Multi-layered electrodes and uses thereof

• US 7,340,310 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2005
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Power Paper Ltd. (Products To Go, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Power Paper Ltd. (Products To Go, Inc.)
• Inventors: Luski, Shalom, Nitzan, Zvi, Moshkovich, Mordechay
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gedeon; Brian T.
• Application Number:
  US11/167,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20050284752A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 607/129, 607/152
• US Class Current: 607/129
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00 Bandages or dressings radioactive dressings A61N5/1029; Absorbent pads
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0412 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electroporation, e.g. including drug reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/042 Material of the electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0428 Specially adapted for iontophoresis, e.g. AC, DC or including drug reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0436 Material of the electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 14/00 Electrochemical current or voltage generators not provided for in groups H01M6/00 - H01M12/00; Manufacture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/0404 by coating on electrode collectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/364 as mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/366 as layered products
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/38 of elements or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/42 Alloys based on zinc
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/582 Halogenides
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/661 Metal or alloys, e.g. alloy coatings H01M4/669 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/663 containing carbon or carbonaceous materials as conductive part, e.g. graphite, carbon fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/70 characterised by shape or form
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The present invention is of an electrode comprising an electrode substrate, wherein the electrode substrate has an electrode side and a back side; a conductive material layer disposed on the back side of the electrode substrate; and an insoluble electroactive material disposed on the electrode side of the electrode substrate. The electrode substrate can be a conductive substrate or a non-conductive substrate. In an embodiment wherein the substrate is a non-conductive substrate, the electrode can include vias which extend from the electrode substrate backside to the electrode side of the substrate. In some embodiments, the electroactive material is zinc and the conductive material is silver. The present invention provides an electrode with improved current distribution and high capacity, which can provide higher current and/or higher voltage. In addition, the present invention provides a dermal patch, which includes a higher powered, high capacity electrode with uniform current distribution. Still further the present invention provides methods of making the electrode and of attaching the electrode to a power source.

Claims

1. An electrode comprising:

(a) an electrode substrate, wherein the electrode substrate has an electrode side and a backside and wherein the electrode substrate comprises

(I) a conductive substrate;

or

(II) a non-conductive substrate comprising at least one conductive via which extends from the backside to the electrode side of the electrode substrate;

(b) a conductive material layer which facilitates uniform current distribution and is disposed on the backside of the substrate; and

(c) at least one insoluble electroactive pole material disposed on the electrode side of the substrate;

wherein the conductive material layer is less reactive than the insoluble electroactive pole material.

2. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the conductive substrate is vinyl web.

3. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the conductive material layer is selected from the group consisting of silver, silver/silver chloride, gold, platinum, carbon and a combination thereof.

4. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the electroactive material is selected from the group consisting of zinc, copper, magnesium, silver, silver/silver chloride and iron and a combination thereof.

5. The electrode of claim 1 for providing a use selected from the group consisting of facilitating uniform current distribution, facilitating high capacity, facilitating higher power, higher current, cathode and/or anode in electrotransport device, cathode and/or anode in an electrostimulation device, facilitating improved delivery of active agent, facilitating improved penetration of membrane, facilitating electrochemically generating metal ions, use in a battery and a combination thereof.

6. A method of making an electrode comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an electrode substrate with a backside and an electrode side, wherein the electrode substrate comprises

(i) a conductive substrate;

or

(ii) a non-conductive substrate comprising at least one conductive via which extends from the backside to the electrode side of the electrode substrate;

(b) applying a layer of conductive material to the back side of the substrate;

(c) drying the layer of conductive material;

(d) applying a layer of insoluble electroactive pole material to the electrode side of the substrate; and

(e) drying the layer of electroactive material.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the insoluble electroactive material includes zinc.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein (b) and (d) are done using a printing technique.

9. A dermal patch comprising:

(a) at least one active electrode to make electrical contact with a first region of a body area, wherein the active electrode comprises;

(i) an electrode substrate, wherein the electrode substrate has an electrode side and a backside and wherein the electrode substrate comprises

(I) a conductive substrate;

or

(II) a non-conductive substrate comprising at least one conductive via which extends from the backside to the electrode side of the electrode substrate;

(ii) a conductive material layer which facilitates uniform current distribution and is disposed on the backside of the substrate; and

(iii) at least one insoluble electroactive pole material disposed on the electrode side of the substrate;

wherein the conductive material layer is less reactive than the insoluble electroactive pole material;

(b) at least one counter electrode to make electrical contact with a second region of the body area; and

(c) at least one power source for supplying electrical energy to the active electrode and the counter electrode, wherein the power source is supported on a base member.

10. The patch of claim 9 for providing a use selected from the group consisting of facilitating uniform current distribution, facilitating high capacity, facilitating higher power, higher current, facilitating improved delivery of active agent, facilitating improved penetration of membrane, facilitating electrochemically generating metal ions from the active electrode and a combination thereof.

11. The dermal patch of claim 9, wherein conductive adhesive facilitates attachment of the at least one active electrode and the at least one counter electrode to the power source.

12. A dermal patch comprising:

(a) at least one active zinc electrode to make electrical contact with a first region of a body area, wherein the active electrode comprises;

(i) an electrode substrate, wherein the electrode substrate has an electrode side and a backside and wherein the electrode substrate comprises

(I) a conductive substrate;

or

(II) a non-conductive substrate comprising at least one conductive via which extends from the backside to the electrode side of the electrode substrate;

(ii) a conductive material layer which facilitates uniform current distribution and is disposed on the backside of the substrate; and

(iii) an insoluble electroactive pole material comprising zinc disposed on the electrode side of the substrate;

wherein the conductive material layer is less reactive than the insoluble electroactive pole materiaL;

(b) at least one counter electrode to make electrical contact with a second region of the body area; and

(c) at least one power source for supplying electrical energy to the active electrode and the counter electrode, wherein the power source is supported on a base member.

13. The patch of claim 12 for providing a use selected from the group consisting of facilitating uniform current distribution, facilitating high capacity, facilitating higher power, higher current, facilitating improved delivery of an active agent, facilitating improved penetration of membrane, facilitating electrochemically generating zinc ions from the zinc electrode and a combination thereof.

14. The patch of claim 12 for electrochemically generating zinc ions from the zinc electrode, wherein the generated zinc ions are for treating and/or preventing a disorder.