Skin preparation device and biopotential sensor

• US 8,700,122 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2009
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Cordero, Rafael M., Harhen, Robert, Kinney, Melissa, Houtchens, Graham, Davidson, Marc, Brumer, Rebecca
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANTISKAY, BRIAN MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US12/435,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20100022864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,807 Days
• Field of Search: 600/372, 600382-386, 607116-118
• US Class Current: 600/393
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/205 Vaccinating by means of needles or other puncturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/125 characterised by the manufacture of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6841 by using templates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0038 having a channel at the side surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0046 Solid microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles

Abstract

The skin preparation device and sensor of the present invention include an array of rigid tines. The tines serve to “self-prepare” the skin at each electrode site. These tines, when pressed against the skin, penetrate the stratum corneum, thereby reducing skin impedance and improving signal quality. A self-prepping device of the present invention is an optimized array of short non-conductive rigid tines in which the individual tines are created in a geometry that allows for a sharp point at the tip when molding, machining or etching is used as a method of fabrication.

Claims

1. A sensor system comprising:

a flexible substrate;

a plurality of electrodes coupled to the flexible substrate;

an adhesive substrate adjacent to each of the electrodes and the flexible substrate; and

a plurality of groups of preparation devices, each group of preparation devices coupled to a respective electrode, each of the preparation devices comprising;

a base member in the shape of a ring;

an array of rigid tines contiguous with the base member, each tine having a sharp tip adapted to penetrate stratum corneum and to reduce skin impedance; and

a component configured to deliver a conductive gel below the stratum corneum.

2. The sensor system of claim 1 wherein the preparation devices are arranged such that upon application of pressure to the electrode, the preparation devices angle to adjust to the surface to which the sensor system is applied.

3. A sensor system comprising:

a flexible substrate;

a plurality of electrodes coupled to the flexible substrate;

an adhesive substrate adjacent to each of the electrodes and the flexible substrate; and

a plurality of groups of preparation devices, each group of preparation devices coupled to a respective electrode, each of the preparation devices comprising;

a base member;

an array of rigid tines contiguous with the base member, each tine having a sharp tip adapted to penetrate stratum corneum and to reduce skin impedance;

a component configured to deliver a conductive gel below the outermost layer of the stratum corneum; and

wherein the base member is formed of multiple stepped levels each level containing a portion of the array of rigid tines.

4. The sensor system of claim 3 wherein the preparation devices are arranged such that upon application of pressure to the electrode, the preparation devices angle to adjust to the surface to which the sensor system is applied.

5. A sensor system comprising:

a flexible substrate;

a plurality of electrodes coupled to the flexible substrate;

an adhesive substrate adjacent to each of the electrodes and the flexible substrate; and

a plurality of groups of preparation devices, each group of preparation devices coupled to a respective electrode, each of the preparation devices comprising;

a base member; and

an array of tines contiguous with the base member, each tine having a pyramidal shape wherein one side of the pyramid is concave.

6. The sensor system of claim 5 wherein the preparation devices are arranged such that upon application of pressure to the electrode, the preparation devices angle to adjust to the surface to which the sensor system is applied.

7. A sensor system comprising:

a flexible substrate;

a plurality of electrodes coupled to the flexible substrate;

an adhesive substrate adjacent to each of the electrodes and the flexible substrate; and

a plurality of groups of preparation devices, each group of preparation devices coupled to a respective electrode, each of the preparation devices comprising;

a base member; and

an array of rigid tines contiguous with the base member, each tine having a sharp tip adapted to penetrate stratum corneum and to reduce skin impedance.

8. The sensor system of claim 7 wherein the preparation devices are arranged such that upon application of pressure to the electrode, the preparation devices angle to adjust to the surface to which the sensor system is applied.