Patent ID: 6658291
Filing Date: 2003-12-02
Classification: A61B,A61N

Abstract:
A medical electrode pad comprising:a substrate with an adhesive surface; a conductive electrode island disposed on the substrate; and a conductive electrode disposed on the substrate, the conductive electrode island and the conductive electrode having a spatial relationship so that the conductive electrode is spaced apart from and surrounding the conductive electrode island; a voltage source for supplying voltage to the conductive electrode island and the conductive electrode via a pair of conductors; artifact reference signal detection means for detecting a voltage difference between the conductive electrode island and the conductive electrode and for determining an electrode pad attachment quality; and said pair of conductors for providing said voltage to the electrode conductive island and the conductive electrode, said pair of conductors being in communication with the substrate and coupled to the conductive electrode island and the conductive electrode, respectively, so that a first conductor of the pair of conductors is coupled to the conductive electrode island and a second conductor is coupled to the conductive electrode; and wherein said determination of electrode pad attachment quality n is a function of: (1) one of skin resistivity and a resistance between the conductive electrode island and the conductive electrode, and skin conductance and a conductance between the conductive electrode island and the conductive electrode, (2) width of the space between the conductive electrode and the conductive electrode island, and (3) an effective perimeter of space surrounding the conductive electrode island.