ELECTRODE COMPRISING AN EMBEDDED LAYER, AND A METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME

• US 20140209351A1
• Filed: 05/04/2012
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA
• Original Assignee: Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH (OTTO BOCK Holding GmbH & Company KG)
• Inventors: Reinhardt, Holger, Anhalt, Klaus-Peter, Opitz, Lucien
• Granted Patent: US 10,347,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/126.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/00 Conductors or conductive bodies characterised by the conductive materials; Selection of materials as conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 13/0036 Details

Abstract

An electrode for transcutaneously transmitting electronic signals with a first layer that is designed to retain a liquid, also at least as a result of a capillary force, and an electrically conductive polymer layer, which contains conductive particles. The first layer is partially permeated by the polymer layer such that it protrudes out of said polymer layer on at least one first side. The first layer is designed to retain a liquid, also at least as a result of a capillary force, and the electrode includes an electrode contacting layer which is partially embedded in the polymer layer, such that it protrudes out of the polymer layer on a second side opposite the first side.

Claims

1. An electrode for transcutaneously transmitting electronic signals, comprising:

a) a first layer and

b) an electrically conductive polymer layer containing conductive particles,

the first layer being partially permeated by the polymer layer such that it protrudes out of said polymer layer on at least one first side, wherein the first layer is designed to retain a liquid, at least also as a result of a capillary force, and that the electrode comprises an electrode contacting layer which is partially embedded in the polymer layer, such that it protrudes out of the polymer layer on a second side opposite the first side.

2. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the first layer is a nonwoven.

3. The electrode according to claim 2, wherein a connecting wire is arranged on the electrode contacting layer.

4. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the electrode contacting layer comprises a layer of conductive textile.

5. The electrode according to claim 4, wherein the conductive textile is a textile that is coated with a metal.

6. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the electrode contacting layer comprises a metallic ink printed onto a carrier film.

7. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive polymer layer contains conductive pigments, graphite, electrically conductive carbon black, CNTs or dendritic metallic particles that act as conductive particles.

11. A bandage with at least one electrode according to claim 1.

12. The bandage according to claim 11, wherein the at least one electrode is arranged on one strap of the bandage such that the at least one electrode can be detached.

8. A method for producing an electrode, comprising:

a) Moulding or spreading at least a first part of a conductive polymer layer made from a polymer that contains conductive particles,

b) Pushing a first layer, such as for example nonwoven, in particular a nano nonwoven into the polymer layer, such that the first layer is partially permeated by the polymer layer and protrudes out of the polymer layer on a first side.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein:

the first part of the conductive polymer layer is allowed to harden,

a second part of the conductive polymer layer is molded or spread on a second side of the polymer layer that is opposite the first side, and

an electrode contacting layer is pushed into the second part of the polymer layer, such that the electrode contacting layer is partially embedded in the polymer layer and protrudes out of the polymer layer on the second side.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the at least first part of the conductive polymer layer is moulded or spread on an electrode contacting layer.

13. An electrode for transcutaneously transmitting electronic signals, comprising:

a first side;

a second side opposite the first side;

an electrically conductive polymer layer containing conductive particles;

a liquid retaining layer configured to retain liquids through a capillary force, the liquid retaining layer being partially permeated by the polymer layer such that the liquid retaining layer protrudes out of the polymer layer on at least the first side;

an electrode contacting layer partially embedded in the polymer layer and protruding out of the polymer layer on the second side.

14. The electrode according to claim 13, wherein the liquid retaining layer comprises a nano nonwoven material.

15. The electrode according to claim 14, further comprising a connecting wire arranged on the electrode contacting layer.

16. The electrode according to claim 13, wherein the electrode contacting layer comprises a layer of conductive textile.

17. The electrode according to claim 16, wherein the conductive textile is coated with metal.

18. The electrode according to claim 17, wherein the metal is silver.

19. The electrode according to claim 13, wherein the electrode contacting layer comprises a silver ink printed onto a carrier film.

20. The electrode according to claim 13, wherein the electrically conductive polymer layer comprises at least one of conductive pigments, graphite, electrically conductive carbon black, CNTs and dendritic metallic particles that act as conductive particles.