JP2013158363A - Biomedical electrode, sheet for the same, and iontophoretic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a biomedical electrode used for iontophoresis or the like, which achieves cost reduction without causing deformation or the like in a thin plastic base material even when a conductive layer is formed, and to provide a sheet thereof and an iontophoretic apparatus.SOLUTION: A biomedical electrode 1 includes a flexible base material 2, a metal electrode 11 provided on the flexible base material 2, and a metal chloride electrode 21 provided adjacent to the same surface of the flexible base material 2 where the metal electrode 11 is provided, and the thickness of the metal electrode 11 is made thinner than the thickness of the metal chloride electrode 21. At the time, it is preferable that the thickness of the metal electrode 11 is not less than 30 nm and not more than 800 nm and the thickness of the metal chloride electrode 21 is not less than 0.8 μm and not more than 500 μm, and it is preferable that the metal electrode 11 is a silver electrode and the metal chloride electrode 21 is a silver-silver chloride electrode. Further, it is preferable that the metal electrode 11 is silver nanoparticles whose average particle size is not less than 1 nm and not more than 30 nm.

Description

  The present invention relates to a biological electrode used for iontophoresis, a sheet thereof, and an iontophoresis device having the biological electrode.

  Iontophoresis is a method of mainly promoting the permeation of an ionic drug through a biological membrane using electrical energy, and is used for the purpose of promoting percutaneous absorption of the drug. Specifically, a sheet in which a thin electrode and a conductive electrode are electrically connected is bonded to the skin via an ionic agent, and a fine current is passed between the electrodes to cause the charged ionic agent to be attached to the skin. It is a technology that penetrates inside.

  As such an iontophoresis device, Patent Document 1 discloses the generation of power by utilizing the difference in surface potential between two different parts of the body surface of an organism and the ionization tendency between the electrolyte on the body surface and the electrode. There has been proposed an iontophoresis device that introduces an active component, which is a miniaturized device using the generated power, from the body surface into the body. According to this technology, it is said that an iontophoresis device that is inexpensive, easy to use, safe, effective, compact, portable, and disposable can be provided.

  In Patent Document 2, a variable shape substrate, a first conductive layer in contact with the substrate, a first electrode layer in contact with a part of the first conductive layer, a contact with the substrate, a first conductive layer, A second conductive layer located on the same plane; a current collector in contact with the second conductive layer; a conductive adhesive in contact with the second conductive layer and the current collector; in contact with the current collector; A battery comprising: a second electrode layer having a polarity opposite to that of one electrode layer; an ion conductive polymer electrolyte positioned between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer; and an adhesive for sealing the ion conductive polymer electrolyte. An integrated iontophoresis patch has been proposed. According to this technique, the iontophoresis patch and the battery are integrated to improve manufacturing productivity, and the current resistance can be minimized to provide high efficiency.

  Patent Document 3 proposes a biological electrode used in a low-frequency treatment device and the like, and the conductive layer constituting the biological electrode includes conductive carbon fine particles and silver fine particles and a resin binder. It describes that it is formed by screen printing with a conductive ink or a conductive ink mainly composed of silver.

  Patent Document 4 proposes a biological electrode constituting a low-frequency treatment device or an iontophoresis device, and a conductive layer having a thickness of 2 μm to 35 μm constituting the biological electrode is formed of silver, silver / silver / It describes that a conductive ink containing metal particles such as silver chloride and nickel and a resin binder is formed by screen printing or the like.

JP 2009-195650 A WO2009 / 125960 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-108558 JP 2001-299713 A

  In the above-described conventional biomedical electrode, a conductive layer having a thickness of about 5 μm to 15 μm is formed by screen-printing a conductive ink containing metal particles and a resin binder. However, when such a thick conductive layer is formed on a flexible thin plastic substrate, the plastic substrate is formed by heat shrinkage or the like in an annealing process (for example, 120 ° C., 15 minutes) for obtaining conductivity after the formation of the conductive layer. There was a problem of distortion and deformation. Moreover, since the biomedical electrode is a disposable type, cost reduction has been demanded.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the object thereof is to perform iontophoresis or the like that realizes cost reduction without causing deformation or the like in a thin flexible substrate even when a conductive layer is formed. An object of the present invention is to provide a biomedical electrode and a sheet thereof. Another object of the present invention is to provide an iontophoresis device having such a biological electrode.

  (1) A living body electrode according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is the same as a flexible base material, a metal electrode provided on the flexible base material, and the flexible base material provided with the metal electrode. And a metal chloride electrode provided adjacent to the surface, wherein the thickness of the metal electrode is smaller than the thickness of the metal chloride electrode.

  According to this invention, since the metal electrode is made thinner than the metal chloride electrode, the amount of the metal electrode material constituting the disposable biological electrode can be minimized, and the cost can be reduced. it can. In addition, when a metal electrode is formed with a material containing a resin binder as in the past, the thickness of the metal electrode is increased, and the flexible base material is deformed by heating during film formation. However, in the present invention, such a problem does not occur because the metal electrode does not contain a resin binder. Moreover, compared with the case where a metal electrode is formed with the material containing a resin binder, the amount of silver used can be reduced and the cost of the electrode material can be greatly reduced.

  In the biomedical electrode according to the present invention, the metal electrode has a thickness of 30 nm to 800 nm and the metal chloride electrode has a thickness of more than 0.8 μm and 500 μm or less.

  According to this invention, since the thickness of the metal electrode is within the above range, the amount of silver used is, for example, about 1/10 to 1/30 less than when the metal electrode is formed of a material containing a resin binder. The cost of the electrode material can be greatly reduced.

  In the biological electrode according to the present invention, the metal electrode is a silver electrode, and the metal chloride electrode is a silver-silver chloride electrode.

  According to the present invention, since a stable silver-silver chloride electrode is used as a metal chloride electrode and a corresponding metal electrode is used as a silver electrode, iontophoresis can be realized in a stable state.

  In the biomedical electrode according to the present invention, the metal electrode is composed of metal nanoparticles.

  According to this invention, since the metal electrode is composed of metal nanoparticles, the drying temperature at the time of forming the metal electrode can be set to, for example, 120 ° C. for several seconds. As a result, it is possible to provide a biological electrode in which the flexible base material does not have “wrinkles” or “distortion”. In addition, the metal electrode is not formed of a material containing a resin binder as in the prior art, but is formed of metal nanoparticles, so that there is an advantage that the resistance value of the metal electrode is reduced.

  In the biomedical electrode according to the present invention, the metal nanoparticles have an average particle size of 1 nm or more and 30 nm or less.

  In the biomedical electrode according to the present invention, the metal electrode has a plurality of window portions or mesh portions.

  According to this invention, since the metal electrode itself is formed not to be a solid electrode but to have a window portion or a mesh portion, it is possible to improve the retention of the drug gel provided on the metal electrode thereafter, Permeation to the biological membrane can be further promoted.

  In the biomedical electrode according to the present invention, the flexible base material is any selected from polyethylene terephthalate, YUPO, art paper, non-woven fabric, and silicon rubber.

  According to this invention, by applying such various flexible base materials, it is possible to apply the flexible base material in a manner that follows the surface form of a human or animal body.

  In the biomedical electrode according to the present invention, the metal electrode has an electrode terminal portion, and a hole is formed in the center of the electrode terminal portion.

  According to the present invention, since the electrode terminal portion constituting a part of the metal electrode has a hole, for example, the metal electrode provided on the surface of the flexible substrate and the connection provided on the back surface of the flexible substrate. Connection with an electrode becomes easy.

  In the biomedical electrode according to the present invention, a metal layer is provided between the metal chloride electrode and the flexible substrate.

  According to the present invention, since the metal layer having good conductivity is provided between the metal chloride electrode and the flexible base material, an electric signal can be efficiently transmitted to the metal chloride electrode. In addition, it is preferable that the component of this metal layer is the same as the metal component which comprises a metal chloride electrode, for example, when a metal chloride electrode is a silver-silver chloride electrode, make a metal layer into a silver layer. Is preferred.

  It is preferable that the metal layer described above is formed in a pattern having a window portion or a mesh portion.

  When the metal layer is a solid electrode, the amount of metal used is increased, and the cost of the metal material is increased, but according to the present invention, by providing a window part or a mesh part in the metal layer, The amount of metal used can be reduced while maintaining the state of efficiently transmitting an electrical signal to the metal chloride electrode. Furthermore, the retainability of the drug gel subsequently provided on the metal chloride electrode can be increased, and the permeation of the drug to the biological membrane can be further promoted.

  The metal layer described above has an electrode terminal portion, and a hole is formed in the center of the electrode terminal portion.

  According to this invention, since the hole is formed in the electrode terminal part of the metal layer provided under the metal chloride electrode, for example, it is provided on the surface of the flexible base material and has a higher specific resistance than the metal electrode. It becomes easy to connect the metal chloride electrode and the connection electrode provided on the back surface of the flexible substrate.

  (2) In the biological electrode sheet according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems, the flexible base material constituting the biological electrode according to the present invention is a long flexible base material, and the long flexible base material A plurality of metal electrodes and metal chloride electrodes constituting the living body electrode according to the present invention are provided side by side on a material.

  According to the present invention, since a plurality of metal electrodes and metal chloride electrodes are provided side by side on a long flexible substrate, a large number of metal electrodes and metal chloride electrodes can be produced at high speed. In addition, a drug gel can be continuously applied roll-to-roll on the metal electrode and metal chloride electrode, and a large number of high-speed bioelectrode sheets that are preferably used for iontophoresis can be produced. can do.

  In the biomedical electrode sheet according to the present invention, the metal electrode and the metal chloride electrode are not arranged in the continuous direction of the long flexible substrate.

  According to the present invention, since the metal electrode and the metal chloride electrode are not aligned in the continuous direction of the long flexible base material, the drug gel is roll-to-roll on the metal electrode and the metal chloride electrode. It can be applied continuously and efficiently.

  (3) An iontophoresis device according to the present invention for solving the above-described problems has the biological electrode according to the present invention, and covers the metal electrode and the metal chloride electrode constituting the biological electrode. A drug gel is provided.

  According to this invention, since the metal electrode is thinned and has a living body electrode having a thickness within the above range, the amount of the metal electrode material constituting the disposable living body electrode can be minimized. The cost of the iontophoresis device can be reduced. In this iontophoresis device, a drug gel is provided so as to cover the metal electrode and the metal chloride constituting the living body electrode, and the side of the drug gel is bonded to the skin for use.

  In the iontophoresis device according to the present invention, one or more of the drug gels are used.

  According to this invention, since one or two or more kinds of drug gels are used, the drug can efficiently penetrate into the body. It is particularly preferable to use two or more types. In addition, as a usage form of the drug gel, one type of drug gel may be provided so as to cover both the metal electrode and the metal chloride electrode, or each of the metal electrode and the metal chloride electrode may be covered separately. One type of drug gel may be provided, or different drug gels may be provided so as to cover each of the metal electrode and the metal chloride electrode separately. The drug gel provided on the metal electrode or metal chloride electrode may be a single drug gel made up of one type of drug gel or a composite drug gel containing two or more types of drug gels. .

  The iontophoresis device according to the present invention comprises an electrode terminal connected to the metal electrode and the metal chloride electrode, and a signal generation device connected to the electrode terminal via an electrode terminal connection portion, on the electrode terminal An insulating layer is provided, or the drug gel is provided at a place other than the electrode terminal.

  According to the present invention, since the drug does not directly contact the electrode terminal for connecting to the signal generating device via the electrode terminal connecting portion, the function of the biological electrode such as an increase in contact resistance does not occur. Note that the signal generation device usually includes at least a signal generation unit and a power supply unit.

  According to the biomedical electrode according to the present invention, the amount of the metal electrode material constituting the biomedical electrode can be minimized, the cost can be reduced, and the metal electrode having the above thickness range can be obtained. Since the resin binder is not included, the amount of silver used can be reduced and the cost of the electrode material can be greatly reduced as compared with the case where the metal electrode is formed of a material containing the resin binder.

  According to the biomedical electrode sheet of the present invention, a large amount of metal electrodes and metal chloride electrodes can be produced at high speed. In addition, a drug can be continuously applied roll-to-roll on the metal electrode and metal chloride electrode, and a biological electrode sheet preferably used for iontophoresis is produced in large quantities and at high speed. be able to.

  According to the iontophoresis device according to the present invention, the amount of the metal electrode material constituting the living body electrode can be minimized, and the cost of the iontophoresis device can be reduced.

It is explanatory drawing of the whole structure of the iontophoresis apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a typical top view which shows an example of the biomedical electrode which comprises the iontophoresis apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a typical top view which shows an example of the window part and mesh part of a metal electrode which comprise the biomedical electrode which concerns on this invention. It is a typical top view showing an example of a plane form of a metal chloride electrode which constitutes a living body electrode concerning the present invention. It is a typical top view which shows the form of the metal layer provided between the metal chloride electrode which comprises the bioelectrode which concerns on this invention, and a flexible base material. It is a typical top view which shows the form of the electrode terminal part of the metal electrode which comprises the biological electrode which concerns on this invention, and a metal chloride electrode. It is a typical top view showing an example of a living body electrode sheet concerning the present invention. It is a typical top view which shows the other example of the biomedical electrode sheet which concerns on this invention. It is a typical block diagram which shows an example of the iontophoresis apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a typical block diagram which shows another example of the iontophoresis apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a typical block diagram which shows another example of the iontophoresis apparatus which concerns on this invention.

  Embodiments of a living body electrode, a living body electrode sheet, and an iontophoresis device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited to the following forms within the range including the technical idea.

[Biological electrode]
The biological electrode 1 according to the present invention is preferably used as an electrode of the iontophoresis device shown in FIG. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the flexible substrate 2, the metal electrode 11 provided on the flexible substrate 2, and the same surface S of the flexible substrate 2 provided with the metal electrode 11 are provided. And a metal chloride electrode 21 provided adjacent to the electrode. The feature is that the thickness of the metal electrode 11 is in the range of 30 nm to 800 nm and the thickness of the metal chloride electrode 21 is in the range of greater than 0.8 μm and less than 500 μm.

  Since such a living body electrode 1 has a thickness within the above range by reducing the thickness of the metal electrode 11, the amount of the metal electrode material constituting the disposable living body electrode 11 can be minimized, Cost reduction can be achieved. In addition, when a metal electrode is formed of a conductive material containing a metal material and a resin binder as in the past, the thickness of the metal electrode is increased, and the flexible base material is deformed by heating during film formation. Does not occur.

  In the specification of the present application, “on” means being provided directly on itself or via another layer, and “on” is directly provided on itself. Means the case. "Covering" means being provided on itself and around it.

  Hereinafter, the components of the present invention will be described in order. The iontophoresis device 31 provided with the biological electrode 1 will be described in detail in an explanation column of “iontophoresis device” described later.

(Flexible substrate)
The flexible substrate 2 is not particularly limited as long as it is a flexible insulating substrate, and a plastic film, paper, or the like can be used. By using the flexible substrate 2, the biological electrode 1 can be attached in a manner that follows the surface form of a human or animal body. Preferred examples of plastic films include resin films such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polymethacrylate, polymethyl methacrylate, polymethyl acrylate, polyester, and polycarbonate. Of these, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene synthetic paper, and the like are preferable. In addition, the polypropylene synthetic paper is a film synthetic paper whose main raw material is polypropylene, and examples thereof include YUPO (registered trademark).

  Examples of materials other than plastic films include art paper, non-woven fabric, and silicon rubber. In addition, it is preferable to use a thin paper with a gap, such as a nonwoven fabric, with a gap filled with a filling material or the like.

  The thickness of the flexible base material 2 varies depending on the material and cannot be generally described. However, in the case of a plastic film, a thickness of 3 μm or more and 200 μm or less can be preferably used. In addition, in YUPO (registered trademark), art paper, non-woven fabric, etc., those having a size of 10 μm or more and 2000 μm or less can be preferably used. Although the thickness of the flexible base material 2 used in the present invention is thin, there is an advantage that deformation does not easily occur even after a metal electrode or the like described later is formed. The reason is that since the metal electrode 11 is formed of metal nanoparticles, the heating conditions are not strict at the time of film formation, and heating in the case where the metal electrode is formed of a conductive material including a metal material and a resin binder as in the past. Therefore, the problem that the flexible base material is deformed does not occur. In addition, the shape of the flexible base material 2 may be a sheet shape of a predetermined size, or may be a long sheet base material wound in a roll shape.

(Metal electrode)
The metal electrode 11 is provided on the flexible substrate 2 with a thickness smaller than that of the metal chloride electrode. Specifically, the thickness of the metal electrode 11 is, for example, in the range of 30 nm to 800 nm. Examples of the constituent material of the metal electrode 11 include silver, gold, copper, palladium, rhodium, and alloys thereof. Particularly preferred is a silver electrode made of silver. The silver electrode has stable electrode characteristics even when it is in contact with, for example, the drug gel 4 containing chloride ions, and when a silver-silver chloride electrode is used as the metal chloride electrode 21, the silver-chloride It is preferable as an electrode corresponding to a silver electrode. The biomedical electrode 1 composed of a silver electrode and a silver-silver chloride electrode can realize, for example, iontophoresis in a stable state.

  Since the thickness of the metal electrode 11 is reduced to the above range, the amount of the metal electrode material constituting the disposable living body electrode 11 can be minimized, and the cost can be reduced. . As a result, compared to the conventional case where the metal electrode is formed of a material containing a resin binder, the amount of the metal material used can be reduced to 1/10 to 1/30, and the cost of the electrode material can be greatly reduced. it can. The effect is particularly great for metals such as silver, gold, and palladium, which have a high material unit price.

The biomedical electrode 1 is composed of a silver electrode and a silver-silver chloride electrode, and a drug gel 4 is provided to form an iontophoresis device 31, preferably in the range of 0.1 mA / cm ^{2 to} 10 mA / cm ² , preferably When a current in the range of 0.2 mA / cm ² or more and ² mA / cm ² or less is applied, the iontophoresis device is about 10 minutes to 1 hour by setting the thickness of the silver electrode to a range of 30 nm to 800 nm. There is an advantage that it can be electrolyzed in the time. If the thickness of the silver electrode is less than 30 nm, the electrolysis time may be less than sufficient, which is insufficient. On the other hand, if the thickness of the silver electrode exceeds 800 nm, sufficient merit cannot be obtained in terms of cost reduction.

  The metal electrode 11 is preferably composed of metal nanoparticles. Specifically, in the case of a silver electrode, it is preferable to use silver nanoparticles having an average particle diameter of 1 nm or more and 30 nm or less as a constituent material of the silver electrode.

  Since the silver nanoparticles have a small particle diameter, the nano-size effect lowers the sintering start temperature of the particles and enables sintering at a low temperature. As a result, it can be formed on the low melting point substrate without causing thermal damage to the low melting point substrate such as a plastic film. The “average particle diameter” can be evaluated based on the result of observation with an electron microscope.

  The silver electrode is prepared by using silver nanoparticle-containing slurry composed of silver nanoparticles and a volatile solvent as a coating agent. It is formed in the above-described thickness range by applying on the substrate 2 and then adding a drying condition in which the volatile solvent volatilizes. Examples of the volatile solvent include a polar solvent, a hydrocarbon solvent, an aqueous solvent, a ketone solvent, and the like. The silver nanoparticle-containing slurry usually does not contain a resin component. Flexographic printing and gravure printing are capable of high-speed printing such as 100 m / min to 200 m / min, for example, and can improve manufacturing efficiency. In particular, the ink jet method and the method using a dispenser have an advantage that a predetermined shape can be arbitrarily formed by coating. In the present invention, a method of applying and forming the metal electrode and the metal chloride electrode 21 by the ink jet method is preferable.

  The drying conditions can be arbitrarily adjusted depending on the type of the volatile solvent to be blended in the coating agent, but usually the silver nanoparticles are sintered by removing the volatile solvent by drying at 120 ° C. for several seconds. A silver electrode can be formed. Formation of the silver electrode under such dry conditions reduces the thermal load on the flexible base material 2 and thus does not cause “wrinkles” or “distortion” in the thin flexible base material 2. In addition, since the silver electrode is not formed of a material containing a resin binder as in the prior art but is a silver electrode that does not contain a resin binder, there is an advantage that the resistance value of the silver electrode becomes lower.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the metal electrode 11 may have a square shape such as a quadrangle, a circle or an ellipse, or a combination thereof. . Moreover, the uniform solid shape as shown in FIG. 2 may be sufficient, and the various forms as shown in FIG. 3 may be sufficient. For example, the metal electrode 11 having a plurality of window portions 13 shown in FIG. 3A or the metal electrode 11 having a mesh portion 14 shown in FIG. 3B may be used. Thus, by forming the metal electrode itself so as to have the window portion 13 and the mesh portion 14 instead of the solid electrode, it is possible to improve the retention of the drug gel 4 provided on the metal electrode 11 thereafter. The permeation of the drug gel 4 to the biological membrane can be further promoted. In addition, the magnitude | size of the window part 13 and the magnitude | size of the opening of the mesh part 14 can be designed arbitrarily.

  The retainability of the drug gel 4 can also be realized by the method of forming the metal electrode 11. For example, when flexographic printing is applied as a method for forming the metal electrode 11, the surface of the printed metal electrode 11 is not flat when the printing plate is peeled off from the surface of the flexible substrate after printing the coating agent on the printing plate. When there is no unevenness and it is dried in that state, the drug gel can be effectively held by the unevenness. Moreover, also when forming a silver electrode by the method using an inkjet method or a dispenser, an unevenness | corrugation arises on the surface of the metal electrode 11 obtained after drying, and the chemical | medical agent gel 4 can be effectively hold | maintained by the unevenness | corrugation. .

  The metal electrode 11 is connected to the electrode terminal part 12 via the wiring pattern 17 as shown in FIGS. The electrode terminal portion 12 is connected to the electrode terminal 33 via the wiring 6. An insulating layer 16 is usually provided on the wiring pattern 17.

  The electrode terminal portion 12 provided via the wiring pattern 17 may be easily connected by forming a hole 15 in the center thereof as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, the wiring pattern 17 may not be provided, and the hole 15 may be formed in the region of the metal electrode 11 (specifically, the center). As shown in an iontophoresis device 31 of FIG. 11 to be described later, the electrode terminal portion 12 having a hole is connected to the electrode terminal connection portion 34 provided on the back surface of the flexible base material 2 using an electrode connection jig 36. It can be easily connected via the electrode terminal 33. In addition, it is preferable to provide the hole 15 in the center because a current can be uniformly applied to the entire surface of the metal electrode 11.

(Metal chloride electrode)
The metal chloride electrode 21 is thicker than the metal electrode 11 and is provided on the flexible substrate 2. Specifically, the metal chloride electrode 21 is provided adjacent to the same surface S of the flexible substrate 2 on which the metal electrode 11 is provided, for example, within a range of a thickness greater than 0.8 μm and not greater than 500 μm. The thickness of the metal chloride electrode is preferably 0.9 μm or more and 100 μm or less, more preferably 1 μm or more and 20 μm or less.

  As a constituent material of the metal chloride electrode 21, a silver-silver chloride electrode can be preferably exemplified. The silver-silver chloride electrode can exhibit stable electrode potential characteristics even when it is in contact with, for example, a drug gel 4 containing chloride ions, and when the silver electrode is used as the metal electrode 11, the silver-silver chloride electrode It is preferable as an electrode corresponding to an electrode. The biomedical electrode 1 composed of a silver electrode and a silver-silver chloride electrode can realize, for example, iontophoresis in a stable state.

The biomedical electrode 1 is composed of a silver-silver chloride electrode and a silver electrode, and a drug gel 4 is provided to form an iontophoresis device 31 in the range of 0.1 mA / cm ^{2 to} 10 mA / cm ² , preferably 0. When a current in the range of ² mA / cm ² or more and ² mA / cm ² or less is applied, the thickness of the silver-silver chloride electrode is in the range of greater than 0.8 μm and less than or equal to 500 μm. There is no problem because the electrode material has an acceptable amount.

  The metal chloride electrode 21 is preferably composed of metal particles and a resin binder. Specifically, in the case of a silver-silver chloride electrode, it is preferable to use silver chloride particles having an average particle size of 0.1 μm or more and 30 μm or less and a resin binder as constituent materials of the silver-silver chloride electrode. At this time, examples of the resin binder include polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyether, polyurethane, methacrylic resin, epoxy resin, phenol resin, vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, and the like. The solvent is not particularly limited as long as it is harmless to the human body, but a lower alcohol such as ethanol is preferable.

  A silver-silver chloride electrode is prepared by using a slurry composed of silver chloride particles, a resin binder, and a solvent as a coating agent. It is formed on the above-described thickness range by coating on the substrate 2 and then heating to volatilize the solvent and binding silver chloride with a resin binder. Flexographic printing and gravure printing are capable of high-speed pattern printing, such as 100 m / min to 200 m / min, and can increase the efficiency of manufacturing. In addition, the ink jet method and the method using a dispenser have an advantage that a predetermined shape can be arbitrarily formed by coating. In the present invention, the method of applying and forming the metal electrode 11 and the metal chloride electrode 21 by the ink jet method is preferable.

  The heating conditions can be arbitrarily adjusted depending on the type of resin binder and solvent to be blended in the coating agent. For example, when a phenol resin binder is used as a resin binder and an ethanol solvent is used as a solvent, for example, by heating at 125 ° C. for 25 minutes, -A silver chloride electrode can be formed. Formation of the silver-silver chloride electrode under such conditions does not cause excessive heat, and thus does not cause “wrinkles” or “distortion” in the thin flexible substrate 2.

  As in the case of the metal electrode 11, the plan view shape of the metal chloride electrode 21 may be a square shape such as a quadrangle, a circle or an ellipse, as shown in FIG. May be combined with each other. Moreover, it may be a uniform solid shape as shown in FIG. 4, or may be various forms as described for the metal electrode 11. For example, a metal chloride electrode 21 having a plurality of windows similar to the metal electrode 11 of FIG. 3A may be used, or a metal chloride electrode having a mesh similar to the metal electrode 11 of FIG. 21 may be used. Thus, by forming the metal chloride electrode 21 itself so as to have a window part or a mesh part instead of a solid electrode, the retention property of the drug gel 4 subsequently provided on the metal chloride electrode 21 is improved. And the penetration of the drug into the biological membrane can be further promoted. In addition, the magnitude | size of a window part and the magnitude | size of the opening of a mesh part can be designed arbitrarily. Since the retainability of the drug gel 4 can be said to be the same as that of the metal electrode 11, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  A metal layer 29 is preferably provided between the metal chloride electrode 21 and the flexible substrate 2 as shown in FIG. By providing such a metal layer 29, an electric signal can be efficiently transmitted to the metal chloride electrode 21. The metal component of the metal layer 29 is preferably the same as the metal component constituting the metal chloride electrode 21. For example, when the metal chloride electrode 21 is a silver-silver chloride electrode, the metal layer 29 is A silver layer is preferred.

  The metal layer 29 can have various shapes. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5 (B1) to (B3), the metal layer 29 may be formed in a solid shape (FIG. 5 (B1)) or the window portion 23. (FIG. 5 (B2)) or a pattern having a mesh portion 24 (FIG. 5 (B3)). By providing the highly conductive metal layer 29 as a lower layer of the metal chloride electrode 21, an electric signal can be efficiently transmitted to the metal chloride electrode 21 such as a silver-silver chloride electrode.

  4 and 5, the metal chloride electrode 21 is connected to the electrode terminal portion 22 made of the metal layer 29 through the wiring pattern 27 made of the metal layer 29. As shown in FIG. 2, an insulating layer 26 is usually provided on the wiring pattern 27. The electrode terminal portion 22 is connected to the electrode terminal 33 via the wiring 6. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6A, the electrode terminal portion 22 provided through the wiring pattern 27 may be easily connected by making a hole 25 in the center thereof. Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, the wiring pattern 27 may not be provided, and the hole 25 may be formed in the region of the metal chloride electrode 21 (specifically, the center). The electrode terminal portion 22 having the hole 25 is formed on the back surface of the flexible substrate 2 using an electrode connection jig 36 as shown in an iontophoresis device 31 of FIG. Can be easily connected to each other via the electrode terminal 33. In addition, it is preferable to provide the hole 25 in the center in that a current can be uniformly applied to the metal chloride electrode 21.

[Biological electrode sheet]
The biomedical electrode sheet 5 according to the present invention is, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the flexible base material 2 constituting the above-described biomedical electrode 1 according to the present invention is a long flexible base material 2a. A feature resides in that a plurality of metal electrodes 11 and metal chloride electrodes 21 constituting the living body electrode 1 are provided side by side on a long flexible substrate 2a. According to such a biomedical electrode sheet 5, the metal electrode 11 and the metal chloride electrode 21 can be produced in a large amount and at high speed. Further, the drug gel 4 can be continuously applied roll-to-roll on the metal electrode 11 and the metal chloride electrode 21, and a large amount of the biomedical electrode sheet 5 preferably used for iontophoresis. And it can be manufactured at high speed.

  Specifically, a long flexible base material 2a that is rolled or the like is used, and such a flexible base material 2a is continuously supplied in a roll-to-roll manner, and a metal electrode 11 and a metal chloride are provided thereon. Electrode 21 is formed. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, it is preferable to form the metal electrodes 11 and the metal chloride electrodes 21 so as not to be alternately arranged in the continuous Y direction. In other words, it is preferable that the metal electrodes 11 are continuously arranged in the longitudinal direction (Y direction) of the long flexible substrate 2a, and the metal chloride electrodes 21 are also arranged continuously. By doing so, the drug gel 4 can be continuously and efficiently applied only on the metal electrode 11 and the metal chloride electrode 21 by roll-to-roll, and the metal electrode 11 and the metal chloride electrode can be applied. Different types of drug gels 4a and 4b (see FIG. 9) can be continuously and efficiently applied on each of the rolls 21 by roll-to-roll.

[Iontophoresis equipment]
The iontophoresis device 31 according to the present invention includes the above-described biological electrode 1 according to the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1 and 9 to 11, and the metal electrode 11 constituting the biological electrode 1 and A drug gel 4 is provided so as to cover the metal chloride electrode 21. The iontophoresis device 31 is provided with an electrode terminal 33 that is connected to the metal electrode 11 and the metal chloride electrode 21, and a signal generator 39 that is connected to the electrode terminal 33 via the electrode terminal connection portion 34. The signal generation device 39 includes a signal generation unit 37 and a power supply unit 38.

  An integrated iontophoresis device 31 shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 has a living body electrode 1 and a signal generation device 39 to which the living body electrode 1 is attached, and an electrode end 33 of the living body electrode 1. However, the fitting or removal of the biological electrode 1 can be enabled by fitting in a hook manner to the electrode terminal connecting portion 34 of the signal generating device 39.

  In the iontophoresis device 31, preferably, an insulating layer 36 is provided on the electrode terminal 33 as shown in FIG. 10, or the drug gels 4a, 4a, 4a are provided at locations other than the electrode terminal 33 as shown in FIG. Provide. With such a configuration, the drug gel 4 does not directly contact the electrode terminal 33 for connection to the signal generating device 39 via the electrode terminal connecting portion 34, so that the function of the biological electrode 1 such as an increase in contact resistance is deteriorated. Does not occur.

  One type or two or more types of drug gel 4 are used. Since such a drug gel 4 is used, the drug can efficiently penetrate into the body. It is particularly preferable to use two or more types. In addition, as a usage form of the drug gel 4, one type of drug gel 4 may be provided so as to cover both the metal electrode 11 and the metal chloride electrode 21 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 10). One kind of drug gel 4a may be provided so as to cover each of the electrode 11 and the metal chloride electrode 21 (see FIG. 11), or each of the metal electrode 11 and the metal chloride electrode 21 may be covered separately. Different drug gels 4a and 4b may be provided respectively (see FIG. 9). The drug gel 4 provided on the metal electrode 11 or the metal chloride electrode 21 may be a single drug gel made of one type of drug, or a complex drug gel containing two or more types of drugs. Good.

  As the drug contained in the drug gel 4, any therapeutic active substance supplied to a living organ to produce a desired effect can be used. Specifically, including therapeutic agents in major therapeutic areas, including but not limited to anti-infective agents such as antibiotics and antiviral agents; analgesics and analgesic complexes; anesthetics Anti-arthritis drug; anti-asthma drug; anti-convulsant drug; antidepressant drug; anti-diabetic drug; anti-diarrheal drug; anti-histamine drug; anti-inflammatory drug; anti-migraine drug product; Antiemetics; antitumor agents; antiparkinsonians; cardiac stimulants; antidiarrheals; antipsychotics; antipyretic drugs; anticonvulsants including gastrointestinal and urethral agents; anticholinergics; Derivatives; Cardiovascular products including calcium blockers; β (beta) blockers; β (beta) agonists; antiarrhythmic drugs; hypertension drugs; ACE inhibitors; diuretics; general blood vessels, coronary arteries, peripheral blood vessels and brain Vasodilators including blood vessels; Drugs; cough and cold preparations; decongestants; diagnostics; hormones; hypnotics; immunosuppressants; muscle relaxants; parasympathomimetics; parasympathomimetics; prostaglandins; proteins; peptides; And those containing tranquilizers and tranquilizers.

  As described above, the living body electrode 1 according to the present invention can minimize the amount of the metal electrode material used, reduce the cost, and reduce the metal electrode 11 in the above-described thickness range. Since it does not contain a resin binder, the amount of silver used can be reduced to 1/10 to 1/30 compared to the case of forming a metal electrode with a material containing a resin binder, and the cost of the electrode material can be greatly reduced. Can do. In addition, the biological electrode sheet 5 in which the biological electrode 1 is provided on the long flexible substrate 2 can produce the metal electrode 11 and the metal chloride electrode 21 in a large amount and at high speed. Further, the drug gel 4 can be continuously applied roll-to-roll on the metal electrode 11 and the metal chloride electrode 21, and a large amount of the biomedical electrode sheet 5 preferably used for iontophoresis. And it can be manufactured at high speed.

  The iontophoresis device 31 according to the present invention having the living body electrode 1 can minimize the amount of the metal electrode material constituting the living body electrode 1 and can reduce the cost of the entire device. it can. The biological electrode 1 is preferably used as a constituent electrode of the iontophoresis device 31, an electrode of a low-frequency treatment device, an electrode for visceral function testing such as an electrocardiogram, myoelectricity, and an electroencephalogram, and an earth electrode such as an electric knife. It can be suitably used as an electrode for a living body that is attached to a living body for treatment or examination.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Biological electrode 2 Flexible base material 4, 4a, 4b Drug gel 5 Biological electrode sheet 6 Wiring 11 Metal electrode 12 Electrode terminal part 13 Window part 14 Mesh part (opening part)
15 hole 16 insulating layer 17 wiring pattern 21 metal chloride electrode 22 electrode terminal part 23 window part 24 mesh part (opening part)
25 hole 26 insulating layer 27 wiring pattern 29 metal layer 31 iontophoresis device 32 electrode connecting jig 33 electrode terminal 34 electrode terminal connecting portion 35 wiring 36 electrode connecting jig 37 signal generating portion 38 power source portion 39 signal generating device 40 insulating layer X Biological electrode sheet width direction Y Biological electrode sheet conveyance direction (flow direction)
S Same surface of flexible substrate

Claims (16)

  A flexible base material; a metal electrode provided on the flexible base material; and a metal chloride electrode provided adjacent to the same surface of the flexible base material provided with the metal electrode. A biological electrode, wherein the electrode has a thickness smaller than that of the metal chloride electrode.   The biological electrode according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the metal electrode is 30 nm or more and 800 nm or less, and the thickness of the metal chloride electrode is greater than 0.8 µm and 500 µm or less.   The biological electrode according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the metal electrode is a silver electrode, and the metal chloride electrode is a silver-silver chloride electrode.   The biological electrode according to claim 1, wherein the metal electrode is composed of metal nanoparticles.   The biological electrode according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an average particle diameter of the metal nanoparticles is 1 nm or more and 30 nm or less.   The biological electrode according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the metal electrode has a plurality of window portions or mesh portions.   The biological electrode according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the flexible substrate is selected from polyethylene terephthalate, YUPO, art paper, nonwoven fabric, and silicon rubber.   The biological electrode according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the metal electrode has an electrode terminal portion, and a hole is formed in the center of the electrode terminal portion.   The biological electrode according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which has a metal layer between the metal chloride electrode and the flexible substrate.   The biological electrode according to claim 9, wherein the metal layer is formed in a pattern having a window portion or a mesh portion.   The biological electrode according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the metal layer has an electrode terminal portion, and a hole is formed in the center of the electrode terminal portion.   The flexible base material which comprises the biological electrode of any one of Claims 1-11 is a long flexible base material, The metal electrode which comprises this biological electrode on this long flexible base material And a plurality of metal chloride electrodes arranged side by side.   The biomedical electrode sheet according to claim 12, wherein the metal electrode and the metal chloride electrode are not arranged in a continuous direction of the long flexible substrate.   An iontox comprising the biomedical electrode according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a drug gel is provided so as to cover the metal electrode and the metal chloride electrode constituting the biomedical electrode. Foresis device.   The iontophoresis device according to claim 14, wherein one kind or two or more kinds of the drug gel are used. An electrode terminal connected to the metal electrode and the metal chloride electrode, and a signal generator connected to the electrode terminal via an electrode terminal connection portion, and an insulating layer is provided on the electrode terminal, or the electrode The iontophoresis device according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the drug gel is provided at a place other than the terminal.

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