Long-term wear electrode
An electrode for use with a therapeutic current delivery system can include a flexible, water vapor-permeable, conductive adhesive material; a current dispersing element in contact with the conductive adhesive material; and a non-conductive, flexible, water vapor-permeable, electrically-insulating top layer provided in contact with the current dispersing element. The current dispersing element can be conductive at least laterally along a plane of the electrode. The conductive adhesive material can be conductive in a direction substantially orthogonal to the plane of the electrode and semi-conductive in a direction substantially lateral to the plane of the electrode.
1. An electrode for use with a therapeutic current delivery system, comprising:
a non-conductive, flexible, water vapor-permeable, electrically-insulating top layer; and
a flexible, water vapor-permeable, conductive adhesive material disposed on one side of the electrically-insulating top layer,
wherein the conductive adhesive material is conductive in a direction substantially orthogonal to the plane of the electrode and semi-conductive in a direction substantially lateral to the plane of the electrode; and
wherein the electrode has an overall water vapor permeability greater than 100 gm/m 2 /24 hours.
2. The electrode of claim 1 , further comprising a current dispersing element formed into the conductive adhesive material.
3. The electrode of claim 2 , wherein the current dispersing element is conductive in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the electrode.
4. The electrode of claim 2 , wherein the current dispersing element comprises a metallic wire mesh.
5. The electrode of claim 2 , wherein the current dispersing element comprises nickel-plated carbon-filled fibers.
6. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic current delivery system is a defibrillation system.
7. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic current delivery system is a pacing system.
8. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the flexible, water vapor-permeable, conductive adhesive material comprises conductive particles.
9. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the flexible, water vapor-permeable, conductive adhesive material is between 0.25 and 50 mils.
10. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the electrode is configured to uniformly distribute current to a patient.
11. A therapeutic current delivery system comprising:
a therapeutic current delivery device;
at least one cable connector connected to the therapeutic current delivery device; and
at least one electrode connected to the at least one cable connector,
wherein the at least one electrode comprises:
a non-conductive, flexible, water vapor-permeable, electrically-insulating top layer; and
a flexible, water vapor-permeable, conductive adhesive material disposed on one side of the electrically-insulating top layer,
wherein the conductive adhesive material is conductive in a direction substantially orthogonal to the plane of the at least one electrode and semi-conductive in a direction substantially lateral to the plane of the at least one electrode; and
wherein the at least one electrode has an overall water vapor permeability greater than 100 gm/m 2 /24 hours.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one cable connector is no more than 10 inches long.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the therapeutic current delivery device is a defibrillation device.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the therapeutic current delivery device is a pacing device.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the therapeutic current delivery device is a nerve stimulation device.
16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one electrode further comprises a current dispersing element formed into the conductive adhesive material.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the current dispersing element is conductive in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the at least one electrode.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the current dispersing element comprises a metallic wire mesh.
19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the current dispersing element comprises nickel-plated carbon-filled fibers.
20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one electrode is configured to uniformly distribute current to a patient.