Moisture resistant electrode with edge protection

• US 7,697,999 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2006
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axelgaard Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Axelgaard Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Axelgaard, Jens
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Oropeza; Frances P
• Application Number:
  US11/588,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20070043417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 600/382, 600/384, 600/393, 607/142
• US Class Current: 607/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0476 Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/048 Electrodes characterised by a specific connection between lead and electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence

Abstract

A medical electrode includes a conductive flexible member having a top side and a bottom side with a connector in contact with a flexible member for establishing electrical contact with an external apparatus. An oversize non-conductive flexible sheet covering the conductive flexible member top utilizes concentric adhesives. A conductive hydrogel adhesive disposed on the conductive flexible member bottom side for adhering the electrode to a patient'"'"'s skin.

Claims

1. A medical electrode comprising:

a conductive flexible member having a top side and a bottom side;

a connector in contact with the conductive flexible member for establishing electrical contact with an external apparatus;

a non-conductive flexible sheet disposed over the conductive flexible member top side, said non-conductive flexible sheet having dimensions greater than said conductive flexible member causing an overlap thereof by a sheet perimeter;

a central adhesive for bonding said non-conductive flexible sheet to the top side of said conductive flexible member and securing said connector to said conductive flexible member top side;

a separate perimeter adhesive, of different composition than said central adhesive, disposed about said central adhesive, on the sheet perimeter for sealing of the non-conductive flexible sheet perimeter to a user'"'"'s skin; and

a conductive adhesive, disposed on the conductive flexible member bottom side in a spaced apart relationship with said perimeter adhesive, and positioned for adhering the conductive flexible member to the patient'"'"'s skin.

2. The electrode according to claim 1 wherein said conductive adhesive comprises a conductive hydrogel said central adhesive comprises a hot melt adhesive and said perimeter adhesive comprises a silicone adhesive.

3. A medical electrode comprising:

a conductive flexible member having a top side and a bottom side;

a connector in contact with the conductive flexible member for establishing electrical contact with an external apparatus;

a non-conductive flexible sheet disposed over the conductive flexible member top side, said non-conductive flexible sheet having dimensions greater than said conductive flexible member causing an overlap thereof by a sheet perimeter;

a central hot melt adhesive for bonding the conductive flexible member to said non-conductive flexible sheet and securing said connector to the conductive flexible member top side;

a separate silicone perimeter adhesive disposed about the central adhesive, on the sheet perimeter for sealing the non-conductive flexible sheet perimeter to a user'"'"'s skin; and

a conductive hydrogel adhesive, disposed on the conductive flexible member bottom side in a spaced apart relationship with said perimeter adhesive, and positioned for adhering the conductive flexible member to a patient'"'"'s skin.

4. In a medical electrode having:

a conductive flexible member having a top side and a bottom side;

a connector in contact with the conductive flexible member top side, for establishing electrical contact wit an external apparatus;

an adhesive for bonding said non-conductive flexible sheet to the top side of said conductive flexible member and securing said connector to said conductive flexible member top side; and

a conductive adhesive disposed on the conductive flexible member bottom side for adhering the conductive flexible member to a patient'"'"'s skin, an improvement comprising;

a non-conductive flexible sheet disposed over the connector on the conductive flexible member top side, said non-conductive flexible sheet having dimensions greater than said conductive flexible member causing an overlap thereof by a sheet perimeter;

a central adhesive for bonding said non-conductive flexible sheet to the top side of said conductive flexible member; and

a separate perimeter adhesive, of different composition than said central adhesive, surrounding said central adhesive, on the sheet perimeter and enabling sealing of the non-conductive flexible sheet perimeter to a user'"'"'s skin.

5. The electrode according to claim 4 wherein said conductive adhesive comprises a conductive hydrogel said central adhesive comprises a hot melt adhesive and said perimeter adhesive comprises a silicone adhesive.