Physiological recording device with novel and proprietary connector
Inventors
Bibian, Stéphane • Zikov, Tatjana
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11872045-B1
Publication Date
2024-01-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
Electrodes for use in electroencephalographic recording, including consciousness and seizure monitoring applications, have novel features that speed, facilitate or enforce proper placement of the electrodes, including aligning tabs and arrowed aligning juts, color coding, and an insulating bridge between reference and ground electrodes which ensures a safe application distance between the conductive regions of the two electrodes in the event of cardiac defibrillation or to prevent shorting between the adjacent electrodes by preventing the conductive path to be shared. A method of using a set of four such electrodes is also disclosed.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a physiological device that includes an electrode for monitoring biopotentials, the electrode having front and back surfaces and bottom, top, left and right sides. The electrode includes a conductive region that is surrounded by an insulating region on the back surface of the physiological electrode, and a male snap connector on the front surface adapted for connecting to an electrode lead.
A non-standard male snap connector is provided in which the widest portion of the connector is between 2.5 mm and 3.65 mm in diameter. The invention also includes connector geometries and sizes intended to prevent improper lead connection, together with alignment indicators including arrows and colored labels and an orientation jut and a handling tab for enforcing electrode placement.
The device further includes electrode structures for physiological recording, including a conductive region that can include a pre-gelled electrode with a spongy well containing an electrically conductive electrolytic fluid, gel, or colloid. The document also describes a safety-oriented insulating bridge between reference and ground electrodes to maintain a minimum planar separation during cardiac defibrillation.
In example electrode configurations, the document discloses a set of four electrodes including a right temple electrode, a left temple electrode, a reference electrode, and a ground electrode. The document also describes example application methods for consciousness monitoring and seizure monitoring using the electrode kit, along with optional features for electrode verification and mitigation of motion artifact.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers a physiological electrode device with two inventive features: a conductive region surrounded by an insulating region on the back surface, and a non-standard male snap connector on the front surface whose widest portion is dimension-limited. The dependent claims refine the connector geometry and size constraints, and define further electrode construction options and conductive-region chemistry and configurations.
Conductive region surrounded by insulating region on the back surface
A physiological electrode having front and back surfaces and a conductive region surrounded by an insulating region on the back surface.
Non-standard male snap connector with diameter-limited widest portion
A male snap connector on the front surface adapted for connecting to an electrode lead, where the male snap connector is non-standard and the widest portion is between 2.5 mm and 3.65 mm in diameter.
Non-standard connector geometric refinement
A non-standard male snap connector that includes an additional geometric shape limitation, including being non-round in at least one refinement.
Conductive region with defined hydrogen chloride concentration
A conductive region made from an electrolytic fluid, gel, or colloid whose hydrogen chloride concentration is greater than 7% and less than 20%.
Pre-gelled spongy well electrode construction
A physiological electrode that is a pre-gelled electrode having a spongy well containing an electrically conductive electrolytic fluid, gel, or colloid.
Electrode array with at least three electrodes
An electrode that is one member of an electrode array comprising at least three electrodes.
Overall, the claim set centers on a physiological electrode with a conductive region isolated by an insulating region and a non-standard male snap connector dimensioned to reduce improper lead connection. Dependent claims further constrain connector geometry, define conductive-region chemistry via hydrogen chloride concentration ranges, specify pre-gelled spongy well construction, and expand electrode configurations to arrays of at least three electrodes.
Stated Advantages
Maintenance of a minimum planar separation between reference and ground electrodes during cardiac defibrillation.
Prevention of improper lead connection.
Enforcement of electrode placement using alignment indicators and handling/orientation features.
Documented Applications
Consciousness monitoring using an electrode kit including electrode placement-enforcing features and electrode structures.
Seizure monitoring using a disclosed electrode configuration and application methods.
Motion artifact reduction as described in the document.
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