Biological electrode and connector for the same

• US 7,749,013 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2005
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
• Inventors: Sato, Takanori, Nonaka, Yasuyuki, Igarashi, Hirohito
• Primary Examiner(s): Chung-Trans; Xuong M
• Application Number:
  US11/187,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20050255739A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,810 Days
• Field of Search: 439/281, 439/271, 439/859, 439/909, 600/372, 600/391, 600/392
• US Class Current: 439/281
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/251 Means for maintaining electrode contact with the body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

A conductive member is adapted to be attached onto a living tissue to detect a bioelectrical signal. A retainer retains the conductive member on the living tissue. A lead member is partly brought into contact with the conductive member to lead out the bioelectrical signal to a connector. A waterproof sheet covers the lead member in a watertight manner, while exposing a portion of the lead member from which the biological signal is led out.

Claims

1. A connector for a biological electrode which detects a bioelectric signal, the connector comprising:

a pair of nipping members, adapted to nip the biological electrode therebetween;

a conductive member, adapted to be brought into contact with a lead member of the biological electrode from which the detected bioelectric signal is led out; and

an elastic packing member, which waterproofs a space defined between the nipping members and at which the conductive member is brought into contact with the lead member so that the space is watertight, in a case where the nipping members nip the biological electrode,

wherein;

the conductive member comprises a protrusion provided on one of the nipping members, and an indentation provided on the other one of the nipping members, into which the protrusion is fitted;

the lead member is nipped between the protrusion and the indentation; and

a portion of the biological electrode is nipped between the indentation and the protrusion such that the indentation and the protrusion are separated from contacting one another by the portion of the biological electrode disposed therebetween.

2. The connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the protrusion has conductivity.

3. The connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the protrusion is semi-spherical having a first curvature radius, and the indentation is semi-spherical having a second curvature radius smaller than the first curvature radius; and

the indentation has elasticity.

4. The connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein ends of the protrusion and the indentation are disposed in the watertight space.

5. The connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the elastic packing member annularly surrounds the protrusion.

6. The connector as set forth in claim 5, further comprising an annular protrusion operable to push the elastic packing member outward, in a case where the protrusion is fitted into the indentation.

7. The connector as set forth in claim 6, wherein an outer periphery of the annular protrusion is tapered.

8. The connector as set forth in claim 7, wherein an inner periphery of the elastic packing member is tapered.

9. The connector as set forth in claim 5, further comprising an annular protrusion operable to push the elastic packing member inward, in a case where the protrusion is fitted into the indentation.

10. The connector as set forth in claim 9, wherein an inner periphery of the annular protrusion is tapered.

11. The connector as set forth in claim 10, wherein an outer periphery of the elastic packing member is tapered.

12. A connector, configured to be connected to a biological electrode which is adapted to detect a biological signal, the connector comprising:

a first nipping member and a second nipping member, adapted to nip the biological electrode therebetween;

a protrusion, formed on the first nipping member;

an indentation, formed on the second nipping member; and

a conductive member, provided on the protrusion and adapted to contact, at an area between the protrusion and the indentation, a lead member of the biological electrode from which the detected biological signal is led out,

wherein the protrusion and the indentation are configured to be separated from contacting one another by the lead member.

13. The connector as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

the area is a watertight space bounded by an elastic packing member provided on one of the first nipping member and the second nipping member.

14. The connector as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

the protrusion is semi-spherical having a first curvature radius; and

the indentation is semi-spherical having a second curvature radius smaller than the first curvature radius.

15. The connector as set forth in claim 12, further comprising:

an elastic packing member, which waterproofs the area when the first nipping member and the second nipping member nip the biological electrode.

16. The connector as set forth in claim 15, wherein:

the elastic packing member annularly surrounds the protrusion.

17. The connector as set forth in claim 16, further comprising:

an annular protrusion, configured to push the elastic packing member outward when the protrusion is fitted into the indentation.

18. The connector as set forth in claim 17, wherein:

an outer periphery of the annular protrusion is tapered.

19. The connector as set forth in claim 18, wherein:

an inner periphery of the elastic packing member is tapered.

20. The connector as set forth in claim 16, further comprising:

an annular protrusion, configured to push the elastic packing member inward when the protrusion is fitted into the indentation.

21. The connector as set forth in claim 20, wherein:

an outer periphery of the annular protrusion is tapered.

22. The connector as set forth in claim 21, wherein:

an inner periphery of the elastic packing member is tapered.