US4989607A — Highly conductive non-stringy adhesive hydrophili…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 120 words

A highly conductive non-stringy adhesive hydrophilic gel comprising a cohesive uniform aqueous mixture of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), a viscosity-enhancing hydrophilic polymer having a weight average molecular weight in excess of about 100 kilodaltons (kD), and an amount of a water-soluble electrolyte effective to reduce the transverse electrical resistance of said aqueous mixture to an impedance at 60 Hz of less than about 1,000 ohms, which aqueous mixture had been exposed to a dose of radiant energy effective to provide a highly conductive non-stringy adhesive hydrophilic gel which exhibits a sharp, substantially featureless force-displacement curve, having a force value of least about 180 grams and an Adhesion Energy Density (AED) of at least about 5 to less than about 50 g/cm.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 120 words

A highly conductive non-stringy adhesive hydrophilic gel comprising a cohesive uniform aqueous mixture of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), a viscosity-enhancing hydrophilic polymer having a weight average molecular weight in excess of about 100 kilodaltons (kD), and an amount of a water-soluble electrolyte effective to reduce the transverse electrical resistance of said aqueous mixture to an impedance at 60 Hz of less than about 1,000 ohms, which aqueous mixture had been exposed to a dose of radiant energy effective to provide a highly conductive non-stringy adhesive hydrophilic gel which exhibits a sharp, substantially featureless force-displacement curve, having a force value of least about 180 grams and an Adhesion Energy Density (AED) of at least about 5 to less than about 50 g/cm.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 14 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 which further comprises an additive uniformly dispersed therein.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 35 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 which further comprises an additive uniformly dispersed therein selected from the group consisting of preservatives, stabilizers, fire retardants, pigments, refractive particles, bacteriacides, antibiotics, cosmetics, moisturizers, pharmaceuticals, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 14 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 which further comprises a biocide uniformly dispersed therein.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 17 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 which further comprises a low area-weight scrim in intimate contact therewith.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 26 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 which further comprises a low area-weight scrim in intimate contact therewith, which scrim is manufactured from a synthetic water-insoluble polymer.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 17 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 in which said viscosity-enhancing hydrophilic polymer is of a synthetic origin.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 17 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 in which said viscosity-enhancing hydrophilic polymer is of a natural origin.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 14 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 in which said viscosity-enhancing hydrophilic polymer is crosslinked.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 14 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 in which said viscosity-enhancing hydrophilic polymer is water-soluble.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 38 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 in which said viscosity-enhancing hydrophilic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamide, poly(vinyl alcohol), polyacrylate, poly(ethylene oxide), poly(ethylene imine), carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, polyacrylamide sulfonic acid, polyacrylonitrile, mixtures, blends, and copolymers thereof.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 15 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 in which said viscosity-enhancing hydrophilic polymer is poly(ethylene oxide).

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 16 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 in which said viscosity-enhancing hydrophilic polymer is a cellulose derivative.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 14 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 in which said viscosity-enhancing hydrophilic polymer is carboxymethylcellulose.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 29 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 in which said viscosity-enhancing hydrophilic polymer is selected from the group consisting of agar, dextran, dextrin, carrageenan, xanthan, guar, derivatives, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 15 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 in which said water-soluble electrolyte is an inorganic salt.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 29 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 in which said water-soluble electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of potassium salts, sodium salts, magnesium salts, calcium salts, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 29 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 in which said water-soluble electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of potassium chloride, sodium chloride, magnesium sulfate, magnesium acetate, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 33 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 in which said aqueous mixture had been exposed to a dose of radiant energy equivalent to greater than about 0.5 Mrad to less than about 4 Mrad.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 31 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 in which said aqueous mixture had been exposed to a dose of radiant energy equivalent to about 0.5 Mrad to less than about 2 Mrad.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 29 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 in which said aqueous mixture had been exposed to a dose of radiant energy equivalent to about 0.7 Mrad to about 1 Mrad.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 23 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 in which said PVP is present at a concentration of about 10 to about 35 weight percent.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 25 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 in which said viscosity-enhancing hydrophilic polymer is present at a concentration of about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 24 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 in which said water-soluble electrolyte is present at a concentration of about 0.1 to about 10 weight percent.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 23 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 2 in which said additive is present at a concentration of about 0.001 to about 3 weight percent.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 27 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 in which said PVP has a weight average molecular weight in the range of about 500 kD to about 2,000 kD.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 20 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 in which said aqueous mixture has a viscosity of at least about 8,000 cps.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 36 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 in which said transverse electrical resistance of said aqueous mixture is reduced to an impedance at frequencies between about 10 to about 60 Hz of less than about 100 ohms.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 105 words

A conductive wound dressing comprising a conductive non-stringy adhesive hydrophilic gel, which gel comprises a cohesive uniform aqueous mixture of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), a viscosity-enhancing hydrophilic polymer having a weight average molecular weight in excess of about 100 kilodaltons (kD), and a sufficient amount of a water-soluble electrolyte, which aqueous mixture had been exposed to a dose of radiant energy affective to provide a highly conductive non-stringy adhesive hydrophilic gel which exhibits a sharp, substantially featureless force-displacement curve, having a force value of at least about 180 grams and an Adhesion Energy Density (AED) of at least about 5 to less than about 50 g/cm.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 105 words

A conductive wound dressing comprising a conductive non-stringy adhesive hydrophilic gel, which gel comprises a cohesive uniform aqueous mixture of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), a viscosity-enhancing hydrophilic polymer having a weight average molecular weight in excess of about 100 kilodaltons (kD), and a sufficient amount of a water-soluble electrolyte, which aqueous mixture had been exposed to a dose of radiant energy affective to provide a highly conductive non-stringy adhesive hydrophilic gel which exhibits a sharp, substantially featureless force-displacement curve, having a force value of at least about 180 grams and an Adhesion Energy Density (AED) of at least about 5 to less than about 50 g/cm.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 53 words

A method of electrical wound healing which comprises (i) contacting an area of the body affected by a wound with the conductive wound dressing of claim 29 and (ii) applying an electrical impulse to said area with the aid of said conductive wound dressing for a period of time effective to promote healing.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 146 words

An electrode comprising: (a) a highly conductive non-stringy adhesive hydrophilic gel, which gel comprises a cohesive uniform aqueous mixture of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), a viscosity-enhancing hydrophilic polymer having a weight average molecular weight in excess of about 100 kilodaltons (kD), and an amount of a water-soluble electrolyte effective to reduce the transverse electrical resistance of said aqueous mixture to an impedance at 60 Hz of less than about 1,000 ohms, which aqueous mixture had been exposed to a dose of radiant energy effective to provide a highly conductive non-stringy adhesive hydrophilic gel which exhibits a sharp, substantially featureless force-displacement curve, having a force value of at least about 180 grams and an Adhesion Energy Density (AED) of at least about 5 to less than about 50 g/cm; and (b) a conductive member, in intimate contact with said gel, to which may be connected external electrical apparatus.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 146 words

An electrode comprising: (a) a highly conductive non-stringy adhesive hydrophilic gel, which gel comprises a cohesive uniform aqueous mixture of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), a viscosity-enhancing hydrophilic polymer having a weight average molecular weight in excess of about 100 kilodaltons (kD), and an amount of a water-soluble electrolyte effective to reduce the transverse electrical resistance of said aqueous mixture to an impedance at 60 Hz of less than about 1,000 ohms, which aqueous mixture had been exposed to a dose of radiant energy effective to provide a highly conductive non-stringy adhesive hydrophilic gel which exhibits a sharp, substantially featureless force-displacement curve, having a force value of at least about 180 grams and an Adhesion Energy Density (AED) of at least about 5 to less than about 50 g/cm; and (b) a conductive member, in intimate contact with said gel, to which may be connected external electrical apparatus.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 49 words

The electrode of claim 31 which is further characterized by its ability to provide an intimate uniform contact and a low impedance such that the occurrence of burns on the skin is minimized, which burns may result from the use of such electrode under conditions suitable for ESU applications.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 38 words

The electrode of claim 31 in which the amount of water-soluble electrolyte ranges from about 5 to about 8 percent by weight of said aqueous mixture to provide an electrode having a DC offset suitable for EKG measurements.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 16 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 having a force value of at least about 250 grams.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 16 words

The hydrophilic gel of claim 1 having a force value of at least about 400 grams.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 22 words

The conductive wound dressing of claim 29 in which said hydrophilic gel has a force value of at least about 250 grams.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 22 words

The conductive wound dressing of claim 29 in which said hydrophilic gel has a force value of at least about 400 grams.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 20 words

The electrode of claim 31 in which said hydrophilic gel has a force value of at least about 250 grams.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 20 words

The electrode of claim 31 in which said hydrophilic gel has a force value of at least about 400 grams.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-02-04	1994-08-06	1995-02-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-02-04	1998-08-06	1999-02-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-02-04	2002-08-06	2003-02-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Highly conductive non-stringy adhesive hydrophilic gels and medical electrode assemblies manufactured therefrom

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