Leonard T Sheard

US Patent:

62926799, Sep 18, 2001

Filed:

Feb 2, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/496618

Inventors:

Leonard T. Sheard - Amherst Junction WI

International Classification:

A61B 504

US Classification:

600376

Abstract:

A body electrode and connector for a fetal electrode has an electrically insulated substrate with an electrical contact strip on the lower surface and two electrical contact strips on the upper surface. An electrically conductive hydrogel layer extends beneath the lower contact strip and adheres to the mother's skin and makes electrical contact with the lower strip, forming a body electrode. Two parallel, but non-engaging, regions of electrically conductive adhesive are disposed over the two upper surface contact strips. The adhesive regions are, in turn, covered by resilient foam strips. Prior to use, the front portions of the electrically conductive adhesive regions are kept from adhesive engagement with the foam strips by removable release liners. The device is deployed by removing a hydrogel-covering release liner and attaching the device to the inner thigh or lower abdomen of the mother. The twisted wire pair from the fetal electrode is extended from the fetus through the birth canal to the mounted device.