Large surface area electrode
First Claim
1. A large surface area electrode, for use with a power supply having a more uniform current density distribution for contacting an exposed surface of skin of a living body having a contour, comprising a layer of flexible conductive material of a predetermined geometrical shape and having first and second surfaces, said layer of flexible conductive material being normally relatively flat but being capable of assuming the contour of the skin of the body when the electrode is placed in contact with the body with the first surface of the layer engaging the exposed surface of the skin of the body, said layer of flexible conductive material having a central portion and a surrounding ring portion, said central portion and said surrounding ring portion having outer edges, means forming a flexible carrier layer having a first surface secured to the second surface of the layer of flexible conductive material and serving to support said central portion and said surrounding ring portion so that the surrounding ring portion is spaced from and insulated from the central portion and coupling means adapted to couple said central portion and said surrounding ring portion to said power supply for controlling the current densities at said edges so that the current densities at said edges do not exceed predetermined values, said coupling means forming a direct connection to the central portion and including a resistor connected to said surrounding ring portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Large surface area electrode for use with a power supply having a more uniform current density distribution for contacting the exposed surface of a living body having a contour. The electrode comprises a layer of flexible conductive material of a predetermined geometrical shape and having first and second surfaces. The layer is normally relatively flat and is capable of assuming contours of the skin of the body when the electrode is placed in contact with the body with the first surface of the layer engaging the exposed surface of the body. The layer of conductive material has a central portion and a surrounding ring portion. The central portion and the surrounding ring portion have outer margins with edges. A flexible carrier layer is provided which is secured to the second surface of the layer of flexible conductive material and serves to support the central portion and the said surrounding portion so that the surrounding portion is spaced from and insulated from the central portion. A connector is provided which is connected to the surrounding ring portion and is adapted to be coupled to the power supply for controlling the current density at the edges so that the current density at the edges does not exceed a predetermined value. The connector forms a direct connection to the central portion and includes a resistor connected to the surrounding ring.
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Citations
31 Claims
- 1. A large surface area electrode, for use with a power supply having a more uniform current density distribution for contacting an exposed surface of skin of a living body having a contour, comprising a layer of flexible conductive material of a predetermined geometrical shape and having first and second surfaces, said layer of flexible conductive material being normally relatively flat but being capable of assuming the contour of the skin of the body when the electrode is placed in contact with the body with the first surface of the layer engaging the exposed surface of the skin of the body, said layer of flexible conductive material having a central portion and a surrounding ring portion, said central portion and said surrounding ring portion having outer edges, means forming a flexible carrier layer having a first surface secured to the second surface of the layer of flexible conductive material and serving to support said central portion and said surrounding ring portion so that the surrounding ring portion is spaced from and insulated from the central portion and coupling means adapted to couple said central portion and said surrounding ring portion to said power supply for controlling the current densities at said edges so that the current densities at said edges do not exceed predetermined values, said coupling means forming a direct connection to the central portion and including a resistor connected to said surrounding ring portion.
- 15. A large surface area electrode for use with a power supply for contacting an exposed surface of a patient comprising a first conductive element, a second conductive element substantially surrounding the first conductive element and being spaced form the first conductive element, means adapted to connect the first conductive element directly to the power supply and resistor means connected to the second conductive element and being adapted to be connected to the power supply, said resistor means providing a substantially uniform current density in the first and second conductive elements.
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31. A large surface area electrode for use with a power supply and adapted to contact the skin of a patent having an impedance, comprising a plurality of separate conductive elements adapted to engage the skin of the patient, and circuitry coupled to the conductive elements and adapted to connect the conductive elements to the power supply for supplying predetermined currents to the conductive elements, said circuitry including viewing resistors for carrying the current supplied to the separate conductive elements, said viewing resistors developing voltages across the same in accordance with the current flowing through the resistors and means coupled to the viewing resistors for ascertaining the voltages developed across the viewing resistors and means responsive to these developed voltages to ascertain whether or not additional current should be supplied to the conductive elements in accordance with the impedance of the skin of the patient.
Specification