Low impedance, low durometer, dry conforming contact member

• US 5,331,959 A
• Filed: 08/16/1991
• Issued: 07/26/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Physiometrix, Inc. (Pfizer Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Physiometrix, Inc. (Pfizer Inc.)
• Inventors: Imran, Mir A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US07/745,863
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 128/639-641, 128/643, 128/644, 128/798, 128/802, 128/803, 607/149, 607/152, 607/153, 607/122
• US Class Current: 600/383
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence

Abstract

Contact member comprised of a mass of nonconductive material having a low durometer and conductive elements dispersed in the mass of material in sufficient quantity to establish contact between the elements to provide a resistivity in the range of 10 to 100 ohm-cm.

Claims

1. A contact member comprised of a non-drying mass of nonconductive material having a low durometer and conductive elements dispersed in the mass of material in sufficient quantity to establish contact between the elements to provide a resistivity of less than 100 ohm-cm, said conductive elements having a length ranging from 100 to 200 microns and a diameter ranging from 5 to 20 microns and comprising more than 30% by weight of the contact member.

2. A contact member as in claim 1 wherein said mass of nonconductive material is a silicone gel.

3. A contact member as in claim 2 wherein said silicone gel is formed from a two-part system which includes a curing agent.

4. A contact member as in claim 1 wherein said mass of nonconductive material is a polybutene.

5. A contact member as in claim 4 wherein said polybutene is an isobutylene copolymer.

6. A contact member as in claim 1 wherein said mass of nonconductive material is a one-part system polymer.

7. A contact member as in claim 6 wherein said polymer is H-1900.

8. A contact member comprised of a non-drying mass of nonconductive material having a low durometer and conductive elements dispersed in the mass of material in sufficient quantity to establish contact between the elements to provide a resistivity of less than 100 ohm-cm and a reinforcing material disposed within the mass to impart additional structural strength to the mass, said conductive elements having a length ranging from 100 to 200 microns and a diameter ranging from 5 to 20 microns and comprising more than 30% by weight of the contact member.

9. A contact member as in claim 8 wherein said reinforcing material is a flexible fabric disposed as a layer in the mass.

10. A contact member as in claim 9 wherein said flexible fabric is a Nylon mesh.