Devices for applying conductive gel-pads to electrodes and electrodes produced thereby
First Claim
1. A device for laminating to a re-useable medical-use electrode a conductive gel-pad from a series of gel-pads having at least one first protective liner, the device comprising:
- a delivery mechanism including at least one take-up roller that is operable to reel in the liner and deliver the gel-pad to a ready position adjacent the electrode;
an applicator mechanism including a carriage and a pressure roller, wherein the carriage supports the electrode and the pressure roller applies a compressive force to the electrode to laminate the gel-pad thereto, wherein the carriage moves between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein in the extended position the electrode can be loaded thereonto and in the retracted position the electrode is in the ready position within the laminating device; and
a drive mechanism including at least one actuator operably coupled to the delivery mechanism and the applicator mechanism to drive the take-up roller and the pressure roller.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Described herein are devices for applying conductive gels to electrodes and the gel-laminated electrodes produced thereby. The devices permit the reuse of the electrodes by easily applying fresh gels to them for each subsequent use. In a first example embodiment, all of the components of the laminating device are provided in a single housing. In a second example embodiment, the gel applying and drive components are housed within the device, and a replaceable cartridge houses the gels and the gel delivery components. Also described herein are dispensers for storing and dispensing conductive gels that can be readily applied to and removed from an electrode.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for laminating to a re-useable medical-use electrode a conductive gel-pad from a series of gel-pads having at least one first protective liner, the device comprising:
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a delivery mechanism including at least one take-up roller that is operable to reel in the liner and deliver the gel-pad to a ready position adjacent the electrode; an applicator mechanism including a carriage and a pressure roller, wherein the carriage supports the electrode and the pressure roller applies a compressive force to the electrode to laminate the gel-pad thereto, wherein the carriage moves between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein in the extended position the electrode can be loaded thereonto and in the retracted position the electrode is in the ready position within the laminating device; and a drive mechanism including at least one actuator operably coupled to the delivery mechanism and the applicator mechanism to drive the take-up roller and the pressure roller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 5, 6, 19, 20)
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3. A device for laminating to a re-useable medical-use electrode a conductive gel-pad from a series of gel-pads having at least one protective liner, the device comprising:
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a delivery mechanism including at least one take-up roller that is operable to reel in the liner and deliver the gel-pad to a ready position adjacent the electrode; an applicator mechanism including a carriage and a pressure roller, wherein the carriage supports the electrode and the pressure roller applies a compressive force to the electrode to laminate the gel-pad thereto, wherein the carriage has a gel-pad opening through which a portion of the electrode is exposed and through which the gel-pad extends in the ready position; and a drive mechanism including at least one actuator operably coupled to the delivery mechanism and the applicator mechanism to drive the take-up roller and the pressure roller. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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7. A device for laminating to a re-useable medical-use electrode a conductive gel-pad from a series of gel-pads having at least one protective liner, the device comprising:
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a delivery mechanism including at least one take-up roller that is operable to reel in the liner and deliver the gel-pad to a ready position adjacent the electrode; an applicator mechanism including a carriage and a pressure roller, wherein the carriage supports the electrode and the pressure roller applies a compressive force to the electrode to laminate the gel-pad thereto, wherein the carriage includes a tray and an elevator, wherein the tray has an opening through which a portion of the electrode is exposed and through which the gel-pad extends in the ready position, and wherein the elevator supports the electrode and is spring-biased away from the tray toward an elevated position in which the electrode is displaced away from the gel-pad in the ready position; and a drive mechanism including at least one actuator operably coupled to the delivery mechanism and the applicator mechanism to drive the take-up roller and the pressure roller. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A device for laminating to a re-useable medical-use electrode a conductive gel-pad from a series of gel-pads having at least one protective liner, the device comprising:
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a delivery mechanism including at least one take-up roller that is operable to reel in the liner and deliver the gel-pad to a ready position adjacent the electrode; an applicator mechanism including a carriage and a pressure roller, wherein the carriage supports the electrode and the pressure roller applies a compressive force to the electrode to laminate the gel-pad thereto; and a drive mechanism including at least one actuator operably coupled to the delivery mechanism and the applicator mechanism to drive the take-up roller and the pressure roller, wherein the delivery mechanism includes a second pressure roller that cooperates with the applicator pressure roller to impart motion to the carriage to move the carriage from a retracted position to an extended position, wherein the pressure rollers further cooperate to compress the gel-pad onto the electrode as the carriage is moved to the extended position.
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11. A device for use with a replaceable gel-pad cartridge to laminate a re-useable medical-use electrode, the cartridge including a series of gel-pads, a liner covering the gel-pads, and a delivery mechanism including at least one take-up roller that is operable to reel in the liner and sequentially deliver the gel-pads to a ready position adjacent the electrode, the device comprising:
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an applicator mechanism including a carriage and a pressure roller, wherein the carriage supports the electrode and the pressure roller applies a compressive force to the electrode to laminate the gel-pad in the ready position thereto, wherein the carriage moves between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein in the extended position the electrode can be loaded thereonto and in the retracted position the electrode is in the ready position within the laminating device; and a drive mechanism including at least one actuator operably coupled to the delivery mechanism and the applicator mechanism to drive the take-up roller and the pressure roller. - View Dependent Claims (12, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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13. A device for use with a replaceable gel-pad cartridge to laminate a re-useable medical-use electrode, the cartridge including a series of gel-pads, a liner covering the gel-pads, and a delivery mechanism including at least one take-up roller that is operable to reel in the liner and sequentially deliver the gel-pads to a ready position adjacent the electrode, the device comprising:
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an applicator mechanism including a carriage and a pressure roller, wherein the carriage supports the electrode and the pressure roller applies a compressive force to the electrode to laminate the gel-pad in the ready position thereto, wherein the carriage has a gel-pad opening through which a portion of the electrode is exposed and through which the gel-pad extends in the ready position; and a drive mechanism including at least one actuator operably coupled to the delivery mechanism and the applicator mechanism to drive the take-up roller and the pressure roller. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification