Donald A Barnett

US Patent:

55206832, May 28, 1996

Filed:

May 16, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/243226

Inventors:

Raj Subramaniam - Fremont CA
Christopher R. Clare - Los Altos Hills CA
Donald E. Barnett - Sunnyvale CA

Assignee:

Physiometrix, Inc. - N. Billerica MA

International Classification:

A61B 1739

US Classification:

606 32

Abstract:

A medical electrode for use with a power supply for providing a more uniform current distribution for contacting an exposed surface of skin of a living body comprising a flexible carrier layer formed of an insulating material. A layer of conductive material is carried by the carrier layer. The layer of conductive material is separated into at least two segments with a space therebetween so that the two segments are electrically isolated from each other. A continuous layer of hydrogel material overlies the segments and is disposed in said space. The hydrogel material has a resistivity greater than the resistivity of the skin of the patient. A connector is adapted to be connected to the source of power whereby substantially equal current flow can be achieved from each segment through the skin of the patient without sharp transitions in current flow between the segments and the space between the segments.