Disposable chest assembly
An assembly for monitoring a vital sign comprising a flat circuit having connectors for attachment to patient mounted electrodes and a connector for attachment to a vital signs monitor in which the electrical conductors are made from a conductor that wears with use such that the conductor becomes unusable with repeated use.
1 . A method of reducing the spread of infection or disease comprising the steps of:
providing a disposable assembly for detecting physiological signals from a patient, said assembly including: a disposable electrode retaining section containing at least one disposable electrode connectors having wearable electrical contact points for connecting to at least one disposable electrode; a disposable assembly connector attached to the electrode retaining section; and at least one disposable electrically conductive element connecting the electrode connector to the assembly connector;
connecting said assembly connector to a monitoring device for monitoring physiological signals of the patient;
attaching said assembly to a single patient for a period of time; and,
removing and disposing of said assembly after use upon the single patient.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical contact points are made from a material which abrades and loses conductivity with repeated connection and disconnection of the connector.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the abradable material is an electrically conductive ink.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the abradable material is silver epoxy ink.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the electrode connector comprises an aperture with at least one flap which loses resiliency with repeated use.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the electrode connectors are color coded.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the assembly is configured to lie on the periphery of the torso.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the assembly is configured for six lead ECG
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the assembly connects to precordial electrodes.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the assembly contains a fabric layer on at least one side of the assembly.
11 . The method of claim 1 wherein the assembly contains an adapter for connection to existing ECG leadwire sets.
12 . A disposable assembly for detecting physiological signals from a patient, said assembly including: a disposable electrode retaining section containing at least one disposable electrode connectors having wearable electrical contact points for connecting to at least one disposable electrode; a disposable assembly connector attached to the electrode retaining section; and at least one disposable electrically conductive element connecting the electrode connector to the assembly connector.
13 . The assembly of claim 12 wherein the electrical contact points are made from a material which abrades and loses conductivity with repeated connection and disconnection of the connector.
14 . The assembly of claim 12 wherein the abradable material is an electrically conductive ink.
15 . The assembly of claim 12 wherein the abradable material is silver epoxy ink.
16 . The assembly of claim 12 wherein the electrode connector comprises an aperture with at least one flap which loses resiliency with repeated use.
17 . The assembly of claim 12 wherein the electrode connectors are color coded.
18 . The assembly of claim 12 wherein the assembly is configured to lie on the periphery of the torso.
19 . The assembly of claim 12 wherein the assembly is configured for six lead ECG
20 . The assembly of claim 12 wherein the assembly connects to precordial electrodes.
21 . The assembly of claim 12 wherein the assembly contains a comfort layer on surfaces adjacent to the patient.
22 . The assembly of claim 12 wherein the assembly contains an adapter for connection to existing ECG leadwire sets.