Conductive hydrogels and physiological electrodes and electrode assemblies therefrom
First Claim
1. A highly conductive hydrophilic gel composition comprising (a) a uniform aqueous solution of a water-soluble polymer crosslinked by high-energy irradiation in the essential absence of a humectant and an amount of a water-soluble electrolyte effective to reduce the transverse electrical resistance of said aqueous solution to an impedance at 60 Hz less than about 1,000 ohm, and (b) a humectant added to the aqueous solution after the water-soluble polymer is crosslinked, in an amount within the concentration of about 2 to about 15 wt % which is effective to retard the drying of the conductive hydrophilic gel composition when it is exposed to the atmosphere while being used.
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Abstract
A highly conductive hydrophilic gel comprising a uniform aqueous solution of a crosslinked water-soluble polymer, an amount of a water-soluble electrolyte effective to reduce the transverse electrical resistance of said aqueous mixture to an impedance at 60 Hz less than about 1,000 ohm, which hydrophilic gel also contains a humectant in an amount effective to retard the drying of the conductive hydrophilic gel when it is exposed to the atmosphere while being used. A physiological electrode adapted for providing electrical contact with a surface of a sentient creature and comprising a sheet of the conductive viscoelastic hydrophilic gel.
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Citations
57 Claims
- 1. A highly conductive hydrophilic gel composition comprising (a) a uniform aqueous solution of a water-soluble polymer crosslinked by high-energy irradiation in the essential absence of a humectant and an amount of a water-soluble electrolyte effective to reduce the transverse electrical resistance of said aqueous solution to an impedance at 60 Hz less than about 1,000 ohm, and (b) a humectant added to the aqueous solution after the water-soluble polymer is crosslinked, in an amount within the concentration of about 2 to about 15 wt % which is effective to retard the drying of the conductive hydrophilic gel composition when it is exposed to the atmosphere while being used.
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33. A physiological electrode adapted for providing electrical contact with a surface of a sentient creature and comprising:
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a. means for interfacing with a surface of a sentient creature comprising a sheet of a conductive viscoelastic hydrophilic gel composition, wherein the hydrophilic gel composition is a homogeneous aqueous mixture, substantially free of unbound water, monomers and cross-linking agents, the hydrophilic gel composition comprising; i. A uniform aqueous solution of a water-soluble polymer cross-linked by high energy irradiation in the essential absence of a humectant, ii. a water-soluble electrolyte in an amount sufficient to reduce the transverse electrical impedance of said aqueous solution to an impedance at 60 Hz of less than about 1000 ohm, iii. a humectant added to the hydrophilic gel composition after it is crosslinked, in an amount within a concentration of about 2 to about 15 wt %, which is sufficient to retard the drying of the conductive hydrophilic gel composition, to keep it soft and pliable when it is exposed to the atmosphere or being used, and b. a conductive member including means for connecting the physiological electrode to an external electrical apparatus; said means for interfacing with a surface of a sentient creature (a) connected electrically with the conductive member (b) and having a face adapted for interfacing electrically with the surface of the sentient creature to which it is affixed, which gel sheet is more cohesive than it is adhesive to the surface of the sentient creature and is mechanically connected more firmly to the conductive member (b) than it can be adhesively affixed to the surface of the sentient creature, thereby enabling concurrent removal of the conductive member (b) and the means for interfacing with a surface of a sentient creature (a) from the surface of the sentient creature after use without leaving a noticeable polymeric residue on the surface of the sentient creature. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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Specification