Surface electrode for electrical stimulation of tissue

1. A surface electrode for contacting a skin surface of a patient, the surface electrode comprising:

(a) an at least partially-conductive surface layer for physically contacting the skin surface, and for conforming therewith, and

(b) an electrically conductive layer, operatively connected to said partially-conductive surface layer, for communication of an electrical signal between said partially-conductive surface layer and said electrically conductive layer,

wherein said at least partially-conductive surface layer is designed and configured so as to enable long-term, intimate contact with the skin surface of the patient over a continuous duration of several weeks.

2. The surface electrode of claim 1 , further comprising:

(c) an adhesive bandage, operatively connected to said electrically conductive layer, for bonding the surface electrode to skin tissue surrounding the skin surface through which said electrical signal passes.

3. The surface electrode of claim 1 , wherein said electrically conductive layer includes a metal foil.

4. The surface electrode of claim 3 , said metal of said foil being selected from the group of metals consisting of gold and platinum.

5. The surface electrode of claim 1 , wherein said at least partially-conductive surface layer has a thickness of less than about 0.5 mm.

6. The surface electrode of claim 1 , wherein said at least partially-conductive surface layer has a thickness of less than about 0.25 mm.

7. The surface electrode of claim 1 , wherein said at least partially-conductive surface layer has a thickness of 0.05–0.35 mm.

8. The surface electrode of claim 1 , wherein said at least partially-conductive surface layer has a thickness of 0.08–0.25 mm.

9. The surface electrode of claim 1 , wherein said at least partially-conductive surface layer is a gel.

10. The surface electrode of claim 1 , wherein said at least partially-conductive surface layer is bio-compatible.

11. The surface electrode of claim 1 , wherein said at least partially-conductive surface layer includes an artificial skin.

12. The surface electrode of claim 11 , wherein said artificial skin includes a polymer membrane.

13. The surface electrode of claim 11 , wherein said artificial skin includes a dermal layer.

14. The surface electrode of claim 11 , wherein said artificial skin includes polysiloxane.

15. The surface electrode of claim 11 , wherein said artificial skin includes a material selected from the group consisting of a nylon matrix, gelatin, polyether, polyester, silicone, polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon®), poly-L-lactide, cellulose, and collagen glycosamino glycan copolymers.

16. A surface electrode for contacting a skin surface of a patient, the surface electrode comprising:

(a) an at least partially-conductive surface layer for physically contacting the skin surface, and for conforming therewith, and (b) an electrically conductive layer, operatively connected to said partially-conductive surface layer, for communication of an electrical signal between said partially-conductive surface layer and said electrically conductive layer,

wherein said at least partially-conductive surface layer is designed and configured so as to enable long-term contact with the skin surface of the patient,

and wherein at least one hole is disposed in said electrically conductive layer, such that the surface electrode is a breathable surface electrode.

17. The surface electrode of claim 16 , wherein said at least one hole is a plurality of holes disposed in said electrically conductive layer, such that the surface electrode is a breathable surface electrode.

18. The surface electrode of claim 16 , wherein said at least one hole is a plurality of holes disposed in said electrically conductive layer, such that the surface electrode is a breathable surface electrode, and wherein at least one hole of said holes is a macroscopic, air-permeable region.

19. The surface electrode of claim 16 , further comprising:

(c) an adhesive bandage, operatively connected to said electrically conductive layer, for bonding the surface electrode to skin tissue surrounding the skin surface through which said electrical signal passes.

20. The surface electrode of claim 16 , wherein said electrically conductive layer includes a metal foil.

21. The surface electrode of claim 20 , said metal of said foil being selected from the group of metals consisting of gold and platinum.

22. The surface electrode of claim 16 , wherein said at least partially-conductive surface layer has a thickness of less than about 0.5 mm.

23. The surface electrode of claim 16 , wherein said at least partially-conductive surface layer has a thickness of less than about 0.25 mm.

24. The surface electrode of claim 16 , wherein said at least partially-conductive surface layer has a thickness of 0.05–0.35 mm.

25. The surface electrode of claim 16 , wherein said at least partially-conductive surface layer is a gel.

26. The surface electrode of claim 16 , wherein said at least partially-conductive surface layer includes an artificial skin.

27. The surface electrode of claim 26 , wherein said artificial skin includes a dermal layer.

28. The surface electrode of claim 26 , wherein said artificial skin includes a polymer membrane.

29. A surface electrode for contacting a skin surface of a patient, the surface electrode comprising:

(a) a flexible, at least partially-conductive surface layer for physically contacting the skin surface, and

(b) an electrically conductive layer, operatively connected to said partially-conductive surface layer, for communication of an electrical signal between said partially-conductive surface layer and said electrically conductive layer, said electrical signal characterized by a signal intensity, form, and distribution,

wherein said at least partially-conductive surface layer is designed and configured so as to enable continuous long-term contact with the skin surface of the patient,

and wherein an impedance of said at least partially-conductive surface layer is sufficiently low such that said intensity, said form, and said distribution of said electrical signal are substantially unaffected by a surface effect selected from the group consisting of absorption of sweat into said surface layer and partial deterioration of said surface layer.

30. The surface electrode of claim 29 , further comprising:

(c) an adhesive bandage, operatively connected to said electrically conductive layer, for bonding the surface electrode to skin tissue surrounding the skin surface through which said electrical signal passes.

31. The surface electrode of claim 29 , wherein said electrically conductive layer includes a metal foil.

32. The surface electrode of claim 31 , said metal of said foil being selected from the group of metals consisting of gold and platinum.

33. The surface electrode of claim 29 , wherein said at least partially-conductive surface layer has a thickness of less than about 0.5 mm.

34. The surface electrode of claim 29 , wherein said at least partially-conductive surface layer has a thickness of less than about 0.25 mm.

35. The surface electrode of claim 29 , wherein said at least partially-conductive surface layer has a thickness of 0.05–0.35 mm.

36. The surface electrode of claim 29 , wherein said at least partially-conductive surface layer has a thickness of 0.08–0.25 mm.

37. The surface electrode of claim 29 , wherein said at least partially-conductive surface layer is a gel.

38. The surface electrode of claim 29 , wherein said at least partially-conductive surface layer includes an artificial skin.