Adaptive medical electrode connector with male stud

Claim 1

A disposable medical electrode connector for releasably and electrically connecting either (a) a thin, flexible, disposable, studless, tab-type medical electrode or (b) a medical electrode having a male stud, the electrode secured on the skin of a patient, to a monitor either through a lead cable or through a conventional female couple and lead wire assembly, said disposable medical electrode connector being entirely separate from the electrode, connected to the electrode and not the patient, and comprising: a base having an electrically conducting portion; a top having a top surface and an electrically conducting portion facing said electrically conducting portion of said base; means disposed between said base and said top for mechanically forcing said electrically conducting portion of said base toward said electrically conducting portion of said top to mechanically and electrically engage, between said electrically conducting portion of said base and said electrically conducting portion of said top, either the tab of a tab-type medical electrode or the male stud of a medical electrode having a male stud; means for electrically connecting a lead cable to said electrically conducting portion of said base, the lead cable being attached to a monitor; and a male stud electrically connected to said electrically conducting portion of said top and integrally formed with and projecting from said top surface of said top for mechanically and electrically engaging a conventional female couple and lead wire assembly, said assembly being attached to said monitor.