Long-life biomedical application device, particularly electrode, and method of transferring electrical current

Claim 1

Long storage life multiple purpose biomedical electrode for use on a subject for transferring electrical current between an external circuit and a body surface of the subject having a generally inverted dish or cup-shaped housing (24) of a deformable material, and defining a chamber (66) therein, said housing including a roof (30), and a base (56) and being formed with an opening at the base: a hydrophobic microporous, inducible fluid-permeable membrane (76) secured to said housing at the base, said membrane covering the opening in said housing and closing the chamber (66); a peelable, releasable fluid-impervious protective cover film (90) overlying said membrane; a liquid-compatible, pressure-sensitive adhesive means (94) securing said releasable cover film (90) to said base (56), said protective film being selectively removable to expose said membrane and permit attachment of said electrode to a body surface; electrically conductive terminal means (34) sealed to and extending through said roof of said housing and providing electrically conductive communication between the exterior of said housing of said electrode and said chamber (66); and comprising, in accordance with the invention, means (101, 102) for subdividing said chamber into a first chamber portion (166, 166a) and a second chamber portion (266, 266a), the terminal means (34) having an exposed electrically conductive portion (38, 40) in said first chamber portion (166, 166a), said subdividing means (101, 102) being of frangible material subject to rupture upon deformation and displacement of a wall of the housing; tissue-compatible electrolyte means (70) for conducting electrical current, substantially filling said second chamber portion (266, 266a), said electrolyte means being separated from said exposed electrically conductive portion (38, 40) of the terminal means (34) prior to rupture of the subdividing means, and wherein the first chamber portion (166, 166a) retains therein at least one material selected from the group consisting of a surfactant, a skin penetrant, a sweat-inducing agent, and an antibacterial agent.

Claim 16

A method of transferring electrical current flow between an electrically conductive terminal (34) and a body surface of a subject, said method including providing a biomedical electrode having an assembly of a generally cup-shaped housing (24) of a flexible material including a vaulted, downwardly open dish or cup-like structure, with an electrically conductive terminal (34) being sealed in and extending through said housing; a microporous membrane (76) sealed to and extending across said housing at a base thereof, said membrane closing off said downwardly open structure and defining therein a chamber (66); subdividing mean (101, 102) subdividing said chamber (66) into a first chamber portion (166, 166a) and a second chamber portion (266, 266a), said subdividing means being of frangible plastic material subject to rupture, the terminal extending into the first chamber portion (166, 166a); wherein the second chamber portion (266, 266a) is substantially filled by a tissue-compatible electrolyte means (70) the subdividing means (101, 102) separating the electrolyte means (70) and the terminal (34), and wherein the first chamber portion (166, 166a) retains therein at least one material selected from the group consisting of a surfactant, a skin penetrant, a sweat-inducing agent and an antibacterial agent, and comprising the steps of firmly pressing said electrode assembly into positive contact with the body surface and securing said membrane in contact with the body surface; deforming the walls of said housing to physically transform the shape of the housing to assume a different profile with a resulting change of configuration, said step of deforming the walls of said housing including rupturing or breaking the subdividing means to release the electrolyte means from said second chamber portion (266, 266a) into said chamber (66) and to establish thereby mechanical contact, and electrically conductive connection between said electrolyte means and the terminal (34), after rupture, and to mix said at least one of the materials in the first chamber portion and the electrolyte means upon rupture or breakage of said subdividing means and to provide for pressure upon said electrolyte means and urge the electrolyte means through said microporous membrane (76) to establish effective minimal resistance direct electrical contact between the body surface and the terminal.

Claim 17

A method of transferring electrical current flow between an electrically conductive terminal (34) and a body surface of a subject, said method including providing a biomedical electrode having an assembly of a generally cup-shaped housing (24) of a flexible material including a vaulted, downwardly open dish or cup-like structure, with an electrically conductive terminal (34) being sealed in and extending through said housing; a microporous membrane (76) sealed to and extending across said housing at a base thereof, said membrane closing off said downwardly open structure and defining therein a chamber (66); subdividing mean (101, 102) subdividing said chamber (66) into a first chamber portion (166, 166a) and a second chamber portion (266, 266a), said subdividing means being of frangible plastic material subject to rupture, the terminal extending into the first chamber portion (166, 166a); wherein the second chamber portion (266, 266a) is substantially filled by a tissue-compatible electrolyte means (70) the subdividing means (101, 102) separating the electrolyte means (70) and the terminal (34), and wherein the first chamber portion (166, 166a) retains therein at least one material selected from the group consisting of a surfactant, a skin penetrant, a sweat-inducing agent and an antibacterial agent, and comprising the steps of firmly pressing said electrode assembly into positive contact with the body surface and securing said membrane in contact with the body surface; deforming the walls of said housing to physically transform the shape of the housing to assume a different profile with a resulting change of configuration, said step of deforming the walls of said housing including rupturing or breaking the subdividing means to release the electrolyte means from said second chamber portion (266, 266a) into said chamber (66) and to establish thereby mechanical contact, and electrically conductive connection between said electrolyte means and the terminal (34), after rupture, and to mix said at least one of the materials in the first chamber portion and the electrolyte means upon rupture or breakage of said subdividing means and to provide for pressure upon said electrolyte means and urge the electrolyte means through said microporous membrane (76) to establish effective minimal resistance direct electrical contact between the body surface and the terminal.