DE7104831U - SKIN-MOUNTED ELECTRODE - Google Patents

Description

Bionetics Inc. Dayton .. Ohio / U.S.Λ. Electrode attachable to the skin

The invention relates to an electrode which can be attached to the skin and has a structure for receiving an electrolyte and a conductor arranged in the structure for contact with the electrolyte, in particular electrodes of the type used for medical Zv. ^: corner used to pick up electrical signals from the skin of a living object ",." ground and in particular the nature of these electrodes, which are intended for use over a period of several days without interfering with the normal activities of the object.

The electrode according to the invention is designed for use with commercially available .tleictroytes in the form of i-.iektrouen pastes or gels. It is known that the conductor parts of these electrodes roped away from the skin of aez object by the electrolyte, urr. to achieve the least resistance and to reduce the 5ev.'e _{ ~ ung of artificial objects or the noise to a minimum. Optimal results are achieved when the volume of the electrolyte and its contact area ί ^:> ~ "· -ι · the skin area and the conductor part of the electrode kc" Veiten.

Electrodes with protective layers have been made to protect the Kentakt zv; ischen the K: .u.t and their. To prevent ladder part. The protective walls were provided with small openings for filling with an electrolyte. Obv.Ohi such bodies reduce the disruptive influences to a minimum, they are difficult and therefore expensive to manufacture and the intervening of the perforated protective covers is reduced the line to the skin in an undesirable manner and the lead part of the electrode.

Other electrodes are without any protective wall between, the skin and the conductor of the electrode. For the most part, they were designed to just with a very small area of skin an electric one Kentakt · produced. One type of electrode made a contact over a relatively large area of skin. To get the necessary insulation between your metallic conductor and the To produce skin, these electrodes have a relatively high profile, i.e. a large ratio of height to diameter. However, electrodes with a low profile are preferred to avoid the possibility of interference signals Reduce movement of the electrolyte to a minimum, and in order to minimize the discomfort experienced by objects carrying the electrodes.

The /.· *: \::>; ■ cer Lrf ir ._- r ..; ir ^ r.i t ei:, he electrode of the einö <'ii ^ ,; : .- j cr.riebc:. ·. r. . '. rt er fir .-- ng .: ^ e-U- solved by aaj

dor on skin ur.u older äv.-..ana rr.it axially auflie.yji.dcr from that on the skin of a. -jL: o: it encompasses the distant edge, a cla:; ti: cc- plate- -ie clu_i-re ..id \ u towers above and i_n which extends over the untc-ie '- ^. j. hir.u .. ~. extending underside with adhesive vcr.:o;.· ::. it jr.- ua_: the plate into engagement with the edge uer au .. ⁱ rer. ..cjij ^, u ^ airjne.'ijeklerjTjt is.

The erfi :. .ri ^^ cc "---- E_e '.: ^: oie iot rat one, relatively rigid. not Ie.: ion. nicürij profiled ochaleneierrient vei" -c-seine. ".. ·: _: .. ο ^ eir.er. konve :: _c ; ebojener. '..' ulst has and vice versa au:" a skin is arranged on the object. The bowl-clement i_t v.-iriiL-ar. Through the overlying elastic plate on the Mauz 5ei: ler_T: t,;: elche nit a d "ucicer.ipf indigenous, cs.z ochaler.eler ^ er ^ surrounding Kle'oni'utel is provided. \ icrsi the elastic Plate is attached to the chute, dx "ücl: t i-ie das SchalereIer.ent i" ege: i the skin to keep the sehalene linen t fet in a fixed position. A separation of the elastic plate from the The cup element is prevented by a ceramic plate arranged on the upper side of the plate. The conductor part of the electrode is a thin, conductive plate arranged in the cabbage brown between the cup element and the skin, which prevents the cup element from being affected can be filled with an electrolyte \; earth. to produce a "wide contact area with the chewing.

To simplify the construction, the ladder has a snap-fastener element, which is tied through the base element, the supporting plate and the clamping plate _; to keep these pieces together. The clamping plate is also preferably designed in the same way as the shell element, both being similar to hollow disks. The opposite edges of the

The shell member and the clamping plate 2 squeeze an annular portion of the elastic plate, thereby helping to keep the central portion of the elastic plate under tension when the lower surface of the elastic plate is adhered to the skin.

It is desirable to make the elastic plate from a spongy Manufacture material, preferably from single open-cell Polyvinyl chloride. Because such a material can be absorbed in all directions and is elastic. When a plate made of open-cell polyvinyl chloride or the like. is used, it is desirable that both the upper as well as the lower surface have a relatively closed cell structure. A partially closed cell structure is on the lower surface for better formation of a protective layer for receiving a pressure-sensitive adhesive. The top surface should preferably have closed cells because closed cell surfaces are less prone to dirt record like open-line material. The relatively closed-cell Surfaces also contribute to the elasticity of the plate, which is necessary to hold the ochaienelement against the Holding skin down. An open-cell plate made of polyvinyl chloride with partially closed-cell plates The top and bottom surfaces also have the advantages of being cheap, soft to the touch, and shapely. Air can easily pass through this material to ventilate the skin. V.'enn an invention '; crr.ä: 2nd electrode on the chew is glued, the stickiness of the adhesive is the only sensation even with extended periods of use which the object perceives.

In the following the invention is based on special exemplary embodiments, as they are shown in the drawing explained. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an inventive Electrode, which is attached to the hand of an object is;

Figure 2 is a cross section of the electrode taken along line 2-2 Fig. 1 applied to the skin;

3 is an exploded perspective view of a electrode according to the invention and a protective plate for the glue before assembling these parts and

4 shows a section through an electrode according to the invention
another protective element.

An electrode according to the invention is on hand K one
Object attached in Figs. 1 and 2 shown. The electrode Io consists of a circular elastic pad or plate 12, v.'elche one arranged in the middle
inverted shell element 14 superimposed on a clamping plate
l6 at the top of the plate 12 in alignment with the
inverted shell element 14 and a metallic formed by a matrix part of a fastening element l8
Ladder. The annular area of the underside of the plate 12 is in the part surrounding the shell element l4 with a
Layer of a pressure-sensitive adhesive 2o provided for attaching the electrode io to the skin. When using four electrical signals from the skin
added and reinforced a device, not shown, which is connected to the fastening element 18 via a direct line and a corresponding fastening element, v.'ie
it is shown in dashed lines 18a. The electrical flow occurs from the skin via an electrolyte located in a chamber or cavity 42, enclosed by the shell element 14 and the skin, and then via the fastening element 18.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and Z> the Schalenelcment has the form of a hollow disk and a flat ki'eisförmige
Base area which is surrounded by an annular '..' ulst 24 with a semicircular or U-shaped cross-section. In the middle of 22

710483 \ Ü. 5.71

of the scalene element is provided with an opening 26, Das Shell element 14 is electrically non-conductive and can through Vacuum forming from a relatively thin sheet of suitable thermoplastic material such as vinyl plastic, Linear polyethylene, cellulose acetobutyrate or the like. Be made.

The clamping plate 16 is also non-conductive and preferably constructed identically to the shell element 1 ^ · and accordingly has a circular flat bottom 28 with a U-shaped edge or V / ulst j> o and has a central opening 32. It will be understood that the shape of the clamping plate l6 is not important, but the form shown is v because of the savings in manufacturing costs, the result is the use of the same parts for both the shell element l4 alc also result for the clamping plate l6, preferred.

The fastening element 18 designed as a matrix part has a lower circular plate part "A , in the center of which a hollow pin J> 6, which is open at the upper end, is formed protruding upwards, and an upper plate part J) Q with an upwardly protruding hollow base 4o To assemble the parts forming the electrode Io, the shell element 14 and the clamping plate 16 are first placed in the center on opposite sides of the plastic 12. The pin J> 6 is then inserted through the opening 26, through the center of the plate 12 and then pushed through the opening J> 2 into the base ¹ ^ o. The parts of the fastening element Io are then pressed together, whereupon the upper end of the pin ~ jb bends inward and its side walls bend outward so that the Parts of the fastener: are firmly clamped together The fastener 18 is made of metal and is, as is known to anyone skilled in the art, preferably with a Coating

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Or a plating of silver or the like. Provided to a satisfactory electrical contact surface with to produce the electrolyte located in the cavity 42.

The adhesive layer 2o can be applied to the underside of the panel 12 either before or after assembly. After the parts are assembled and the adhesive layer 2c is applied, a protective sheet 44 of wax paoior with a central cut-out 46 for the Shell element 14 attached to the underside of plate 12. The electrode with the protective 31att 44 can then up to it should be kept ready for use. Another arrangement is shown in Fig. 4, wherein the shell element 14 is provided with the electrolyte during assembly, and a suitably shaped plastic or paper sheet 48 for protection on the underside of the plate 12 and on the tray member 14 is attached to retain the electrolyte therein. Of course, the protective 31 leaves 44 or 48 was easily removed when using the electrode Io shall be.

'As described above, the metallic fastener should be: 8, \. -which is the only conductor part of the electrode io, must be kept away from contact with the skin. The area between the fastening element 18 and the skin should be completely filled with the: electrolytes. In addition, the movement of the electrode relative to the skin and the electrolyte should inevitably be prevented. In addition to meeting these requirements, the electrode Io of the present invention has an unusually low profile. These properties result primarily from the use of the elastic plate 12 and the shape of the shell element 14.

V. 'which can be seen from a consideration of FIG. 2, form the semicircular or U-shaped bead 24 has a convex curved shape Edge, which · -; * the üffnur.g of the shell element 14 and

a Liu L o ro from the Y.'ulst outwardly running V. "and 5 °. Di;, · ubeiu K an to the outer V.'and ^ o lies essentially on the upper surface of the bottom 22 in one plane The middle part of the elastic plate is pressed together between the opposite bottom flanks of the shell element 14 and the clamping plate 16. As a result, before the electrode Io is attached to the skin, the plate 12 and its adhesive layer 2o are arranged axially above the bulge of the shell element . to attach the electrode Io to the skin, muli the plate are bent 12 downward, whereupon the annular part of the! latte 12, v / hich directly the outer V / and surrounds ^ o, stretched, zv the area. 'isehen the upper edge of the diverging outer V / and 5o and the part of the skin to span at v, ^T eIchern the adhesive layer is attached 2o.':. egen its elasticity pushes the tensioned part of the plate 12 the convexly curved, by the VJuIst 24 ge formed outer part elastic in the skin and forms a slight indentation in it. As a result, the shell element 14 is held tightly sealingly on the skin, as a result of which the electrolyte is inevitably held within the cavity 42. ^p o movement of the shell element 14 and the electrolyte relative to the skin is also avoided. The U-shaped bulge has sufficient depth to form a very small but sufficient gap between the skin and the conductive lower plate part 34 of the fastening element 18 in the cavity 42. Since movements of the shell element are prevented, the space between the plate part and the skin is maintained over long periods of use.

For reasons already mentioned, the elastic plate 12 is preferably made of a foamed or open cell provided polyvinyl chloride with relatively closed cells on the top and bottom. This material is available at low cost, is sufficiently flexible,

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to adapt to the skin and has enough elasticity, to prc: <: "P ovm- of tearing off or pulling away from the skin. As anyone familiar with such material knows, the two are surfaces foamed polyvinyl chloride sheets typically of somewhat different types. One has a more closed one Cell structure than the other. Although these surfaces are interchangeable in the manufacture of the electrode Io here preferred the more open cell surface than Use the underside, the more open cell surface is sufficiently porous to allow sufficient air supply or ventilation the skin it covers, which is particularly important for use over longer periods of time. Also is that A closed cell surface is preferable to the upper surface, because this type of surface is resistant to soiling.

The various thermoplastic materials described above for use in the manufacture of the shell element 14 and the clamping plate 16 mentioned are ideal for this purpose because they are cheap, non-conductive and easily penetrated Vacuum deformation can be brought into the desired shape. Although flexible, it is a cup shape as shown The thermoplastic sheet is made rigid enough to prevent the outer VJand from collapsing 5 ° under the force of the stretched Plate 12 to prevent. The axial space between the rim and the upper edge of the 3ehalenele: r, duck 14 will be like this maintained. A thermoplastic sheet also has compliance which is useful in making a good Sealing with the parts of the fastener 18 helps. As a result, the electrolyte is completely within the Cavity 42 and the hollow center of the fastener held. VJeil both the shell element 14 and the Clamping plate Io are made identically from plate material, the opposite edges of their outer walls press the elastic plate 12 therebetween together, as in FIG 52 is shown. Hence, it is essentially the only part

710483Γ "

the plate 12 v: it is stretched when applied to the skin, the part between the outer V / and 5o and the skin.

An electrode according to the invention was manufactured and successfully tested. As a rule, the electrode had a total height of only 6 mm from the top, the depth of the neck element 14 was 2.4 mm and the elastic plate 12 was 5.2 mm thick. The diameter of the elastic plate 12 v.-ar 88.5 mm. The shell element 14 and consequently the Klerrjriplatte 10 had an overall diameter of 22.2 mm, the diameter of the bottom 22 being 12.7 mm. The lower plate part> 4 of the "ngselementes had a diameter of lo, O mm. These t ^ s are not critical. For example, could the Gesamtdurchmessei aes shell element between approximately 12.7 mm and 25 x 4 mm with the amendments to the diameter Bottom 22 of the shell element and of the plate part 3 ^ of the fastening element.If the shell is not made deeper, the maximum possible shell diameter seems to be about 25.4 mm, especially that of the bead of one Scha3enelenientes could easily larger diameter limited skin contact with the conductive Plattenteii s> ^.

A commercially available, medically classified, more sensitive Acrylic resin adhesive was applied to the lower surface of the elastic plate 12 to form the adhesive layer 2o. Because the underside of the elastic plate 12 is not completely tight, some of the adhesive under the partial closed part of the cell surface must be värlomgslos gev: orden. A sufficiently small amount of adhesive was applied to seal the lower surface against the passage of air to avoid. Of course, the adhesive layer can also be applied to others Way achieved v.'erden. However, the adhesive layer should be pressure sensitive so that the elastic plate 12 is stretched as a natural result of pressing the plate 12 against the skin. Also, the adhesive layer should not be of the type that it

the flexibility of the elastic plate r: acJ: teiii, i, which adapts to the skin, or that it affects the pores of the underside of a egg-stiff lull ir

The D-archncc ^ er of the illustrated elastic plate 12 is possibly 2 i / 2 rr.c: 1: o _; jroß v: ic eier Durchir.c ^ cer des Schalenelernentos - ^; _; . It ;; ird vorjezc ^ cri, daö the Durchr.ciGcer of the supporting plate ^{. 2 normal -} ..eir.e 2 bio;, times as ^ roß as de · "IXii ¹ ChITOC ^- Cr de ^; ^ ci; alenele: eiitcc i * t i.st, uir a large Hauckontakt:... ':. Liche far the dr ^- layer ckcr.pfindiiche adhesive to' chaffer .. ..eil the supporting plate 1Γ is flexible, it conforms lci .t at Ee ^-:.. ^ ooun on to the chewing Obv.-chl the Schaleneier.ent 14: -_ ^ is ativ unflexibcl is cv by the voltage of cedeimuer part of the tra _o enclen plate 12 ^ enüjend fixed gecc-.. n held on the skin, so that the electrode according to this invention can end up on objects and be grounded before they are permanently in bev; eijun _u .

Claims (1)

Protection claims 1. Electrode which can be attached to the skin and has a structure for receiving an electrolyte: and one in de :: _; Structure for contact with the electrolyte arranged conductor, characterized in that: on eau a shell element (14) with a V.uist (24) for resting on the skin and an outer V.and (5o) with axially of the on the skin lying bead of distant edge, a cicstical plate (12) protrudes over the outer wall ur.d on the inside extending beyond the lower V / and (5o) is provided with adhesive (2o), and oa £ the plate (-2) in engagement with the edge of the outer '..and together: rmo;: ^ ekiem:.: t is. 2. Electrode according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer '..ar.d (5o) "ct. Bead (24) runs outwards. 3. Electrode according to Ar.srr.ch 1 or 2, characterized in that; the bead (.-_- i) and the outer V.'and (5o) are circular, ur.a that the adhesive (2c) completely surrounds the outer /.'and. 4. Electrode after one, de: before ■.-R.er.der. Claims: thereby g e k e η η ζ e i ch η e t, approx lache des '..' ulstcü (2τ) Icsnvc: -: kr'-r. · ".: i.t. 5 x ElektiOde according to one of vcr'r;.. \ "Chcr.J; he claims, characterized in that, among other things because ^ :; Schaleneiement (14) ir düni'.on from a plastic produced c rm of a hollow disc.? Flat? Consists, ur.'i aa .; the outer V.'and (5 ^) U3S Schalenciemc-r.te :: ger.üger.l rigid i ^ t, in order to avoid collapsing. ^ Enr . stretched the plate for adhesion to the skin v; ird. - I j - 6. Electrode according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shell energizer .-: nc is non-conductive, and that the conductor (l8) within the ochalen egg duck. · Is arranged away from its opening formed by the Y / ulst (24) . 7. Electrode according to one of the preceding addresses, characterized in that the adhesive pressure sensitive ice and the elastic plate as Srgebiii.-: des Gegenpresser.s stretchable against the skin iot. 3. Electrode according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a Kicrr.v.platte (io) ü'oer the elastic plastic (12) placed and to de: .- Schaleneler.ent (l ² ^ ·) to Klemrr.en de ^ elastic plate to da: ochalei.ele.T.ent attached ict. it. Electrode according to claim 8 ^ thereby ge - kc η r. ζ calibrate η et that the loiter (io) consists of intertwining.uen ^ u ^ an. "; c: -_ e:.: - e ^ -«, er. parts and an upper and a -jsi ^ erc plate ( Zo, ^ 4) aui ':: eist, v: eici "ie ir.it der Kl ^ rninpliifw_ (lü) bz ;;. derr. Jcr.aleneie.v.ent (l4) engaged. 10. Elekti'cde nac :. /. claim ■ '-), dadurcii ge - k draws in, daj Jcr I ^ oitcr a 3efectigungseic-c-.t (io) I ^ t, -..- 2Ic: .or J-jrc "Ja ^ ochalcnelement (I ² J-), cüe cic ^ ·.! . S..Z P.av-te ('.I') -: ". D üio Γ.-e: nnplatt, e (l6) protrudes and that ei ar 3-jfe-; ti _v , .-; i ^ . clc :: v: T! t so o :: l *. ~ Hch Ir aura of the shell element al: also co-preserved kit.-.-. v.plc-.t.te eloct: -i-: c; i ieitencio surfaces 11. EicktiO; lo rii.c.-. L'i: * v - '.' Ti der Ar.cprUcnc; ο to io, da.KV: ic :. , e κ c η. :: e I c. :. η et, oc; the clamping plate (lo) uii ^ üa. '.: .. i -'.:. e U - :. "._ :: t (. ··) iu ·: .'... · ::. c. .: '^ ci; aut and opposite -Ik- \ P- electrode after one of the vü: ':, oi'.; E: ic :: uo: i claims, ei ;; Jurcl:, je] ■: e η η ζ eic h r. c "c, üa;". uie elaGti ^ che lull (12) au.:, a.- ;; V: ': errr ₁ o: yia:. * Oi. ": O: .c" iia ^ crial with oi'i'onen digits. herje-'Oellt i.- t, a.ii. a ·.;:. Polyvinylcl-lori with relatively [rc.:c;ilo^^cijc:i cells ir. R.er upper · - and ur; to ι ·:.: ei te