Solid state conductive polymer compositions, biomedical electrodes containing such compositions, and method of preparing same

Claim 1

A solid state conductive polymer composition comprising: (a) an ionically conductive polymer electrolyte complex formed by a process where the complex is effectively dehydrated by essentially evaporating the water, and (b) an essentially non-volatile plasticizer said polymer electrolyte complex comprising a solid solution of an ionic salt dissolved in a solvating polymer wherein the complex is ionically conductive after processing; said solvating polymer comprising crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) present in the composition in an amount of from about 5 to about 50 weight percent of the composition; said plasticizer comprising a polyhydric alcohol present in the composition in an amount of from about 50 to about 95 weight percent of the composition; said ionic salt present in the composition in an amount sufficient to interact with non-carbon atoms of the solvating polymer; wherein the composition maintains its glass transition properties notwithstanding exposure to ambient air conditions for at least two weeks and wherein the solid solution functions as an ionically conductive medium after the at least two weeks.

Claim 10

A method of preparing a solid state conductive polymer composition comprising: (a) mixing solvating polymer comprising poly(N-vinyl lactam), ionic salt, and essentially non-volatile plasticizer comprising polyhydric alcohol in an amount sufficient to render the composition cohesive and pliable, into a solvent which is essentially volatile above ambient temperatures to form a suspension or solution; (b) casting the suspension or solution onto a substrate; and (c) removing the solvent to form a solid state conductive polymer composition comprising an ionic salt dissolved in the solvating polymer to form a solid solution and causing the composition to be ionically-conductive with water evaporated therefrom.

Claim 11

A method of preparing a solid state conductive polymer composition comprising: (a) mixing solvating polymer comprising poly(N-vinyl lactam), ionic salt, and essentially non-volatile plasticizer comprising polyhydric alcohol in an amount sufficient to render the composition cohesive and pliable, into a solvent which is essentially volatile above ambient temperatures to form a suspension or solution; (b) casting the suspension or solution onto a substrate; and (c) removing the solvent to form a solid state conductive polymer composition comprising an ionic salt dissolved in the solvating polymer to form a solid solution and causing the composition to be ionically-conductive with water evaporated therefrom.

Claim 13

A method of preparing a solid state conductive polymer composition in the absence of water, comprising: (a) mixing without water at least one monomer capable of polymerizing to form a solvating polymer, ionic salt, monomer crosslinking agent, photoinitiator, and essentially non-volatile plasticizer comprising a polyhydric alcohol in an amount sufficient to render the composition cohesive and pliable; wherein said monomer is selected to form a solvating polymer comprising crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) (b) casting the mixture onto a substrate; and (c) polymerizing the monomers by free radical polymerization to form a solid state conductive polymer composition comprising an ionic salt dissolved in the solvating polymer to form a solid solution and causing the composition to be ionically-conductive in the absence of an amount of water present in the composition.

Claim 14

A method of preparing a solid state conductive polymer composition in the absence of water, comprising: (a) mixing without water at least one monomer capable of polymerizing to form a solvating polymer, ionic salt, monomer crosslinking agent, photoinitiator, and essentially non-volatile plasticizer comprising a polyhydric alcohol in an amount sufficient to render the composition cohesive and pliable; wherein said monomer is selected to form a solvating polymer comprising crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) (b) casting the mixture onto a substrate; and (c) polymerizing the monomers by free radical polymerization to form a solid state conductive polymer composition comprising an ionic salt dissolved in the solvating polymer to form a solid solution and causing the composition to be ionically-conductive in the absence of an amount of water present in the composition.