Multipurpose medical electrode
First Claim
1. A hydrogel matrix for a multipurpose medical electrode having an electrically conductive backing, said matrix comprising:
- a dispersion of a natural or synthetic hydrophilic polymer, water and a humectant,said matrix is a flexible sheet having a tacky lower surface for establishing a bond to provide electrical contact with the skin of a patient,said electrically conductive backing having a predetermined resistivity of a first value,said matrix having a resistivity of a second value that is greater than said first value, anda gelation inhibitor uniformly distributed within the matrix in an amount sufficient to retard gelation of the matrix prior to forming the matrix into said flexible sheet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hydrogel matrix is provided for a multipupose medical electrode having an electrically conductive backing. The matrix comprises a dispersion of a natural or a synthetic hydrophilic polymer, e.g., polyacrylamide, polyacrylic acid, modified starch, or gum karaya, gum acacia, locust bean gum or the like, water, and a humectant such as triethylene glycol or glycerol. The matrix is a flexible sheet having a tacky lower surface for establishing a bond to provide electrical contact with the skin of a patient. The matrix has a resistivity greater than the resistivity of the electrical conductive backing and includes a gelation inhibitor such as a salt of a weak acid, e.g., Mg(OAc)2 uniformly distributed within the matrix in an amount sufficient to retard gelation of the matrix prior to forming the matrix into a flexible sheet.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A hydrogel matrix for a multipurpose medical electrode having an electrically conductive backing, said matrix comprising:
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a dispersion of a natural or synthetic hydrophilic polymer, water and a humectant, said matrix is a flexible sheet having a tacky lower surface for establishing a bond to provide electrical contact with the skin of a patient, said electrically conductive backing having a predetermined resistivity of a first value, said matrix having a resistivity of a second value that is greater than said first value, and a gelation inhibitor uniformly distributed within the matrix in an amount sufficient to retard gelation of the matrix prior to forming the matrix into said flexible sheet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A biomedical electrode device for external use in contact with the skin of a patient comprising:
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a flexible sheet a matrix comprising a flexible layer of a hydrogel connected to the flexible sheet and having a surface to be exposed for direct contact with the skin of the patient, to conform to the body contours and to establish electrical contact therewith, said hydrogel matrix comprises a natural or synthetic hydrophilic polymer hydrated with water and a humectant, a minor amount of an ionizable gelation inhibitor is present in an amount sufficient to reduce the viscosity of the hydrogel matrix so as to prevent premature gelation thereof during formation of said hydrogel matrix layer, and the resistivity of the matrix is sufficient to prevent current buildup through specific localized portions of the matrix and thereby avoid a runaway condition of high current flow in localized areas of the skin so as to inhibit the sensation of pain by the patient. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification