Sensor for measuring biosignals

• US 8,825,128 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2011
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Ylostalo, Antti Kustaa Antipas, Kall, Magnus Johannes, Savinen, Outi Kristiina
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S
• Application Number:
  US13/213,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20120053439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 600/372, 600391-393, 600/396, 600/397
• US Class Current: 600/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0215 Silver or silver chloride containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/125 characterised by the manufacture of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/265 containing silver or silver chloride
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/266 containing electrolytes, conductive gels or pastes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]

Abstract

A sensor for measuring biosignals is provided. The sensor comprises at least one electrode comprising: a substrate comprising a flexible non-conductive material; a conductive layer configured to transfer electrical signals; a gel layer configured to transfer electrical signals; and a barrier layer configured to protect the conductive layer and transfer electrical signals, wherein the barrier layer deposited on the substrate, the gel layer is deposited on the barrier layer so that the gel layer covers only a part of the barrier layer, and the conductive layer is deposited over an area of the barrier layer which is outside of an area of the barrier layer on which the gel layer is deposited.

Claims

1. A sensor for measuring biosignals, the sensor comprising at least one electrode comprising:

a substrate comprising a flexible non-conductive material;

a conductive layer configured to transfer electrical signals;

a gel layer configured to transfer electrical signals;

a foam element; and

a barrier layer configured to protect the conductive layer and transfer electrical signals,

wherein;

a portion of the conductive layer is deposited on a first area of a surface of the barrier layer,

the barrier layer is deposited on the substrate so that a portion of the barrier layer in contact with the conductive layer is positioned between the substrate and the conductive layer,

the gel layer is deposited on a second area of the surface of the barrier layer so that the gel layer covers only a part of the barrier layer, and

a portion of the foam element is deposited on a third area of the surface of the barrier layer, wherein the third area is between the first area and the second area.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the gel layer is deposited on only a part of the barrier layer which is not covered by the conductive layer.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the barrier layer is configured to transfer electrical signals from the gel layer to the conductive layer and/or from the conductive layer to the gel layer and is configured to prevent direct contact between the gel layer and the conductive layer.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the barrier layer is contiguous with the conductive layer.

5. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode further comprises a protective layer made of nonconductive material arranged on top of the conductive layer and is configured as a barrier element.

6. The sensor of claim 5 wherein the protective layer comprises a dielectric layer configured as a barrier element.

7. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the foam element is configured as a barrier element.

8. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the conductive layer comprises a silver ink material.

9. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the barrier layer comprises a silver chloride layer or a silver layer modified with an active gel to provide a top surface of silver chloride.

10. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor further comprises more than one electrode, wherein each electrode is connected to each other by the substrate.

11. A sensor for measuring biosignals, the sensor comprising at least one electrode comprising:

a substrate comprising a flexible non-conductive material;

a conductive layer configured to transfer electrical signals;

a gel layer configured to transfer electrical signals;

a barrier layer configured to protect the conductive layer and transfer electrical signals; and

a foam element comprising a nonconductive material,

wherein;

a portion of the conductive layer is deposited on a first area of a surface of the barrier layer,

the barrier layer is deposited on the substrate so that a portion of the barrier layer in contact with the conductive layer is positioned between the substrate and the conductive layer,

the gel layer is deposited on a second area of the surface of the barrier layer so that the gel layer covers only a part of the barrier layer,

the foam element is arranged on top of the conductive layer, wherein a portion of the foam element is deposited on a third area of the surface of the barrier layer, wherein the third area is between the first area and the second area so that the foam element restricts the second area of the surface of the barrier layer on which the gel layer is deposited and forms a barrier between the conductive layer and the gel layer.

12. The sensor of claim 11, wherein the electrode further comprises a nonconductive layer placed between the foam element and the conductive layer, wherein the nonconductive layer is configured as a barrier element.

13. The sensor of claim 12, wherein the nonconductive layer placed between the foam element and the conductive layer is a dielectric layer configured as a barrier element.

14. The sensor of claim 11, wherein the conductive layer comprises a silver ink material.

15. The sensor of claim 11, wherein the barrier layer comprises a silver chloride layer or a silver layer that is modified with active gel to provide a top surface of silver chloride.

16. The sensor of claim 11, wherein the sensor further comprises more than one electrode, wherein each electrode is connected to each other by the substrate.

17. A method of making a sensor for measuring biosignals, the sensor comprising at least one electrode, the method comprising:

providing a substrate of flexible non-conductive material;

depositing a barrier layer on the substrate;

depositing a portion of a conductive layer on a first area of a surface of the barrier layer, wherein a portion of the barrier layer is positioned between the substrate and the conductive layer;

depositing a gel layer on a second area of the surface of the barrier layer; and

depositing a portion of a foam element on a third area of the surface of the barrier layer, wherein the third area is between the first area and the second area,

wherein the barrier layer is configured to protect the conductive layer, and the barrier layer, the conductive layer and the gel layer are configured to transfer electrical signals.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises depositing a protective layer comprising a nonconductive material on top of the conductive layer, wherein the protective layer is configured as a barrier element.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the protective layer comprises a dielectric layer configured as a barrier element.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the foam element is configured as a barrier element.