Uniform, disposable, interface for multi-element probe

• US 7,162,291 B1
• Filed: 03/01/2000
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mirabel Medical Systems Ltd. (Ronny Ginor, MD)
• Original Assignee: Mirabel Medical Systems Ltd. (Ronny Ginor, MD)
• Inventors: Nachaliel, Ehud
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen; Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US10/220,166
• Time in Patent Office: 2,505 Days
• Field of Search: 600/393
• US Class Current: 600/393
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24

Abstract

A multi-element probe comprising: a probe body comprising: a plurality of probe elements, each having a surface suitable for making electrical contact with a tissue of a subject; and an interface, comprising a conductive material, covering the probe-element surfaces, suitable for providing an interface between the elements and the tissue.

Claims

1. A multi-element probe comprising:

a probe body comprising;

a two-dimensional array of probe elements, each probe element having a surface suitable for making electrical contact with a tissue of a subject; and

a substantially uniform resistivity interface, comprising a conductive material, covering the probe-element surfaces and spaces between the probe element surfaces, suitable for providing an interface between the elements and the tissue, the interface comprises a coherent layer or coherent layered structure,

wherein the conductive material comprises hydrogel.

2. A probe according to claim 1, wherein the interface has a conductivity similar to that of human tissue.

3. A probe according to claim 1, wherein the interface has a conductivity of between 100 and 3000 ohm-cm.

4. A probe according to claim 3, wherein the interface has a conductivity of between 500 and 1500 ohm-cm.

5. A probe according to claim 1, wherein the interface comprises at least 70% water by weight.

6. A probe according to claim 5 wherein the interface comprises at least 80% water by weight.

7. A probe according to claim 6 wherein the interface comprises at least 90% water by weight.

8. A probe according to claim 1, wherein the interface is molded in the shape of the probe body.

9. A probe according to claim 1, wherein the interface includes therein a thin mesh.

10. A probe according to claim 9, wherein the mesh comprises a nylon mesh.

11. A probe according to claim 9, wherein the mesh is stretchable.

12. A probe according to claim 9, wherein the thin mesh is comprised in a sock.

13. A probe according to claim 1 wherein the interface is comprised in a wall of a hydrogel box.

14. A probe according to claim 13, wherein the hydrogel box comprises a cutout for probe body insertion, at a surface not adapted to be in contact with the tissue.

15. A probe according to claim 1, wherein the conductive material comprises a stretchable material.

16. A probe according to claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a layered structure comprising at least one conductive layer including the conductive material and an apertured layer.

17. A probe according to claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a layered structure comprising at least one conductive layer and at least one other layer, which is non-conductive relative to the conductive material.

18. A probe according to claim 17, wherein the at least one other layer comprises a stretchable material.

19. A probe according to claim 17, wherein the at least one other layer comprises a cellulose material.

20. A probe according to claim 17, wherein the at least one other layer comprises a flexible material.

21. A probe according to claim 17, wherein the at least one other layer comprises a multiplicity of microholes.

22. A probe according to claim 21, wherein the microholes have a diameter of less than 90,000 Molecular Weight Cut Off (MWCO).

23. A probe according to claim 21, wherein the microholes comprise at least 5 percent of the area of the interface layer, beneath the probe elements.

24. A probe according to claim 23, wherein the microholes comprise at least 30 percent of the area of the interface layer, beneath the probe elements.

25. A probe according to claim 24, wherein the microholes comprise at least 50 percent of the area of the interface layer, beneath the probe elements.

26. A probe according to claim 1 and including a disinfectant added to or on the interface.

27. A probe according to claim 1, wherein the interface has an overall thickness of less than about 2 mm.

28. A probe according to claim 27, wherein the interface has an overall thickness of less than about 1 mm.

29. A probe according to claim 28, wherein the interface has an overall thickness of less than about 0.5 mm.

30. A probe according to claim 28, wherein the interface has an overall thickness of about 0.25 mm.

31. A probe according to claim 1, wherein the conductive material includes an adjusting additive, to adjust the conductivity of the interface to a desired conductivity.

32. A probe according to claim 31, wherein the additive comprises a salt.

33. A probe according to claim 1, wherein the interface fits snugly over the probe body, and is held in place with no mechanical attachments.

34. A probe according to claim 1, comprising a medicament within or on one side of the interface.

35. A probe according to claim 1, wherein the interface has sufficient flexibility and strength to sustain being mounted on the probe body.

36. A probe according to claim 1, wherein the distance between each two adjacent probe elements of the array is smaller than the widths of the elements.

37. A multi-element probe, comprising:

a probe body comprising;

a two-dimensional array of probe elements, each probe element having a surface suitable for making electrical contact with a tissue of a subject; and

a substantially uniform resistivity interface, comprising a conductive material, covering the probe-element surfaces and spaces between the probe element surfaces, suitable for providing an interface between the elements and the tissue,

wherein the interface comprises a coherent layered structure comprising at least one conductive layer and at least one other layer, which is non-conductive relative to the conductive material and comprises a mesh.

38. A probe according to claim 37, wherein the interface has an overall thickness of less than about 0.35 mm.

39. A multi-element probe, comprising:

a probe body comprising;

an array of probe elements, each probe element having a surface suitable for making electrical contact with a tissue of a subject; and

an interface, comprising a conductive material, covering the probe-element surfaces and spaces between the probe element surfaces, suitable for providing an interface between the elements and the tissue, the interface comprises a coherent layer or coherent layered structure

wherein the interface comprises a layered structure comprising at least one conductive layer and at least one other layer, which is non-conductive relative to the conductive material and is comprised in a portion of a sock.

40. A probe according to claim 39, wherein the conductive material comprises hydrogel.

41. A multi-element probe, comprising:

a probe body comprising;

a two-dimensional array of probe elements, each probe element having a surface suitable for making electrical contact with a tissue of a subject; and

a substantially uniform resistivity interface, comprising a conductive material, cover the probe-element surfaces and spaces between the probe element surfaces, suitable for providing an interface between the elements and the tissue,

wherein the interface comprises a coherent layered structure comprising at least one conductive layer and at least one other layer, which is non-conductive relative to the conductive material and

is embedded in the conductive material.

42. A probe according to claim 41, wherein the interface has an overall thickness of less than about 0.2 mm.

43. A multi-element probe comprising:

a probe body comprising;

an array of probe elements, each probe element having a surface suitable for making electrical contact with a tissue of a subject;

an interface, comprising a conductive material, covering the probe-element surfaces and spaces between the probe element surfaces, suitable for providing an interface between the elements and the tissue, the interface comprises a coherent layer or coherent layered structure; and

means for securing the interface to the probe body, at a location other than the probe elements, wherein the means comprises one or more of an elastic collar, a tie string, a fabric hook-and-loop fastener and snaps.

44. A probe according to claim 43, wherein the conductive material has a conductivity similar to that of a body tissue.

45. A probe according to claim 44, wherein the conductive material has a conductivity similar to that of a human tissue.

46. A probe according to claim 44, wherein the conductive material has a conductivity of between 500 and 1500 ohm-cm.

47. A probe according to claim 43, wherein the means for securing the interface comprises an elastic collar.

48. A probe according to claim 43, wherein the means for securing the interface comprises a tie string.

49. A probe according to claim 43, wherein the means for securing the interface comprises a fabric hook-and-loop fastener.

50. A probe according to claim 43, wherein the means for securing the interface comprises snaps.

51. A multi-element probe, comprising:

a probe body comprising;

a two-dimensional array of probe elements, each probe element having a surface suitable for making electrical contact with a tissue of a subject; and

a substantially uniform resistivity interface, comprising a conductive material, covering the probe-element surfaces and spaces between the probe element surfaces, suitable for providing an interface between the elements and the tissue, the interface comprises a coherent layer or coherent layered structure,

wherein the interface comprises a soft contact lens material.

52. A multi-element probe comprising:

a probe body comprising;

a two-dimensional array of probe elements, each probe element having a surface suitable for making electrical contact with a tissue of a subject; and

a substantially uniform resistivity interface, comprising a conductive material, covering the probe-element surfaces and spaces between the probe element surfaces, suitable for providing an interface between the elements and the tissue, the interface comprises a coherent layer or coherent layered structure,

wherein the interface is molded in the shape of the probe body.

53. A probe according to claim 52, wherein the interface includes therein a thin mesh.

54. A multi-element probe comprising:

a probe body comprising;

a two-dimensional array of probe elements, each probe element having a surface suitable for making electrical contact with a tissue of a subject; and

a substantially uniform resistivity interface, comprising a conductive material, covering the probe-element surfaces and spaces between the probe element surfaces, suitable for providing an interface between the elements and the tissue, the interface comprises a coherent layer or coherent layered structure,

wherein the conductive material comprises a stretchable material.

55. A probe according to claim 54, wherein the distance between each two adjacent probe elements of the array is smaller than the widths of the elements.

56. A probe according to claim 54, wherein the interface includes therein a thin mesh.

57. A probe according to claim 56, wherein the mesh is stretchable.

58. A probe according to claim 54, wherein the interface fits snugly over the probe body, and is held in place with no mechanical attachments.