Bioelectrodes

Claim 2

A bioelectrode applicable to a body part, comprising in combination: an electrically insulating structure having a bottom portion and a lateral wall portion defining a cavity; electric current conducting means including an electrode at said bottom portion; means for retaining electrolyte, including a pad of electrolyte-absorbent resilient material in said cavity contacting said electrode at said bottom portion and projecting out of said cavity in an electrolyte containing relaxed condition; a lateral space between said pad and said wall portion; a removable cover on said structure compressing said resilient pad completely into said cavity, said lateral space being of a size to completely accommodate said pad when compressed completely into said cavity by said cover; and means for attaching said structure to a body part.

Claim 3

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said wall portion is rigid.

Claim 4

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said wall portion is hollow-cylindrical; and said pad is laterally spaced from any part of said hollow-cylindrical wall portion.

Claim 5

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said wall portion is rigid.

Claim 6

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said pad is cylindrical; and said lateral space between said pad and said wall portion is annular.

Claim 7

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 5, wherein: said wall portion is rigid.

Claim 8

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said pad has a top surface at said removable cover; and said removable cover has a lid portion which contacts all of said top surface.

Claim 9

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 7, wherein: said lid portion is flat.

Claim 10

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said wall portion has a rim opposite said bottom portion; and said removable cover has an essentially flat lid portion contacting said rim and said pad.

Claim 11

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said wall portion is rigid.

Claim 12

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said pad is of hydrophilic material.

Claim 13

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 1, including: means for anchoring said pad in said cavity.

Claim 14

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said anchoring means are located at said bottom portion.

Claim 15

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said anchoring means are included in said electrode at said bottom portion.

Claim 16

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said electrode at said bottom portion has an organic matrix; and said pad is anchored at said bottom portion with said organic matrix.

Claim 17

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said wall portion is rigid.

Claim 18

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said wall portion is hollow-cylindrical; and said pad is laterally spaced from any part of said hollow-cylindrical wall portion.

Claim 19

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 17, wherein: said wall portion is rigid.

Claim 20

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 17, wherein: said pad is cylindrical; and said lateral space between said pad and said wall portion is annular.

Claim 21

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 19, wherein: said wall portion is rigid.

Claim 22

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said pad has a top surface at said removable cover; and said removable cover has a lid portion which contacts all of said top surface.

Claim 23

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 21, wherein: said lid portion is flat.

Claim 24

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said wall portion has a rim opposite said bottom portion; and said removable cover has an essentially flat lid portion contacting said rim and said pad.

Claim 25

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 23, wherein: said wall portion is rigid.

Claim 26

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said pad is of hydrophilic material.

Claim 27

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 1, including: a central aperture in said pad where said pad projects out of said cavity for receiving an electrolyte.

Claim 28

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said anchoring means include an adhesive anchoring said pad to said bottom portion of said electrically insulating structure.

Claim 29

A bioelectrode comprising in combination: a silver, silver chloride electrode comprising a plurality of silver particles, a plurality of silver chloride particles, and an electrically insulating, water impermeable, inert organic matrix for said silver particles and said silver chloride particles, said silver particles and said silver chloride particles being interspersed with each other in and throughout said matrix, and said interspersed silver particles and silver chloride particles being in electrical contact with each other; an electrical conductor connected to said silver, silver chloride electrode; means for retaining an electrolyte at said silver, silver chloride electrode; container means for said silver, silver chloride electrode and for at least part of said conductor and said electrolyte-retaining means; an adhesive between said electrolyte retaining means and said container means, said adhesive being independent of said matrix and anchoring said electrolyte retaining means in said container means; said silver particles being present in said organic matrix in an amount of from 15 to 70% by volume of said organic matrix with said interspersed silver particles and silver chloride particles; said silver chloride particles being present in said organic matrix in an amount of from 0.2% to 15% by volume of said organic matrix with said interspersed silver particles and silver chloride particles; and said organic matrix constituting essentially the balance of the volume of said organic matrix with said interspersed silver particles and silver chloride particles.

Claim 30

A bioelectrode comprising in combination: a silver, silver chloride electrode comprising a plurality of silver particles, a plurality of silver chloride particles, and an electrically insulating, water impermeable, inert organic matrix for said silver particles and said silver chloride particles, said silver particles and said silver chloride particles being interspersed with each other in and throughout said matrix, and said interspersed silver particles and silver chloride particles being in electrical contact with each other; an electrical conductor connected to said silver, silver chloride electrode; means for retaining an electrolyte at said silver, silver chloride electrode; container means for said silver, silver chloride electrode and for at least part of said conductor and said electrolyte-retaining means; an adhesive between said electrolyte retaining means and said container means, said adhesive being independent of said matrix and anchoring said electrolyte retaining means in said container means; said silver particles being present in said organic matrix in an amount of from 15 to 70% by volume of said organic matrix with said interspersed silver particles and silver chloride particles; said silver chloride particles being present in said organic matrix in an amount of from 0.2% to 15% by volume of said organic matrix with said interspersed silver particles and silver chloride particles; and said organic matrix constituting essentially the balance of the volume of said organic matrix with said interspersed silver particles and silver chloride particles.

Claim 31

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 28, wherein: said electrolyte-retaining means include a sponge anchored by said adhesive in said container means.

Claim 32

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 28, wherein: said organic matrix is an epoxy resin matrix.

Claim 33

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 28, wherein: said organic matrix is elastomeric.

Claim 34

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 28, wherein: said adhesive is a synthetic resin adhesive.

Claim 35

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 28, wherein: said adhesive is a hot-melt adhesive.

Claim 36

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 28, wherein: said adhesive is elastomeric.

Claim 37

A bioelectrode comprising in combination: a silver, silver chloride electrode comprising a plurality of silver particles, a plurality of silver chloride particles, and an electrically insulating, water impermeable, inert organic matrix for said silver particles and said silver chloride particles, said silver particles and said silver chloride particles being interspersed with each other in and throughout said matrix, and said interspersed silver particles and silver chloride particles being in electrical contact with each other; an electrical conductor connected to said silver, silver chloride electrode; means for retaining an electrolyte at said silver, silver chloride electrode; container means for said silver, silver chloride electrode and for at least part of said conductor and said electrolyte-retaining means; an adhesive between said electrolyte retaining means and said container means, said adhesive being independent of said matrix and anchoring said electrolyte retaining means in said container means; said silver particles being present in said organic matrix in an amount of from 70 to 90% by weight of said organic matrix with said interspersed silver particles and silver chloride particles; said silver chloride particles being present in said organic matrix in an amount of from 0.5 to 15% by weight of said organic matrix with said interspersed silver particles and silver chloride particles; and said organic matrix constituting essentially the balance of the weight of said organic matrix with said interspersed silver particles and silver chloride particles.

Claim 38

A bioelectrode comprising in combination: a silver, silver chloride electrode comprising a plurality of silver particles, a plurality of silver chloride particles, and an electrically insulating, water impermeable, inert organic matrix for said silver particles and said silver chloride particles, said silver particles and said silver chloride particles being interspersed with each other in and throughout said matrix, and said interspersed silver particles and silver chloride particles being in electrical contact with each other; an electrical conductor connected to said silver, silver chloride electrode; means for retaining an electrolyte at said silver, silver chloride electrode; container means for said silver, silver chloride electrode and for at least part of said conductor and said electrolyte-retaining means; an adhesive between said electrolyte retaining means and said container means, said adhesive being independent of said matrix and anchoring said electrolyte retaining means in said container means; said silver particles being present in said organic matrix in an amount of from 70 to 90% by weight of said organic matrix with said interspersed silver particles and silver chloride particles; said silver chloride particles being present in said organic matrix in an amount of from 0.5 to 15% by weight of said organic matrix with said interspersed silver particles and silver chloride particles; and said organic matrix constituting essentially the balance of the weight of said organic matrix with said interspersed silver particles and silver chloride particles.

Claim 39

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 35, wherein: said electrolyte-retaining means include a sponge anchored by said adhesive to said container means.

Claim 40

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 35, wherein: said organic matrix is an epoxy resin matrix.

Claim 41

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 35, wherein: said organic matrix is elastomeric.

Claim 42

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 35, wherein: said adhesive is a synthetic resin adhesive.

Claim 43

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 35, wherein: said adhesive is a hot-melt adhesive.

Claim 44

A bioelectrode as claimed in claim 35, wherein: said adhesive is elastomeric.