Surgery: light – thermal – and electrical application – Light – thermal – and electrical application – Electrical energy applicator
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-11
2001-05-29
Layno, Carl H. (Department: 3762)
Surgery: light, thermal, and electrical application
Light, thermal, and electrical application
Electrical energy applicator
C607S152000, C600S372000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06240323
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to biomedical electrodes. More particularly, the present invention relates to novel perforated biomedical electrodes having a surface area for contacting to a patient's skin which can be readily reduced in size depending on a particular application.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Biomedical electrodes are typically used in monitoring electrical impulses from the heart or brain. Conventional biomedical electrodes are generally disposable and comprise a pad member with an electrode projection on its top surface which is in electrical communication with a central portion of the bottom surface for making an electrical contact with a patient's skin. Typically, an adhesive material on the bottom surface surrounds the central portion and attaches the electrode in place. Biomedical electrodes are also typically used in providing electrical impulses for nerve or neuromuscular stimulation. Biomedical electrodes may also be used to deliver current, e.g., a defibrillation pad, in the event that the heart goes into fibrillation or to act as a ground during electrosurgery, e.g., a dispersive pad. Examples of such prior art biomedical electrodes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,674,512 to Rolf; 4,834,103 to Heath; and 5,330,527 to Montecalvo et al.
Examples of biomedical electrodes which are configured to more securely attach an electrical lead wire to the electrode include, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,331,153 and 4,757,817, both to Healy. In particular, the patents to Healy disclose an EKG electrode pad having a cut which allows an auxiliary portion of the pad to be lifted up and placed over the electrical lead wire which attaches to an electrode projection of the electrode.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,007 to Hitti discloses a biomedical electrode that will not easily be pulled from the skin of a patient when a force is exerted between the electrical lead wire and the patient. In particular, the biomedical electrode disclosed in Hitti includes a contact portion connected to a conductive bridge portion. The bridge portion is provided with a series of perforations or slits separated by small connections. The perforations form a break away means for the bridge portion which is used to pull the bridge portion apart, allowing it to expand, either immediately before or after the contact portion is applied to the patient's skin.
A drawback with the above-noted biomedical electrodes is that they are configured with a single or fixed surface area for contacting to a patient's skin. For example, when used in monitoring electrical impulses from a patient's heart or brain, a large number of electrodes are required to be attached to the patient's skin. Biomedical electrodes which have a fixed surface area for contacting to a patient's skin limit how close the biomedical electrodes can be spaced from each other. Such biomedical electrodes are also configured having a single or fixed surface area for establishing an electrical contact or ground with the patient's skin.
In addition, biomedical electrodes having the same contact size are typically packaged and sold in large volumes, e.g., to hospitals or government agencies. This limits purchases of biomedical electrodes having different contact sizes, and particularly, to less frequently used biomedical electrode sizes.
Therefore, there is a need for perforated biomedical electrodes having a surface area for contacting to a patient's skin which can be readily reduced in size allowing the electrode to be better suited for a particular application, e.g., initially being sized for use on an adult patient while having a readily removable portion that can be detached so that the biomedical electrode can be reduced in size for use on a child or small adult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Pursuant to the present invention, the shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages provided through the provision of a biomedical electrode having one or more detachable portions which a clinician can readily remove to thereby reduce the contact size of the electrode, e.g., to reduce the effective area for adhering the electrode to the patient's skin and/or to reduce the effective area for establishing electrical contact or ground with the patient's skin.
One embodiment of a biomedical electrode according to the present invention includes a pad comprising a first portion, a second portion, and a predefined means for detaching the second portion from the pad so that the pad with the second portion comprises a first surface area for contacting a patient's skin and upon detaching the second portion from the pad, the pad comprises a second surface area for contacting the patient's skin. An electrode is operably attached to the first portion of the pad.
The predefined means for detaching may comprise a predefined line of separation and the second portion is detachable from the pad along the predefined line of separation. The predefined means for detaching may also peripherally extend around the first portion. For example, the pad may be disk-shaped, the first portion may be disk-shaped, and the second portion may be annular-shaped.
The predefined means for detaching may further comprise a series of apertures which extends through the pad. Desirably, the biomedical electrode includes a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed on a portion of the first surface area and a protective cover sheet releasably attachable to the layer of adhesive.
In another embodiment of the biomedical electrode, an electrically conductive layer is disposed between the first surface area and the adhesive layer, and the predefined means for detaching comprises a series of apertures which extends through the pad and the electrically conductive layer.
In still another embodiment of the invention, the first portion comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, and the electrode comprises an upper electrical projection extending from the top surface and a lower planar member disposed below the bottom surface. A porous member may be disposed on a bottom surface of the lower planar member and an electrically conductive jelly may be absorbed into the porous member.
A further embodiment of the present invention comprises a method of producing a biomedical electrode comprising the steps of providing a pad having a first portion, defining means for detaching a second portion from the pad so that the pad with the second portion has a first surface area for contacting a patient's skin and upon detaching the second portion from the pad, the pad has a second surface area for contacting the patient's skin, providing an electrode, and attaching the electrode to the first portion.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4233987 (1980-11-01), Feingold
patent: 4331153 (1982-05-01), Healy
patent: 4554924 (1985-11-01), Engle
patent: 4580339 (1986-04-01), Ioffe
patent: 4640289 (1987-02-01), Craighead
patent: 4674512 (1987-06-01), Rolf
patent: 4757817 (1988-07-01), Healy
patent: 4834103 (1989-05-01), Heath
patent: 5330527 (1994-07-01), Montecalvo et al.
patent: 5348007 (1994-09-01), Hitti
patent: 5689877 (1997-11-01), Grill, Jr. et al.
Calenzo, Sr. James C.
Eddy, Jr. Arthur R.
Conmed Corporation
Heslin & Rothenberg, P.C.
Layno Carl H.
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