Electrode construction and package therefor and method

• US 5,345,934 A
• Filed: 12/01/1992
• Issued: 09/13/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1991
• 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): Kamm, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US07/983,824
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 128/639, 128/640, 607/152, 607/115
• US Class Current: 600/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0017 transmitting optical signals transmission by light H04B10/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head

Abstract

Electrode construction having a support structure. A conductive material is carried by the support structure. The conductive material has a length which is at least as great as its width.

Claims

1. An electrode construction comprising a support structure, a conductive electrode material carried by the support structure and having a length and a width and having proximal and distal extremities, said support structure including a compliant sleeve having an open end and surrounding the distal extremity of the conductive electrode material while permitting the conductive electrode material to protrude through the open end and conductive contact means making contact with the proximal extremity of the conductive electrode material.

2. An electrode construction as in claim 1 wherein the length of the Conductive electrode material is at least approximately the same as the width of the conductive electrode material.

3. An electrode construction as in claim 1 wherein said electrode material is self supporting and has a blunt rounded end.

4. An electrode construction as in claim 1 wherein said support structure is in the form of a casing having a recess therein and wherein said conductive material is disposed in said recess in said casing and extends out of said casing.

5. An electrode construction as in claim 4 wherein said casing is at least partially conductive.

6. An electrode construction as in claim 1 wherein said support structure is at least partially conductive so that it can serve as an electrical coupling to the conductive material.

7. An electrode construction comprising a support structure, a conductive material carried by the support structure and having a length and a width said electrode construction having a length which is at least as great as its width, said support structure being in the form of a casing, including a compliant sleeve having a recess therein, said conductive material being disposed in said recess in said casing and extending out of said casing, said conductive material being formed of a gelled electrolyte and having a cohesive force which is greater than its adhesive force, said sleeve being formed of a material which serves as a moisture barrier.

8. An electrode construction as in claim 7 wherein said sleeve is formed of a compliant material.

9. An electrode construction as in claim 7 together with a reference element in contact with the conductive material.

10. An electrode construction as in claim 9 wherein said reference element is comprised of Ag/AgCl.

11. An electrode construction as in claim 8 wherein said reference element is in contact with the casing and said gelled electrolyte is in contact with the reference element.

12. An electrode construction as in claim 7 wherein said conductive material is in the form of a dry conductive elastomer having an exposed extremity and wherein said reference element is formed on the exposed extremity.

13. A package comprising holding means, a plurality of electrode constructions disposed in the holding means, each electrode construction having a conductive material and a reference element and means carried by the holding means for electrically and electrolytically bridging the reference elements of the electrode constructions to minimize potential differences between the reference elements and to ensure the reference potentials on reference elements are stable.

14. A package as in claim 13 together with an enclosure having moisture barrier properties for enclosing said holding means.

15. A package as in claim 13 wherein said means for electrically and electrolytically bridging the reference elements includes a conductive layer.

16. A package comprising holding means, a plurality of electrode constructions disposed in said holding means, each of said plurality of electrode constructions being comprised of a conductive casing having conductive material disposed therein and extending out of the casing and having an exposed surface, an ionically conductive pad overlying said exposed surfaces of said electrode constructions and being in contact therewith and a hermetically sealed container enclosing said holding means with said electrode constructions disposed therein with the overlying ionically conductive pad.

17. A package as in claim 16 wherein said ionically conductive pad is comprised of a conductive substrate having a surface and having a hydrogel disposed on the surface and having the hydrogel in contact with the exposed surface of the conductive material of the electrode constructions.

18. A package as in claim 16 wherein said pad is provided with a pull tab to facilitate removal of the pad from the electrode constructions.