Electrode for establishing electrical contact with the skin

• US 20030130714A1
• Filed: 11/27/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medicotest A/S
• Original Assignee: Medicotest A/S
• Inventors: Nielsen, Brian, Thomsen, Steen
• Application Number:
  US10/296,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20030130714A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/257 using adhesive means, e.g. adhesive pads or tapes
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation

Abstract

The invention concerns an electrode for establishing electrical contact with the skin, comprising an electrically conductive layer and an electrically conductive gel, wherein a face of the electrically conductive layer is separated from a face of the electrically conductive gel by an intervening part to be removed before use of the electrode and the electrically conductive layer is provided with connecting means for establishing electrical communication with a suitable device or instrument. The invention impedes contact between said electrically conductive part and said electrically conductive gel until removal of the intervening layer.

Claims

1. An electrode for establishing electrical contact with the skin, comprising an electrically conductive layer and an electrically conductive gel, wherein a face of the electrically conductive layer is separated from a face of the electrically conductive gel by an intervening part to be removed before use of the electrode and the electrically conductive layer is provided with connecting means for establishing electrical communication with a suitable device or instrument.

2. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the intervening part is a single removable layer.

3. The electrode according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the intervening part exerts forces by removal on at least one of said electrically conductive layer and said electrically conductive gel, forcing said electrically conductive layer and said electrically-conductive gel together.

4. The electrode according to claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the removable intervening part comprises two or more stacked layers.

5. The electrode according to claim 4, wherein the intervening part is a double layer prepared from a single sheet which has been folded.

6. The electrode according to claim 4, wherein the intervening part is a quadruple layer prepared from a single sheet which has been folded three times.

7. The electrode according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an edge of the intervening part is fixed to an edge of a bag in which the electrode is stored, allowing for the removal of the intervening part when the electrode is pulled out of the bag.

8. The electrode according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said intervening part comprises a siliconized layer.

9. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive layer comprises a binding agent as well as a metal and a salt of said metal.

10. The electrode according to claim 9, wherein the electrically conductive layer comprises Ag and AgCl particles distributed in the binding agent.

11. The electrode according to claim 1 to 7, wherein the electrically conductive layer comprises tin, a aluminium, zinc, silver, or lead.

12. The electrode according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting means for establishing electrical communication with a suitable device or instrument is a point adapted to mate with a corresponding portion of a connector.

13. The electrode according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the electrically conductive layer is provided with a first end of a wire suitable for conducting electrical current and the other end of the wire in adapted to establish electrical connection with an instrument or a device, either directly or via a suitable connecting wire.

14. The electrode according to claim 13, wherein the end of the wire in fastened to the electrically conductive layer by a soldering or a rivet.

15. The electrode according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pH of the electrically conductive gel is chosen so as to provide corrosion of the metal of the electrically conductive layer.

16. A method for preparation of a ready-for-use electrode for establishing electrical contact with the skin, said method comprising

(i) providing an electrode which comprises an electrically conductive layer and an electrically conductive gel, wherein the electrically conductive layer is separated from the electrically conductive gel by an intervening part,

(ii) removing the intervening part, and

(iii) securing an intimate contact between the electrically conductive layer and the electrically conductive gel.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the electrically conductive layer and the electrically conductive gel reacts on contact.

18. The method according to claims 16 or 17, wherein the electrically conductive layer is provided with connecting means for establishing electrical communication with a suitable device or instrument.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the connecting means is a point adapted to mate with a corresponding portion of a connector.

20. The method according to any of the claims 16 to 19, wherein the electrically conductive layer is provided with a first end of a wire suitable for conducting electrical current and the other end of the wire in adapted to establish electrical connection with an instrument or a device, either directly or via a suitable connecting wire.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the end of the wire in fastened to the electrically conductive layer by a soldering or a rivet.

22. The method according to any of the claims 16 to 21, wherein the removable intervening part comprises two or more stacked layers.

23. The method according to any of the claims 16 to 22, wherein the intervening layer by removal in step (ii) exerts forces on at least one of said electrically conductive layer and said electrically conductive gel, forcing said electrically conductive part and said electrically conductive gel together.

24. A use of the ready-for-use electrode produced in accordance with the method of any of the claims 16 to 23, for establishing electrical contact with the skin.