Electrode Capable of Attachment to a Garment, System, and Methods of Manufacturing

• US 20110130640A1
• Filed: 01/13/2011
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kpr U.S., LLC (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Dunagan, Boyd, Rowe, Charles A., Geolat, Keith J., Dunagan, Jay M., Garstka, Erick
• Granted Patent: US 8,548,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/388
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/259 using conductive adhesive means, e.g. gels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches

Abstract

An electrode for selective attachment to at least one of a garment and a subject, is provided and includes a conductive member defining a first side and a second side; a conductive composition disposed on the first side of the conductive member, wherein the conductive composition has a first adhesive strength; a contact layer disposed on the second side of the conductive member, wherein the contact layer includes a pressure sensitive adhesive portion and a conductive hydrogel portion, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive portion has a second adhesive strength that is greater than the adhesive strength of the conductive composition; whereby the electrode is adherable to the garment and to the subject such that the conductive composition is adhered to the subject and the pressure sensitive adhesive portion is adhered to the garment, wherein removal of the garment from the subject results in removal of the electrode from the subject.

Claims

1. An electrode for selective attachment to at least one of a garment and a subject, the electrode comprising:

a conductive member defining a first side and a second side;

a conductive composition disposed on the first side of the conductive member, wherein the conductive composition has a first adhesive strength; and

a contact layer disposed on the second side of the conductive member, wherein the contact layer includes a pressure sensitive adhesive portion and a conductive hydrogel portion, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive portion has a second adhesive strength that is greater than the adhesive strength of the conductive composition;

whereby the electrode is adherable to the garment and to the subject such that the conductive composition is adhered to the subject and the pressure sensitive adhesive portion is adhered to the garment, wherein removal of the garment from the subject results in removal of the electrode from the subject.

2. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the conductive composition is a hydrogel.

3. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogel portion of the contact layer has an adhesive strength that is less than the second adhesive strength of the pressure sensitive adhesive.

4. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogel portion of the contact layer extends at least partially across a length of the electrode.

5. The electrode according to claim 4, wherein the hydrogel portion of the contact layer extends completely across the length of the electrode, and wherein a pressure sensitive adhesive portion is provided on opposed sides of the hydrogel portion.

6. The electrode according to claim 4, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive portion of the contact layer completely surrounds the hydrogel portion.

7. The electrode according to claim 1, further comprising a layer of a silver composition interposed between the conductive member and the conductive composition.

8. The electrode according to claim 7, wherein the layer of silver composition is a layer of Silver/Silver-Chloride (Ag/AgCl).

9. The electrode according to claim 8, wherein the layer of Silver/Silver-Chloride (Ag/AgCl) is in the form of a coating of Silver/Silver-Chloride (Ag/AgCl) ink that is one of deposited and flooded on an underlying layer.

10. An electrode, comprising:

a first layer adapted for selective disposition on a garment;

a second layer adapted for selective disposition on a subject; and

a third layer adapted for disposition and electrical communication between the first layer and the second layer;

wherein at least one portion of the first layer includes a hydrogel and at least one portion of the first layer includes a pressure sensitive adhesive.

11. The electrode according to claim 10, wherein the at least one portion of the hydrogel has a first adhesive strength, and wherein the at least one portion of the pressure sensitive adhesive has a second adhesive strength.

12. The electrode according to claim 11, wherein the second adhesive strength is greater than the first adhesive strength.

13. The electrode according to claim 10, further comprising a release liner selectively and removably adhered to at least one of a surface of the first layer and a surface of the second layer.

14. The electrode according to claim 10, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive of the first layer is a double-coated non-conductive film.

15. The electrode according to claim 10, wherein the hydrogel of the first layer is a conductive hydrogel.

16. The electrode according to claim 10, wherein the second layer is a conductive hydrogel layer.

17. The electrode according to claim 16, wherein the conductive hydrogel of the second layer is similar to the hydrogel of the first layer.

18. The electrode according to claim 10, wherein the third layer is a carbon vinyl conductive layer.

19. The electrode according to claim 10, wherein the hydrogel of the first layer is of a circular shape centrally disposed on the electrode such that the pressure sensitive adhesive at least partially surrounds the hydrogel.

20. The electrode according to claim 10, wherein the hydrogel of the first layer defines a strip extending across the electrode to divide the electrode into three sections such that the hydrogel separates the pressure sensitive adhesive.

21. The electrode according to claim 10, wherein the electrode is a wire-less electrode.

22. An electrode system for selective use with a subject, the electrode system comprising:

a garment having, a first side and a second side; and

at least one electrode for selective attachment to the first side of the garment and for selective attachment to the subject, the electrode including;

a first layer adapted for selective engagement on the garment;

a second layer adapted for selective engagement on the subject; and

a third layer interposed between the first layer and the second layer, the third layer providing for electrical communication between the first layer and the second layer;

wherein at least one portion of the first layer includes a hydrogel and at least one portion of the first layer includes a pressure sensitive adhesive.

23. The electrode system according to claim 22, wherein the at least one portion of the hydrogel has a first adhesive strength, and wherein the at least one portion of the pressure sensitive adhesive has a second adhesive strength.

24. The electrode system according to claim 23, wherein the second adhesive strength is greater than the first adhesive strength,

25. The electrode system according to claim 22, further comprising a release liner selectively and removably adhered to at least one of a surface of the first layer and a surface of the second layer.

26. The electrode system according to claim 22, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive of the first layer is a double-coated non-conductive film.

27. The electrode system according to claim 22, wherein the hydrogel of the first layer is a conductive hydrogel.

28. The electrode system according to claim 22, wherein the second layer is a conductive hydrogel layer.

29. The electrode system according to claim 28, wherein the conductive hydrogel of the second layer is similar to the hydrogel of the first layer.

30. The electrode system according to claim 22, wherein the third layer is a carbon vinyl conductive layer.

31. The electrode system according to claim 22, wherein the hydrogel of the first layer is of a circular shape centrally disposed on the electrode such that the pressure sensitive adhesive at least partially surrounds the hydrogel.

32. The electrode system according to claim 22, wherein the hydrogel of the first layer defines a strip extending across the electrode to divide the electrode into three sections such that the hydrogel separates the pressure sensitive adhesive.

33. The electrode system according to claim 22, wherein the electrode is a wireless electrode.

34. A method of manufacturing an electrode, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an electrically conductive layer having a first side and a second side;

depositing a first layer on the first side of the electrically conductive layer; and

depositing a second layer on the second side of the electrically conductive layer;

wherein the first layer is adapted for selective disposition on a garment, the second layer is adapted for selective disposition on a subject, and the electrically conductive layer provides for electrical communication between the first layer and the second layer; and

wherein at least one portion of the first layer includes a conductive hydrogel and at least one portion of the first layer includes a pressure sensitive adhesive.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the at least one portion of the hydrogel has a first adhesive strength, and wherein the at least one portion of the pressure sensitive adhesive has a second adhesive strength,

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the second adhesive strength is greater than the first adhesive strength.

37. The method according to claim 34, further comprising the step of selectively and removably adhering a release liner to at least one of a surface of the first layer and a surface of the second layer.

38. The method according to claim 34, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive of the first layer is a double-coated non-conductive film.

39. The method according to claim 34, wherein the hydrogel of the first layer is a conductive hydrogel.

40. The method according to claim 34, wherein the second layer is a conductive hydrogel layer.

41. The method according to claim 40, wherein the conductive hydrogel of the second layer is similar to the hydrogel of the first layer,

42. The method according to claim 34, wherein the third layer is a carbon vinyl conductive layer.

43. The method according to claim 34, further comprising the step of centrally disposing the hydrogel of the first layer having a circular shape an the electrode such that the pressure sensitive adhesive at least partially surrounds the hydrogel.

44. The method according to claim 34, further comprising defining the hydrogel of the first layer as a strip extending across the electrode to divide the electrode into three sections such that the hydrogel separates the pressure sensitive adhesive,

45. The method according to claim 34, wherein the electrode is a wireless electrode.

46. A method of manufacturing an electrode system for selective use with a subject, the method comprising the steps of;

providing a garment having a first side and a second side;

providing at least one electrode for selective attachment to the first side of the garment and for selective attachment to the subject;

providing an electrically conductive layer having a first side and a second side;

depositing a first layer on the first side of the electrically conductive layer; and

depositing a second layer on the second side of the electrically conductive layer;

wherein the first layer is adapted for selective disposition on a garment, the second layer is adapted for selective disposition on a subject, and the electrically conductive layer provides for electrical communication between the first layer and the second layer; and

wherein at least one portion of the first layer includes a conductive hydrogel and at least one portion of the first layer includes a pressure sensitive adhesive.