Positive locking biomedical electrode and connector system

• US 5,465,715 A
• Filed: 11/14/1994
• Issued: 11/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ludlow Corporation (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Ludlow Corporation (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Lyons, Joseph N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GREEN, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US08/338,391
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 128/640, 128/641, 607/149, 607/152, 606/32
• US Class Current: 600/391
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/257 using adhesive means, e.g. adhesive pads or tapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/259 using conductive adhesive means, e.g. gels

Abstract

A biomedical monitoring or stimulating electrode that adheres to a person'"'"'s skin is disclosed. The electrode is made of a thin, flat flexible material and includes a die-cut patch having one or more adhesive coatings applied on one side of the patch, a foundation component formed into four integral functional areas, a conductive component made up of an electrically conductive material with three contiguous portions, and a conductive media. A connector interfaces with a tab portion of the electrode. The connector includes an electrically conductive element having an inclined surface upon which the tab of the electrode rests. A slider is movable between two positions such that when in its closed position, the electrode neck and head is trapped in the connector and the slider exerts a force on the inclined surface of a cavity of the connector, providing electrical connection to electrode. Thus, the cavity and firm compression act to prevent the electrode from becoming disengaged from the connector.

Claims

1. A biomedical electrode for sensing an electrical signal on the skin of a human or for impinging an electrical signal through the skin of a human, comprising:

a. a foundation component having a pair of opposing sides, a first side adapted to face the skin and a second side adapted to face away from the skin, the foundation component comprising a flexible material, the foundation component including;

i. a top portion for facilitating the removal of the electrode from a carrier sheet, for facilitating the holding of the electrode while positioning the electrode on the skin, and for facilitating the removal of the electrode from the skin;

ii. a center portion connected to the top portion;

iii. a stem portion connected to the center portion and extending away from the center portion; and

iv. a head portion disposed at an end of the stem portion, at least a part of the held portion being larger in width than a width of the stem portion;

b. a conductive component that is electrically-conductive and has a pair of opposing sides, a first side adapted to face the skin and a second side adapted to face away from the skin, the conductive component including;

i. a sensor portion whose second side is disposed adjacent to and in an abutting relationship to the center portion on the first side of the foundation component;

ii. a neck portion integrally connected with the sensor portion and whose second side is disposed adjacent to and in an abutting relationship to the stem portion on the first side of the foundation component; and

iii. a head end portion integrally connected with the neck portion and whose second side is disposed adjacent to and in an abutting relationship to the head portion of the first side of the foundation component, at least a part of the head end portion being larger in width than a width of the neck portion; and

c. a conductive media that is electrically-conductive and is disposed adjacent to and in abutting contact with the first side of at least a portion of the sensor portion of the conductive component.

2. The electrode of claim 1, further comprising a top component having a pair of opposing sides, a first side adapted to face the skin and a second side adapted to face away from the skin, at least a portion of the second side of the foundation component being disposed adjacent to and in butting contact with the first side of the top component.

3. The electrode of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the first side of the top component has one or more adhesives coated thereon, wherein at least a portion of the one or more adhesives coated on the first side of the top component is operable to adhere to the skin to secure the electrode thereto.

4. The electrode of claim 3, wherein at least one of the one or more adhesives coated on the first side of the top component is electrically-conductive.

5. The electrode of claim 3, wherein at least one of the one or more adhesives coated on the first side of the top component is non electrically-conductive.

6. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the flexible material for the foundation component is selected from the group consisting of:

(i) polyester;

(ii) polypropylene; and

(iii) polyethylene.

7. The electrode of claim 2, wherein the top component is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of:

(i) a polyester film;

(ii) a polypropylene film;

(iii) a polyethylene film;

(iv) a woven material;

(v) a non-woven material; and

(vi) a foam.

8. The electrode of claim 2, wherein the top component comprises patch means for providing adhesive shear forces when the electrode has a pulling force applied to it from any direction, thereby aiding in keeping the electrode securely adhesively affixed to the skin.

9. The electrode of claim 2, wherein the top component is dimensionally sized to cover the top portion and center portion of the foundation component at a minimum.

10. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the conductive component comprises a conductive ink applied to at least a portion of the first side of the foundation component.

11. The electrode of claim 10, wherein the conductive ink contains at least a component of silver.

12. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the stem portion of the foundation component has a width that is less than a width of the head portion of the foundation component at a juncture of the stem and head portions.

13. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the head end portion of the conductive component has a throughbore formed through an entire thickness of a material comprising the conductive component, and wherein the head portion of the foundation component has a corresponding throughbore formed through an entire thickness of a material comprising the foundation component, and aligned with the throughbore formed in the conductive component.

14. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the conductive media has adhesive properties for adhering to the skin.

15. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the conductive media comprises an electrically-conductive path adapted to be disposed next to the skin.

16. A biomedical electrode comprising:

a. a foundation component having a first side adapted to face an area of skin when the electrode is applied thereto, and having an opposing second side adapted to face away from the skin, the foundation component including;

i. a top portion that comprises means for facilitating the placement of the electrode on the skin and the removal of the electrode from the skin;

ii. a center portion integrally connected with the top portion;

iii. a stem portion integrally connected with the center portion and extending away from the center portion; and

iv. a head portion integrally connected with the stem portion at an end thereof, at least a part of the head portion being larger in width than a width of the stem portion; and

b. a conductive component that is electrically-conductive and is applied to the first side of the foundation component to cover at least a portion thereof, at least a portion of the conductive component having a conductive media adapted to be disposed next to the skin, wherein the conductive component includes;

i. a sensor portion disposed adjacent to and in an abutting relationship to the center portion on the first side of the foundation component;

ii. a neck portion integrally connected with the sensor portion and disposed adjacent to and in an abutting relationship to the stem portion on the first side of the foundation component; and

iii. a head end portion integrally connected with the neck portion and disposed adjacent to and in an abutting relationship to the head portion of the first side of the foundation component, at least a part of the head end portion being larger in width than a width of the neck portion.

17. The electrode of claim 16, further comprising a top component having a first side adapted to face the skin and an opposing second side adapted to face away from the skin, at least a portion of the second side of the foundation component being disposed adjacent to and in abutting contact with the first side of the top component.

18. The electrode of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the first side of the top component has one more adhesives coated thereon, wherein at least a portion of the one or more adhesives coated on the first side of the top component is operable to adhere to the skin to secure the electrode thereto.

19. The electrode of claim 18, wherein the top component comprises means for providing adhesive shear forces when the electrode has a pulling force applied to it, thereby aiding in keeping the electrode securely adhesively attached to the skin.