Conductive silicone material for human skin electrode
A conductive silicone material for human skin electrode is disclosed. In one embodiment, the conductive silicone material comprises a mixture of silicone and carbon powder such that the mixture has a resistivity of 0.08 to 0.12 Ω·m and a Shore A hardness of 50 to 60. In an exemplary embodiment, the mixture comprises 60 to 80 weight percent silicone and 20 to 40 weight percent carbon powder. A sensor for detecting human biological signal using a conductive silicone electrode is also disclosed.
1. An article of manufacture comprising:
a) a body substrate;
b) at least two electrodes made of a conductive silicone material comprising a mixture of silicone and carbon powder, said at least two electrodes attached to said body substrate; and
c) an electronic unit electrically connected to said at least two electrodes;
wherein said body substrate is a fabric material and each of said at least two electrodes further comprises:
i) a non-conductive silicone material between said conductive silicone material and said body substrate; and
ii) a fiber layer between said conductive silicone material and said non-conductive silicone material.
2. The article of manufacture according to claim 1 , wherein said silicone of said conductive silicone material is methyl vinyl silicone.
3. The article of manufacture according to claim 1 , wherein said carbon powder of said conductive silicone material has a size of 3-5 micrometers.
4. The article of manufacture according to claim 1 , wherein said conductive silicone material further comprises:
a) about 60 to 80 weight percent of said silicone; and
b) about 20 to 40 weight percent of said carbon.
5. The article of manufacture according to claim 1 , wherein said conductive silicone material comprises:
a) 70 weight percent of said silicone; and
b) 30 percent of said carbon.
6. The article of manufacture according to claim 1 , wherein said electrodes have an input impedance of about 500 to 700 ohm.
7. A method comprising steps of
a) providing raw silicone rubber;
b) providing carbon powder;
c) mechanically mixing said raw silicone rubber and said carbon powder to form a mixture;
d) forming a human skin electrode from said bounded mixture by injection molding;
wherein said method further comprises a step of bonding said mixture to a non-conductive silicone material, said bonding step comprising steps of:
i) sandwiching a fiber layer between said mixture and said nonconductive silicone material;
ii) heating said mixture and said non-conductive silicone material to a temperature of 160 to 200 degrees Celsius;
iii) pressing said mixture and said non-conductive silicone material together under a pressure of 10 to 30 kg/cm for at least 10 minutes.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein said mixture comprises:
a) about 60 to 80 weight percent of said raw silicone rubber; and
b) about 20 to 40 weight percent of said carbon powder.
9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein said mixture comprises:
a) 70 weight percent of said raw silicone rubber; and
b) 30 weight percent of said carbon powder.