Patent EP0214527A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0214527A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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External ear canal electrode to be placed proximate the tympanic membrane
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1986-08-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-08-21
Abstract
Abstract An electrode (10) adapted to be utilized within the external ear canal (46) for applying/recording electrical signals to/from the neural/neuromuscular system of a person having an external ear canal (46) and adjacent tympanic membrane (48). The electrode (10) utilizes an elongated flexible body (12) having a proximate end (14) and a distal end (16). A compressible material (18) is mounted at the distal end (16) of the body (12) and an electrically conductive gel (20) is carried by the compressible material (18). An electrical conductor (22) communicates with the body (12) and electrically couples the conductive gel (20) to the proximate end (14) of the electrode (10). A method (30) of stimulating the neural/neuromuscular system of a person comprising the steps of inserting (32) an electrode (10) of this design into the external ear canal (46) with the electrode (10) being positioned with the electrically conductive gel (201 proximate the tympanic membrane (48) or tympano-meatal annulus (50). A second return electrode is applied (34) to the body and an electrical stimulus signal is applied (36) to the electrode pair. A method (38) of recording electrical signals from the neurallneuromuscular system of a person having a body and an external ear canal (46) and adjacent tympanic membrane (48) utilizes the steps of inserting (40) an electrode (10) of this design into the external ear canal (46) of the person with the electrode (10) being positioned with the electrically conductive gel (20) proximate the tympanic membrane (481. A second reference electrode is applied (42) to the body of the person and electrical signals are then recorded (44) from the electrode pair.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul H. Minnesota Mining And Stypulkowski
- 👤 Christopher Minnesota Mining And Van Den Honert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:04
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/0526; A61N1/0541; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/68; A61B5/6801; A61B5/6813; A61B5/6814; A61B5/6815; A61B5/6817; A61B5/6846; A61B5/6847; A61B5/6852; A61B5/6853; A61F; A61F11/00; A61F11/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
An electrode adapted to be utilized within the external ear canal for applying/recording electrical signals to/from the neural/neuromuscular system of a person having an external ear canal and adjacent tympanic membrane, characterized by having an elongate flexible body having a proximate end and a distal end; a compressible material mounted at said distal end of said body; an electrically conductive gel carried by said compressible material; and an electrical conductor communicating with said body, said electrical conductor being electrically coupled to said electrically conductive gel and adapted to be coupled to a stimulator/recorder at said proximate end; whereby said electrode may be placed in the external ear canal with said distal end being proximate the tympanic membrane or tympano-meatal annulus so that neural/neuromuscular system may be electrically stimulated/recorded.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
An electrode adapted to be utilized within the external ear canal for applying/recording electrical signals to/from the neural/neuromuscular system of a person having an external ear canal and adjacent tympanic membrane, characterized by having an elongate flexible body having a proximate end and a distal end; a compressible material mounted at said distal end of said body; an electrically conductive gel carried by said compressible material; and an electrical conductor communicating with said body, said electrical conductor being electrically coupled to said electrically conductive gel and adapted to be coupled to a stimulator/recorder at said proximate end; whereby said electrode may be placed in the external ear canal with said distal end being proximate the tympanic membrane or tympano-meatal annulus so that neural/neuromuscular system may be electrically stimulated/recorded.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electrode as in claim 1 wherein said compressible material is absorbent and said electrically conductive gel is absorbed into said compressible material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
An electrode as in claim 2 wherein said compressible material is also resilient.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electrode as in claim 1 wherein said elongated flexible body is stiff enough to be inserted into the external ear canal but flexible enough to bend if said electrode is inserted against the tympanic membrane without rupturing the tympanic membrane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electrode as in claim 1 which further comprises an anesthetic being carried by said compressible material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electrode as in claim 1 which further comprises fixation means for physically securing said electrode with respect to the external ear canal, said fixation means being coupled to said body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
An electrode as in claim 1 wherein said compressible material comprises a sponge.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
An electrode as in claim 1 wherein said body comprises silicone elastomeric tubing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electrode as in claim 1 wherein said compressible material is connected to said distal end of said silicone elastomeric tubing by a coiled spring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electrode as in claim 9 wherein said coiled spring comprises said electrical conductor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electrode as in claim 1 wherein said elongated flexible body is electrically conductive and serves as said electrical conductor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electrode as in claim 1 wherein said electrical conductor has a resistance of not more than about ten kilohms.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
An electrode as in claim 1 wherein said body has a first portion which is more flexible than a second portion of said body, said second portion of said body being closer to said distal end than said first portion.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of stimulating the neural/neuromuscular system of a person having a body and an external ear canal and adjacent tympanic membrane and tympano-meatal annulus, characterized by the steps of: inserting a first electrode into said external ear canal of said person, said first electrode having an elongated flexible body having a proximate end and a distal end, having a compressible material mounted at said distal end of said body, having an electrically conductive gel carried by said compressible material, having an electrical conductor communicating with said elongated flexible body being electrically coupled to said electrically conductive gel, said first electrode being positioned with said electrically conductive gel proximate said tympanic membrane or tympano-meatal annulus of said person; applying a second electrode to said body of said person; and applying an electrical stimulus signal to the electrode pair comprising said first electrode and said second electrode.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of stimulating the neural/neuromuscular system of a person having a body and an external ear canal and adjacent tympanic membrane and tympano-meatal annulus, characterized by the steps of: inserting a first electrode into said external ear canal of said person, said first electrode having an elongated flexible body having a proximate end and a distal end, having a compressible material mounted at said distal end of said body, having an electrically conductive gel carried by said compressible material, having an electrical conductor communicating with said elongated flexible body being electrically coupled to said electrically conductive gel, said first electrode being positioned with said electrically conductive gel proximate said tympanic membrane or tympano-meatal annulus of said person; applying a second electrode to said body of said person; and applying an electrical stimulus signal to the electrode pair comprising said first electrode and said second electrode.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
35 words
A method of stimulating the neural/neuromuscular system of a person as in claim /! f which further comprises the step of applying an anesthetic to the area of said tympanic membrane/tympano-meatal annulus of said person.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of recording electrical signals from the neural/neuromuscular system of a person having a body and an external ear canal and adjacent tympanic membrane and tympano-meatal annulus characterized by the steps of: inserting a first electrode into said external ear canal of said person, said first electrode having an elongated flexible body having a proximate end and a distal end, having a compressible material amounted at said distal end of said body, having an electrically conductive gel carried by said compressible material, having an electrical conductor communicating with said elongated flexible body being electrically coupled to said electrically conductive gel, said first electrode being positioned with said electrically conductive gel proximate said tympanic membrane or tympano-meatal annulus of said person; applying a second electrode to said body of said person; and recording the electrical signal obtained from the electrode pair comprising said first electrode and said second electrode.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of recording electrical signals from the neural/neuromuscular system of a person having a body and an external ear canal and adjacent tympanic membrane and tympano-meatal annulus characterized by the steps of: inserting a first electrode into said external ear canal of said person, said first electrode having an elongated flexible body having a proximate end and a distal end, having a compressible material amounted at said distal end of said body, having an electrically conductive gel carried by said compressible material, having an electrical conductor communicating with said elongated flexible body being electrically coupled to said electrically conductive gel, said first electrode being positioned with said electrically conductive gel proximate said tympanic membrane or tympano-meatal annulus of said person; applying a second electrode to said body of said person; and recording the electrical signal obtained from the electrode pair comprising said first electrode and said second electrode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3531992A
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EP0057450A1
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EP0084972A2
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EP0104924A2
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