of adding a deliquescent salt as a humectant to the mixture.

28. A method as in claim 25 together with the step of adding a tackifier to the mixture.