Electrode for measurement of weak bioelectrical signals
First Claim
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1. An electrode for obtaining a biopotential signal from the skin of a subject, said electrode comprising:
- a carrier having a surface positioned contiguous with the skin of the subject when the electrode is applied to the subject'"'"'s skin;
a plurality of spikes extending from said surface of said carrier for being inserted into and below the surface of the skin of the subject when the electrode is applied to the subject'"'"'s skin, said carrier and spikes presenting electrically conductive surfaces to tissue of the subject'"'"'s skin over essentially the entirety of the elements so as to optimize the extent of the conductive surface area, said spikes having a length of 50 -250 μ
m for extending into the viable epidermis layer of the skin when the electrode is applied to the subject'"'"'s skin, said electrode having between 100 and 10,000 spikes on said carrier surface, the optimized conductive surface area of the carrier and spikes increasing the effective contact area with the subject'"'"'s skin for reducing the biopotential signal impedance; and
a connector for obtaining said biopotential signal and for making the signal available externally of the electrode.
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Abstract
An electrode for acquiring bioelectrical signals employs an array of spikes that penetrate the viable epidermis layer of the skin of a patient. The spikes may be conductive to provide the bioelectrical signal. Or, the spikes may extend through a conductive layer that provides the bioelectrical signal. The signal obtained from the patient may be amplified using an amplifier and battery circuit present on the electrode body. The electrode may be used with or without conductive paste or gel.
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Citations
79 Claims
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1. An electrode for obtaining a biopotential signal from the skin of a subject, said electrode comprising:
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a carrier having a surface positioned contiguous with the skin of the subject when the electrode is applied to the subject'"'"'s skin;
a plurality of spikes extending from said surface of said carrier for being inserted into and below the surface of the skin of the subject when the electrode is applied to the subject'"'"'s skin, said carrier and spikes presenting electrically conductive surfaces to tissue of the subject'"'"'s skin over essentially the entirety of the elements so as to optimize the extent of the conductive surface area, said spikes having a length of 50 -250 μ
m for extending into the viable epidermis layer of the skin when the electrode is applied to the subject'"'"'s skin, said electrode having between 100 and 10,000 spikes on said carrier surface, the optimized conductive surface area of the carrier and spikes increasing the effective contact area with the subject'"'"'s skin for reducing the biopotential signal impedance; and
a connector for obtaining said biopotential signal and for making the signal available externally of the electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An electrode for obtaining a biopotential signal from the skin of a subject, said electrode comprising:
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a carrier having a surface positioned contiguous with the skin of the subject when the electrode is applied to the subject'"'"'s skin, said carrier being electrically conductive on said surface;
a plurality of spikes, each spike having a base joined to said carrier, said spikes extending from said surface of said carrier for being inserted into and below the surface of the skin of the subject when the electrode is applied to the subject'"'"'s skin, said spikes being electrically non-conductive and having a length of 50-250 μ
m for extending into a viable epidermis layer of the skin when the electrode is applied to the subject'"'"'s skin; and
a connector coupled to said conductive surface for obtaining said biopotential signal and for making the signal available externally of the electrode. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. An electrode for obtaining a biopotential signal from the skin of a subject, said electrode comprising:
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a carrier having a surface positioned contiguous with the skin of the subject when the electrode is applied to the subject'"'"'s skin, said carrier having an area ranging from 4 to 25 square millimeters, said carrier being electrically conductive on said surface;
a plurality of spikes extending from said surface of said carrier for being inserted into and below the surface of the skin of the subject when the electrode is applied to the subject'"'"'s skin, said spikes being electrically non-conductive, said electrode having between 100 and 10,000 spikes on said carrier surface; and
a connector coupled to said conductive surface for obtaining said biopotential signal and for making the signal available externally of the electrode. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
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74. A method for obtaining biopotential signals from a subject comprising the steps of:
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(a) applying an electrode having an array of spikes to the subject'"'"'s skin, the spikes being electrically non-conductive having a length of 50-250 μ
m for penetrating into the skin to the viable epidermis, the electrode having between 100 and 10,000 spikes mounted on a carrier, the carrier and spikes presenting electrically conductive surfaces to the subject'"'"'s skin, the electrode having an electrical lead;
(b) establishing an electrical signal path from the skin to the conductive surfaces of the electrode; and
(c) obtaining the biopotential signals from the electrical lead. - View Dependent Claims (75)
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76. A method for obtaining biopotential signals from a subject comprising the steps of:
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(a) applying an electrode having an array of spikes to the subject'"'"'s skin, the spikes having a length of 50-250 μ
m for penetrating into the skin to the viable epidermis, the spikes being electrically non-conductive and mounted on a carrier having a conductive surface positioned contiguous with the subject'"'"'s skin, the electrode having an electrical lead;
(b) establishing an electrical signal path from the skin to the conductive surface to the carrier; and
(c) obtaining the biopotential signals from the electrical lead. - View Dependent Claims (77)
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78. A method for obtaining biopotential signals from a subject comprising the steps of:
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(a) applying a electrode having an array of spikes to the subject'"'"'s skin so that the spikes penetrate the skin to the viable epidermis, the electrode having between 100 and 10,000 electrically non-conductive spikes extending from an electrically conductive surface of a carrier, the surface having an area of 4 to 25 square millimeters, the electrode having an electrical lead;
(b) establishing an electrical signal path from the skin to the conductive surface of the carrier; and
(c) obtaining the biopotential signals from the electrical lead. - View Dependent Claims (79)
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Specification