Electrode connector

• US 6,487,430 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2000
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vyaire Medical Consumables LLC
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Incorporated (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Henderson, Robert E., Guichard, Teresa
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ruddy, David M.
• Application Number:
  US09/502,978
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 600/372, 600/373, 600/394, 439/909
• US Class Current: 600/394
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/274 using snap or button fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

An apparatus and method to connect to an electrode is claimed. The apparatus includes a first mating member and a second mating member having first and second openings. A resilient body portion connects the first and second mating members.

Claims

1. An electrode connector for attachment to an electrode stud of an electrode, the electrode connector comprising:

a first mating member defining a through opening therein adapted to receive the electrode stud;

a second mating member defining a through opening therein adapted to receive the electrode stud; and

a resilient member connected between the first and second mating members and biasing the first and second members away from each other to a rest position, the resilient member having a first side portion, a second side portion and a center portion connecting the first and second side portions,

the first side portion, second side portion and the center portion each having a height, and the height of the first side portion and the height of the second side portion being greater than the height of the center portion.

2. The electrode connector of claim 1, wherein the first and second mating members are movable against the biasing force to a second position such that the respective openings are sufficiently aligned to allow insertion of the electrode stud through both openings so that releasing the first and second mating members causes the mating members to move from the second position to a third portion releasably securing the first and second mating members to the electrode stud.

3. The electrode connector of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the first or second mating member engages the electrode stud in the third position.

4. The electrode connector of claim 2, wherein no pull action is required to move the electrode connector from the rest position to the second position.

5. The electrode connector of claim 2, wherein no pull action is required to remove the connector from the stud when the connector is in the third position.

6. The electrode connector of claim 1, wherein the openings of the first mating member and the second mating member are not aligned in the rest position.

7. The electrode connector of claim 1, each side portion extends perpendicularly from the first mating member and the second mating member.

8. The electrode connector of claim 1, wherein the resilient body has a center portion including an opening for attaching a lead wire thereto.

9. The electrode connector of claim 1, wherein the connector is at least partially covered by a plastic cover.

10. The electrode connector of claim 1, wherein the opening of the first mating member has a first diameter and the opening of the second mating member has a second diameter, the diameters being substantially equal.

11. The electrode connector of claim 1, wherein the first member lies in a first plane, the second member lies in a second plane, and the first plane and second plane are substantially parallel.

12. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first and second mating members form an angle in a rest position, and the angle is about 15 to about 52 degrees.

13. The connector of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is semi-circular.

14. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector provides a contact resistance of less than about 0.010 ohms.

15. An electrode connector for attachment to an electrode stud of an electrode, the electrode connector comprising:

a first mating member defining an opening adapted to receive the electrode stud, the first mating member lying in a first plane;

a second mating member defining an opening adapted to receive the electrode stud, the second mating member lying in a second plane; and

a resilient member connected between the first and second mating member and biasing the first and second members away from each other to a rest position wherein the first and second mating members do not overlap, and

wherein the planes of the first and second members are substantially parallel, thereby allowing the first and second mating members to overlap one another when the mating members are moved toward one another against the biasing force, the first mating member, second mating member and resilient member being integral.

16. The electrode connector of claim 15, wherein the first and second mating members are movable against the biasing force to a second position such that the respective openings are sufficiently aligned to allow insertion of the electrode stud through both openings so that releasing the first and second mating members causes the mating members to move from the second position to a third portion releasably securing the first and second mating members to the electrode stud.

17. The electrode connector of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second mating members engages the electrode stud in the third position.

18. The electrode connector of claim 16, wherein no pull action is required to move the electrode connector from the rest position to the second position.

19. The electrode connector of claim 16, wherein no pull action is required to remove the connector from the stud when the connector is in the third position.

20. The electrode connector of claim 15, wherein the openings of the first mating member and the second mating member are not aligned in the rest position.

21. The electrode connector of claim 15, wherein the resilient body includes first and second ridged portions having respective heights.

22. The electrode connector of claim 15, wherein the resilient body has a center portion including an opening for attaching a lead wire thereto.

23. The electrode connector of claim 15, and further comprising a molded plastic body at least partially covering at least a one of the first mating member, second mating member and resilient member.

24. The electrode connector of claim 15, wherein the opening of the first mating member has a first diameter and the opening of the second mating member has a second diameter, the diameters being substantially equal.

25. The connector of claim 15, wherein the first and second mating members form an angle in the rest position, and the angle is about 15 to about 52 degrees.

26. The connector of claim 15, wherein the resilient member is semi-circular.

27. The connector of claim 15, wherein the connector provides a contact resistance of less than about 0.010 ohms.

28. A method of attaching a lead wire for a patient monitor to a patient, the method comprising:

placing an electrode having an electrode stud on a patient;

providing a connector electrically connected to a lead wire, the connector having a first mating member defining an opening adapted to receive the electrode stud, a second mating member defining an opening adapted to receive the electrode stud, and a resilient member connected between the first and second mating members and biasing the first and second members away from each other to a rest position, the resilient member having a first side portion, a second side portion and a center portion connecting the first and second side portions,

the first side portion, second side portion and the center portion each having a height, and the height of the first side portion and the height of the second side portion being greater than the height of the center portion;

compressing the first and second mating members against the biasing force to a second position, wherein the first and second openings are aligned sufficiently to allow the electrode stud to extend therethrough;

placing the connector over the electrode stud such that the electrode stud extends through the first and second openings; and

releasing the connector device such that the first and second mating members move away from one another to a third position wherein at least a portion of the first or second mating member engages the stud.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein no pull action is required to compress the first and second mating members against the biasing force to move the connector from the rest position to the second position.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein no pull action is required to move the connector from the third position, thereby removing the connector from the stud.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the openings are at least partially aligned in the rest position.