Offset electrode

• US 8,126,530 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2009
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Bare, Rex O., Sargent, Bradley
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Zachary M
• Application Number:
  US12/605,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20110094773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 174250-268, 600/392, 600394-395, 600/372, 600/397, 607/72, 607/142, 607/152, 607/153, 607/149
• US Class Current: 600/397
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/125 characterised by the manufacture of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/259 using conductive adhesive means, e.g. gels
• 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 1/0496 characterised by using specific chemical compositions, e.g. hydrogel compositions, adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain

Abstract

An electrode including a non-conductive substrate having a top surface and at least one channel extending therethrough, an electrically conductive trace material positioned adjacent a portion of the top surface of the non-conductive substrate and extending through the channel, and adapted for electrically coupling to a power source, and second and third electrically conductive materials that are inert or more corrosion resistant than the trace material. The second material is positioned adjacent to and entirely covering a top surface of the trace material, and the third material is positioned adjacent to and entirely covering a top surface of the second electrically conductive material, and covers a portion of a top surface of the non-conductive substrate surrounding the second electrically conductive material. The electrode further includes a conductive hydrogel positioned adjacent to a portion of a top surface of the third electrically conductive material, but laterally offset from the trace material.

Claims

1. An electrode comprising:

a non-conductive substrate having a top surface and at least one channel extending therethrough;

an electrically conductive trace material positioned adjacent at least a portion of the top surface of the non-conductive substrate and extending through said channel, and being adapted to be electrically coupled to a power source;

a second electrically conductive material that is inert or more corrosion resistant than the trace material, the second electrically conductive material being positioned adjacent to and entirely covering a top surface of the trace material,

a third electrically conductive material that is inert or more corrosion resistant than the trace material, the third electrically conductive material being positioned adjacent to and entirely covering a top surface of the second electrically conductive material, and covering a portion of the top surface of the non-conductive substrate that surrounds the second electrically conductive material; and

a conductive hydrogel positioned adjacent to a portion of a top surface of the third electrically conductive trace material,

wherein the conductive hydrogel is laterally offset from the trace material.

2. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the top surface of the non-conductive substrate includes a recessed portion, and wherein the at least one channel is positioned within said recessed portion.

3. The electrode according to claim 2, wherein the electrically conductive trace material is positioned entirely within said recessed portion.

4. The electrode according to claim 3, wherein the second electrically conductive material is positioned entirely within said recessed portion.

5. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the trace material is comprised of copper.

6. The electrode according to claim 5, wherein the second electrically conductive material is comprised of gold or gold/nickel.

7. The electrode according to claim 6, wherein the third electrically conductive material is comprised of silver.

8. The electrode according to claim 1, further comprising a foam material positioned adjacent to at least a portion of a top surface of said third electrically conductive material so as to substantially surround said hydrogel.

9. An electrode comprising:

a non-conductive substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface and at least one channel extending therethrough, the non-conductive substrate being comprised of a flexible material;

a copper trace material positioned adjacent at least a portion of the top surface of the non-conductive substrate and extending through said channel, said trace material being adapted to be electrically coupled to an electrode power source;

a second conductive material comprised of gold or gold/nickel, and positioned adjacent to and covering a top surface of said trace material;

a third conductive material comprised of silver and positioned adjacent to and covering a top surface of said second conductive material;

a conductive hydrogel positioned adjacent to and covering at least a portion of a top surface of the third conductive material, the hydrogel being laterally offset from the trace material.

10. The electrode according to claim 9, further comprising a foam material substantially surrounding said hydrogel yet leaving a top surface of said hydrogel exposed.

11. The electrode according to claim 9, wherein the top surface of the non-conductive substrate includes a recessed portion, and wherein the at least one channel is positioned within said recessed portion.

12. The electrode according to claim 11, wherein the electrically conductive trace material is positioned entirely within said recessed portion.

13. The electrode according to claim 12, wherein the second electrically conductive material is positioned entirely within said recessed portion.