Corrosion prevention in biomedical electrodes

• US 6,731,965 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Menon, Vinod P., Carim, Hatim M.
• Primary Examiner(s): COHEN, LEE S
• Application Number:
  US09/885,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20030045788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 600/391, 600/392, 600/395-397, 607/149, 607/152, 607/153
• US Class Current: 600/396
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0215 Silver or silver chloride containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/259 using conductive adhesive means, e.g. gels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/265 containing silver or silver chloride

Abstract

A non-polarizable, silver/silver chloride biomedical electrode that is protected against corrosion during its shelf life by an organic corrosion retarding agent, preferably selected from the group consisting of mercaptans and azoles.

Claims

1. A biomedical electrode comprising a conductor in contact with a conductive medium, wherein the conductor comprises a conductively active source of at least partially chlorided silver and wherein the electrode further comprises at least one organic corrosion retarding agent present in an amount of at least 0.01 percent by weight of elemental silver in the conductor.

2. The biomedical electrode of claim 1 wherein the conductor comprises a polymeric material in the form of a film upon one side of which is disposed a layer of partially chlorided silver.

3. The biomedical electrode of claim 1 wherein the conductor comprises a graphite loaded polymer.

4. The biomedical electrode of claim 1 wherein the conductor comprises a graphite loaded polymer in the form of a stud upon the outer surface of which is disposed a layer of partially chlorided silver.

5. The biomedical electrode according to claim 1 wherein the organic corrosion retarding agent is selected from the group consisting of mercaptans and azoles.

6. The biomedical electrode according to claim 1 wherein the agent is present in an amount between about 0.1 percent and 1.0 percent by weight of elemental silver in the conductor.

7. The biomedical electrode according to claim 1 wherein the agent is present in an amount between about 0.3 percent and 0.5 percent by weight of elemental silver in the conductor.

8. The biomedical electrode according to claim 1 wherein the conductor comprises a backing having silver/silver chloride containing ink thereon.

9. A biomedical electrode, comprising a conductor in contact with a conductive medium, wherein the conductor comprises a substrate having at least partially chlorided silver thereon, wherein the silver has been treated with an organic corrosion retarding agent.

10. The biomedical electrode according to claim 9 wherein the organic corrosion retarding agent is selected from the group consisting of mercaptans and azoles.

11. The biomedical electrode according to claim 9 wherein the agent is present in an amount of at least 0.01 percent by weight of elemental silver in the conductor.

12. The biomedical electrode according to claim 9 wherein the agent is present in an amount between about 0.1 percent and 1.0 percent by weight of elemental silver in the conductor.

13. The biomedical electrode according to claim 9 wherein the agent is present in an amount between about 0.3 percent and 0.5 percent by weight of elemental silver in the conductor.

14. The biomedical electrode according to claim 9 wherein the conductor comprises a backing having silver/silver chloride containing ink thereon.

15. The biomedical electrode according to claim 9 wherein the agent is selected the group consisting of 2-mercaptobenzoxazole and octadecanethiol.

16. A method of preparing a biomedical electrode, comprising the steps of:

preparing a conductor having a conductive layer comprising partially chlorided silver and at least one organic corrosion retarding agent; and

applying a layer of conductive medium to the conductive layer.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the conductor comprises a backing having a silver/silver chloride ink thereon.

18. The method of preparing a biomedical electrode according to claim 16 wherein the agent is selected the group consisting of mercaptans and azoles.

19. The method of preparing a biomedical electrode according to claim 16 wherein the agent is selected from the group consisting of 2-mercaptobenzoxazole and octadecanethiol.

20. The biomedical electrode according to claim 16 wherein the agent is present in an amount of at least 0.01 percent by weight of elemental silver in the conductor.

21. The biomedical electrode according to claim 16 wherein the agent is present in an amount between about 0.1 percent and 1.0 percent by weight of elemental silver in the conductor.

22. The biomedical electrode according to claim 16 wherein the agent is present in an amount between about 0.3 percent and 0.5 percent by weight of elemental silver in the conductor.