Enhanced surface and tip for obtaining bioelectrical signals
The present invention is a device for providing an enhanced bioelectric sensing probe tip to facilitate locating and obtaining a bioelectric resistance value from a patient for therapeutic and/or diagnostic purpose. One embodiment of the present invention is a probe tip that comprises a uniform array of bristles that contacts a surface layer of a patient's skin to enable the bioelectric probe tip to locate and obtain a bioelectric resistance value from the patient. Another embodiment of the invention is to provide a probe tip cover that prevents foreign material from contaminating the probe tip and to assist in attaching the probe tip to a probe.
1. A device for obtaining an electrical signal from a patient at the patient's skin, said device comprising:
(a) a probe tip having a distal end and a proximal end;
(b) the proximal end having a means for releaseably attaching to a probe;
(c) the distal end having an array of bristles comprising a sensing surface at a tip, wherein the tip of the bristles have a hexagonal shape;
wherein the bristles are configured such that a plurality of the bristles simultaneously contact a dermal surface layer of a patient to enable the sensing surface to locate and obtain a bioelectric resistance value from the patient.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the probe tip is made of brass, brass alloy or brass plated material.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the array of bristles form a uniformed pattern.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the array of bristles height varies from 0.01 millimeters to 1 millimeters.
5. The device of claim 1 , the means for attaching the probe tip to the probe is by a threaded screw threads.
6. A device for obtaining an electrical signal from a patient at the patient's skin, said device comprising:
(a) a probe tip having a distal end and a proximal end;
(b) the proximal end having a means for releaseably attaching to a probe;
(c) the distal end having an array of bristles comprising a sensing surface at a tip, wherein the tip of the bristles have a hexagonal shape;
(d) a cover comprising a receiving cavity and a grip;
wherein the bristles are configured such that a plurality of the bristles simultaneously contact a dermal surface layer of a patient to enable the sensing surface to locate and obtain a bioelectric resistance value from the patient;
wherein the probe tip is placed into the receiving cavity for storage.
7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the cover is made of a non-conductive material.
8. The device of claim 6 , the probe tip includes a plane surface near the proximal end and the receiving cavity includes a level surface that is similar in size and shape as the plane surface;
wherein when a torquing force is applied to the grip, the torquing force is transferred to the probe tip.
9. The device of claim 6 , the probe tip includes a seal rim;
wherein, the diameter of the seal rim is slightly larger than the diameter of the receiving cavity.
10. A method for obtaining an electrical signal from a patient at the patient's skin:
(a) selecting a device comprising:
(i) a probe tip having a distal end and a proximal end;
(ii) the proximal end having a means for attaching to a probe;
(ii) the distal end having an array of bristles comprising a sensing surface at a tip, wherein the tip of the bristles have a hexagonal shape;
wherein the bristles are configured such that a plurality of the bristles simultaneously contact a dermal surface layer of a patient to enable the sensing surface to locate and obtain a bioelectric resistance value from the patient
(b) placing the device against a dermal surface layer of the patient.
11. The method of claim 10 , the device includes a cover, the cover having a receiving cavity and a grip;
wherein placing the probe tip in the receiving cavity to protect the probe tip during storage.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the probe tip includes a plane surface near the proximal end and the receiving cavity includes a level surface that is similar in size and shape as the plane surface; wherein a torquing force is applied to the grip, and the torquing force is transferred to the probe tip.