Electrode application system and method for electroconvulsive therapy

Claim 1

The system in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) including: an ECT instrument means which, under operator control, produces a burst of electrical waves sufficient to induce a seizure in the brain of a human patient; a one-use disposable connector-pad assembly comprising a connector plug portion removably electrically connected to said ECT instrument means, a flexible multi-layer laminated electrode pad and a wire connected to said plug portion; said pad applying said electrical waves to the skin of the patient and including an adhesive conductive layer which is a plastic conductive film having first and second surfaces, a metal foil layer electrically connected to said wire and covering said adhesive layer second surface, an insulative layer covering said metal foil layer; and a cover layer removably covering said adhesive layer first surface; wherein said wire is a multi-strand wire of at least three metal strands and said strands at their ends are separated, extend across and are electrically connected to the said metal foil layer.

Claim 2

The system in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) including: an ECT instrument means which, under operator control, produces a burst of electrical waves sufficient to induce a seizure in the brain of a human patient; a one-use disposable connector-pad assembly comprising a connector plug portion removably electrically connected to said ECT instrument means, a flexible multi-layer laminated electrode pad and a wire connected to said plug portion; said pad applying said electrical waves to the skin of the patient and including an adhesive conductive layer which is a plastic conductive film having first and second surfaces, a metal foil layer electrically connected to said wire and covering said adhesive layer second surface, an insulative layer covering said metal foil layer; and a cover layer removably covering said adhesive layer first surface; wherein said wire is a multi-strand wire of at least three metal strands and said strands at their ends are separated, extend across and are electrically connected to the said metal foil layer.

Claim 8

The method, in electroconvulsive therapy, using an ECT instrument, of stimulating the brain of a patient with electrical energy of high current density sufficient to induce seizure in the patient, including the steps of: forming a pad assembly by laminating together a conductive adhesive layer of a plastic conductive film and having a first and a second surface, a flexible conductive metal foil layer covering said second surface having spread across said foil a plurality of at least three separated strands of multi-strand wire, and an insulative layer covering the metal foil layer, said pad assembly having a cover sheet removably covering said first surface; joining the wire at its end opposite the foil layer to an electrical connector plug; arranging the patient for the therapy, removing the cover sheet from the adhesive layer; adhering the adhesive layer to the skin of the patient at the head, connecting the connector plug to the ECT instrument; treating the patient by applying electric current to the head of the patient from the ECT instrument through the adhesive layer, foil layer, multi-strand wire, and the connector plug; and after said treatment peeling the adhesive layer from the skin and disposing of the cover sheet and the pad assembly.

Claim 9

The method, in electroconvulsive therapy, using an ECT instrument, of stimulating the brain of a patient with electrical energy of high current density sufficient to induce seizure in the patient, including the steps of: forming a pad assembly by laminating together a conductive adhesive layer of a plastic conductive film and having a first and a second surface, a flexible conductive metal foil layer covering said second surface having spread across said foil a plurality of at least three separated strands of multi-strand wire, and an insulative layer covering the metal foil layer, said pad assembly having a cover sheet removably covering said first surface; joining the wire at its end opposite the foil layer to an electrical connector plug; arranging the patient for the therapy, removing the cover sheet from the adhesive layer; adhering the adhesive layer to the skin of the patient at the head, connecting the connector plug to the ECT instrument; treating the patient by applying electric current to the head of the patient from the ECT instrument through the adhesive layer, foil layer, multi-strand wire, and the connector plug; and after said treatment peeling the adhesive layer from the skin and disposing of the cover sheet and the pad assembly.