Patent Description:
As an example of this type of biological electrode, a biological electrode described in Patent Document <NUM> is known. The biological electrode described in Patent Document <NUM> has an electrode member which is in contact with a body of a subject and a conductive support member which supports the electrode member, and the electrode member is made of a conductive rubber in which at least electrode member contains silicone rubber and silver powder. In the biological electrode described in Patent Document <NUM>, a plurality of electrode members are provided so as to protrude from the support member in a brushed shape.

<CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT> each disclose a biological electrode comprising an electrode member made of a conductive rubber having a plurality of electrode portions in contact with a body of a subject, wherein the plurality of electrode portions are protrusively formed on an electrode portion forming surface of the electrode member and arranged circularly or concentrically on the electrode portion forming surface, and each of the plurality of electrode portions is formed so that a cross-sectional area thereof gradually decreases from a proximal end portion thereof toward a distal end portion thereof and a center of a cross section of the distal end portion is positioned radially outward of a center of a cross section of the proximal end portion as viewed from an arrangement center of the plurality of electrode portions.

<CIT> further discloses that each of the plurality of electrode portions has an oblique conical shape with a rounded apex.

<CIT> discloses a biopotential electrode having a plurality of prongs circularly arranged on a surface of a solid polymer, wherein each prong is formed approximately perpendicular to the surface of the solid polymer, and, when fitted into openings formed in a housing, deformed to be inclined towards an outer periphery.

[Patent Document <NUM>] International Publication <CIT>.

Many of the conventional biological electrode for detecting electroencephalogram have a plurality of electrode portions (corresponding to the electrode member in Patent Document <NUM>), and a distal end side portion of each electrode portion pushes the hair of the subject aside and comes into contact with the scalp of the subject, thereby enabling detection of electroencephalogram.

Here, for example, when an electroencephalogram of a subject having a large amount of hair is detected, a strong pressing force is required to be applied to the biological electrode in order to prevent the biological electrode from being floated up due to hair and to bring the distal end side portion of each electrode portion into contact with the scalp of the subject. When such a strong pressing force is repeatedly applied to the biological electrode, the distal end side portion of each electrode portion may be deformed. In particular, if the distal end side portion of the electrode portion is bent in the direction opposite (inward) to the direction in which it extends, it becomes difficult to stably contact the distal end side portion of the electrode portion with the scalp of the subject, which may interfere with the detection of electroencephalogram.

Note that this is not limited to the case of detecting electroencephalogram, and is widely common when the distal end side portion of the electrode portion is brought into contact with a body (skin) of a subject to detect a biological signal.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a biological electrode capable of suppressing bending in the direction opposite to (inward) the direction in which a distal end side portion of an electrode portion that comes into contact with a body of a subject extends.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the biological electrode includes an electrode member made of a conductive rubber having a plurality of electrode portions that comes into contact with a body of a subject. The plurality of electrode portions are protrusively formed on an electrode portion forming surface of the electrode member and arranged circularly or concentrically on the electrode portion forming surface. Further, each of the plurality of electrode portions is formed so that a cross-sectional area thereof gradually decreases from a proximal end portion thereof toward a distal end portion thereof and a center of a cross section of the distal end portion is positioned radially outward of a center of a cross section of the proximal end portion as viewed from an arrangement center of the plurality of electrode portions.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the biological electrode includes a support member, an electrode member made of a conductive rubber, and a connector that electrically connects the electrode member to the outside. The electrode member includes a supported portion supported by the support member and a plurality of electrode portions provided so as to protrude from the supported portion on the opposite side to the support member and bring into contact with a body of a subject. The connector is configured such that a part thereof is embedded in the supported portion of the electrode member and extends through the support member to have a connecting portion to the outside which is positioned on a surface of the support member on the opposite side to the electrode member. The plurality of electrode portions are arranged circularly or concentrically on an electrode portion forming surface of the supported portion. Further, each of the plurality of electrode portions is formed so that a cross-sectional area thereof gradually decreases from the proximal end portion thereof toward the distal end portion thereof and a center of a cross section of the distal end portion is positioned radially outward of a center of a cross section of the proximal end portion as viewed from an arrangement center of the plurality of electrode portions.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a biological electrode capable of suppressing a distal end side portion of an electrode portion which is brought into contact with a body of a subject from bending in the direction opposite to (inward) the direction in which the distal end side portion extends.

<FIG> is a front view of a biological electrode <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> is a bottom view of the biological electrode <NUM>, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the biological electrode <NUM> according to the embodiment includes a support member <NUM>, an electrode member <NUM> made of a conductive rubber supported by the support member <NUM>, and a connector <NUM> that electrically connects the electrode member <NUM> to the outside. The electrode member <NUM> includes a supported portion <NUM> supported by the support member <NUM>, and a plurality of electrode portions <NUM> protruding from the supported portion <NUM> to the opposite side of the support member <NUM>.

The biological electrode <NUM> allows the biological signal of a subject to be detected (extracted) via the connector <NUM> by contacting the distal end portion of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> of the electrode member <NUM> with a body (skin) of a subject. The biological electrode <NUM> is used, for example, as a biological electrode for measuring electroencephalogram. In this case, the biological electrode <NUM> is attached to the head of the subject such that the distal end side portion of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> contacts the scalp of the subject. However, it is not limited thereto. The biological electrode <NUM> may also be used to detect biological signals other than electroencephalogram.

In the biological electrode <NUM>, the support member <NUM> is formed of an electrically insulating material (e.g., silicone rubber). In the present embodiment, the support member <NUM> is formed in a disk shape. The support member <NUM> includes a support surface 10a for supporting the electrode member <NUM>, and a rear surface 10b opposite to the support surface 10a. In addition, in the center portion of the support member <NUM>, a through hole 10c which penetrates the support member <NUM> in the thickness direction (i.e., which penetrates from the support surface 10a to the rear surface 10b) is formed (see <FIG>).

The support member <NUM> may have a configuration corresponding to the support surface 10a, the rear surface 10b, and the through hole 10c, and does not necessarily have to be formed in a disk shape.

In the biological electrode <NUM>, the electrode member <NUM> is formed of a conductive rubber, and has a supported portion <NUM> supported by the support member <NUM>, and a plurality of electrode portions <NUM> protruding from the supported portion <NUM> on the opposite side to the support member <NUM>, as described above. In the present embodiment, the conductive rubber is a so-called conductive silicone rubber containing silicone rubber and metal particles. The silicone rubber is, for example, a room temperature-curable liquid silicone rubber, and the metal particles are, for example, silver particles. A room temperature-curable liquid silicone rubber is a silicone rubber which is in a liquid state or a paste state before curing, and which undergoes a curing reaction at <NUM> to <NUM> to become a rubber elastic body. The silver particles may include aggregated particles (aggregates) in a state in which a plurality of silver particles (primary particles) are stuck or flaked silver particles.

The conductive rubber forming the electrode member <NUM> may contain other metallic particles and carbon-based material particles (such as carbon black and carbon nanotubes) having conductivity instead of silver particles, and may contain reinforcing materials, fillers, and various additives as appropriate.

The supported portion <NUM> of the electrode member <NUM> has the same shape as that of the support member <NUM>. That is, in the present embodiment, the supported portion <NUM> is formed in a disk shape. The supported portion <NUM> has a supported surface 21a supported by the support surface 10a of the support member <NUM>, and an electrode portion forming surface 21b on the opposite side to the supported surface 21a.

A plurality of electrode portions <NUM> are protrusively formed on the electrode portion forming surface 21b of the supported portion <NUM>. The plurality of electrode portions <NUM> are arranged concentrically on the electrode portion forming surface 21b. Specifically, each of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> is arranged so as to be positioned on the circumference of two virtual concentric circles (hereinafter, simply referred to as "concentric circles") <NUM> and <NUM> on the electrode portion forming surface 21b. Further, each of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> is formed so that a cross-sectional area thereof gradually decreases from a proximal end portion (base portion) thereof toward a distal end portion thereof, in other words, as the distance from the electrode portion forming surface 21b.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, each of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> has a circular cross section, and gradually decreases in diameter from the proximal end portion toward the distal end portion. The center C1 of the cross section of each of the proximal end portions of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> is arranged so as to be positioned on the circumference of any of the concentric circles <NUM> and <NUM> (It does not have to be strictly positioned on the circumferences, and it may be positioned approximately on the circumference).

Each distal end portion of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> is formed in a hemispherical shape. In addition, each of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> is formed so that the center C2 of the distal end portion (also referred to as the center of the cross section of the distal end portion) is positioned radially outward of the center C1 of the cross section of the proximal end portion, when viewed from the arrangement center O of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> (i.e., the center of the concentric circles <NUM> and <NUM>). That is, each of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> has an oblique conical shape with a rounded apex. Incidentally, reference numeral OL in <FIG> is a center line of the concentric circles <NUM> and <NUM>, and shows a perpendicular line of the electrode portion forming surface 21b passing through the arrangement center O.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction (It does not have to be strictly an equal interval, and it may be approximately an equal interval). Specifically, each of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> is arranged at equal intervals on the circumference of any of the concentric circles <NUM> and <NUM>.

<FIG> is a longitudinal section view (an enlarged view) of the electrode portion <NUM> cut in a plane including a perpendicular line OL of the electrode portion forming surface 21b passing through the arrangement center O (i.e., the center line of the concentric circles <NUM> and <NUM>). As shown in <FIG>, in each of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM>, the virtual straight line X connecting the center C1 of the cross section of the proximal end portion and the center C2 of the cross section of the distal end portion is inclined in such a manner that the virtual straight line X is further away from the perpendicular line OL of the electrode portion forming surface 21b passing through the arrangement center O (the center line of the concentric circles <NUM> and <NUM>), toward the distal end portion from the proximal end portion.

Further, in each of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM>, the generating line B1 at a position farthest from the arrangement center O is perpendicular to the electrode portion forming surface 21b. On the other hand, the generating line B2 at a position closest to the arrangement center O of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> is inclined in such a manner that the generating line B2 is further away from the perpendicular line OL of the electrode portion forming surface 21b passing through the arrangement center O, toward the distal end portion from the proximal end portion. Here, the term "vertical" in this specification does not mean vertical in a strict sense, and an inclination of about ±<NUM> degrees is acceptable.

In the biological electrode <NUM>, the connector <NUM> is formed as a snap button type connector. More specifically, the connector <NUM> is formed as a male side connector in the snap button type connector. In this embodiment, the connector <NUM> includes a first conductive member <NUM> and a second conductive member <NUM> fitted to each other (see <FIG>).

The first conductive member <NUM> and the second conductive member <NUM> are formed of stainless steel, for example. In the first conductive member <NUM>, one end side is embedded in the supported portion <NUM> of the electrode member <NUM> and extends through the support member <NUM>, and the other end side protrudes from the rear surface 10b of the support member <NUM>. The second conductive member <NUM> is disposed on the rear surface 10b of the support member <NUM>, in a state of being fitted to the other end side of the first conductive member <NUM>. Then, the electrode member <NUM> of the biological electrode <NUM> is electrically connected to the outside by mounting (fitting) the female side connector (not shown) of the snap button type connector to the second conductive member <NUM>. That is, the connector <NUM> is configured such that a part thereof is embedded in the supported portion <NUM> of the electrode member <NUM> and extends through the support member <NUM> to have a connecting portion to the outside which is positioned on a rear surface 10b of the support member <NUM>.

For example, the electrode member <NUM> of the biological electrode <NUM> is electrically connected to a measuring device by mounting (fitting) a female side connector attached to the distal end of a lead wire of the measuring device to the second conductive member <NUM>. The measuring device is a device for inputting a biological signal detected by the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> of the electrode member <NUM> of the biological electrode <NUM>, and processing, displaying, and/or analyzing the inputted biological signal, and is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, an electroencephalogram measuring device, a wearable information device, and a health monitoring device.

The first conductive member <NUM> and the second conductive member <NUM> will be specifically described with reference to <FIG>. In the present embodiment, the first conductive member <NUM> and the second conductive member <NUM> are formed in a flanged bottomed cylindrical shape.

The first conductive member <NUM> includes a first bottomed cylindrical portion <NUM> having an open end 41a at one end and a closed end (bottom) 41b at the other end, and a first flange portion <NUM> extending radially outward from the open end 41a of the first bottomed cylindrical portion <NUM>. The outer diameter of the first bottomed cylindrical portion <NUM> is set to substantially the same as the diameter of the through hole 10c of the support member <NUM>. A fitting portion <NUM> recessed in the radial direction is formed in a portion near the closed end 41b on the outer peripheral surface of the first bottomed cylindrical portion <NUM>. The first flange portion <NUM> is slightly inclined so that the outer side in the radial direction is positioned closer to the closed end 41b of the first bottomed cylindrical portion <NUM> than the inner side.

In the first conductive member <NUM>, mainly the surface 42a opposite to the first bottomed cylindrical portion <NUM> side of the first flange portion <NUM> is embedded in the supported portion <NUM> of the electrode member <NUM>, the first bottomed cylindrical portion <NUM> is inserted into the through hole 10c of the support member <NUM> (i.e., extends through the support member <NUM>), and a portion in the closed end 41b side of the first bottomed cylindrical portion <NUM> (including the fitting portion <NUM>) protrudes from the rear surface 10b of the support member <NUM>. In the following, the surface 42a opposite to the first bottomed cylindrical portion <NUM> side of the first flange portion <NUM> is referred to as "embedded surface".

The second conductive member <NUM> includes a second bottomed cylindrical portion <NUM> having an open end 51a at one end and a closed end (bottom) 51b at the other end, and a second flange portion <NUM> extending radially outward from the open end 51a of the second bottomed cylindrical portion <NUM>. The second bottomed cylindrical portion <NUM> is formed so as to increase the inner diameter toward the closed end 51b from the open end 51a. The inner diameter of the open end 51a of the second bottomed cylindrical portion <NUM> is set to substantially the same as the outer diameter of the fitting portion <NUM> formed on the outer peripheral surface of the first bottomed cylindrical portion <NUM> of the first conductive member <NUM>. Incidentally, the side surface and the bottom surface of the second bottomed cylindrical portion <NUM> are connected with a smooth curved surface. The second flange portion <NUM> has an inclined portion inclined so that the outer side in the radial direction is away from the closed end 51b of the second bottomed cylindrical portion <NUM> than the inner side.

In the second conductive member <NUM>, the open end 51a of the second bottomed cylindrical portion <NUM> is fitted and fixed to the fitting portion <NUM> of the first bottomed cylindrical portion <NUM> of the first conductive member <NUM>, by caulking and the like, thereby, the connector <NUM> of the biological electrode <NUM> is formed.

Here, an example of a method for manufacturing the biological electrode <NUM> will be briefly described. In the following description, it is assumed that the connector <NUM> is attached to the support member <NUM> in advance. Specifically, it is assumed that the first bottomed cylindrical portion <NUM> of the first conductive member <NUM> is inserted into the through hole 10c of the support member <NUM> from the closed end 41b side, the open end 51a of the second bottomed cylindrical portion <NUM> of the second conductive member <NUM> is fitted to the fitting portion <NUM> of the first bottomed cylindrical portion <NUM> of the first conductive member <NUM> protruding from the rear surface 10b of the support member <NUM>, thereby, the assembly of the support member <NUM> and the connector <NUM> is formed in advance. That is, in the present embodiment, the connector <NUM> is a member provided on the support member <NUM> side.

In manufacturing the biological electrode <NUM>, first, a conductive rubber which is in a liquid state of a paste state and contains silicone rubber and metal particles is stirred, and the stirred conductive rubber is injected into a molding die (cavity) having a shape of the electrode member <NUM>. Thus, the conductive rubber is formed in the shape of the electrode member <NUM> in the molding die.

Next, the support member <NUM> to which the connector <NUM> is attached, that is, the assembly of the support member <NUM> and the connector <NUM> is placed on the conductive rubber in the molding die with the support surface 10a of the support member <NUM> facing downward. Thereby, the support surface 10a of the support member <NUM> is placed on a portion corresponding to the supported surface 21a of the supported portion <NUM> of the conductive rubber formed in the shape of the electrode member <NUM>. Further, the embedded surface 42a of the first flange portion <NUM> of the first conductive member <NUM> is embedded in a portion corresponding to the supported portion <NUM> of the conductive rubber formed in the shape of the electrode member <NUM>.

Next, the conductive rubbers molded in the form of electrode member <NUM> are crosslinked, with the assembly of the support member <NUM> and the connector <NUM> placed thereon. Thus, the conductive rubber formed in the shape of the electrode member <NUM> is cured, and the first conductive member <NUM> and electrode member <NUM> are integrated. That is, the connector <NUM> and (the supported portion <NUM> of) the electrode member <NUM> are molded integrally. Furthermore, the support member <NUM>, the electrode member <NUM> and the connector <NUM> are integrated. Thereafter, the integrated support member <NUM>, electrode member <NUM> and connector <NUM> are removed from the molding die (demolded) and post-processed as required to complete the biological electrode <NUM>.

As described above, the biological electrode <NUM> according to the embodiment includes an electrode member <NUM> made of a conductive rubber having a plurality of electrode portions <NUM> in contact with a body of a subject. The plurality of electrode portions <NUM> are protrusively formed on an electrode portion forming surface 21b of the supported portion <NUM> of the electrode member <NUM> and arranged concentrically on the electrode portion forming surface 21b. Further, each of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> is formed so that a cross-sectional area thereof gradually decreases from a proximal end portion (base portion) thereof toward a distal end portion thereof and a center C2 of a cross section of the distal end portion is positioned radially outward of a center C1 of a cross section of the proximal end portion as viewed from an arrangement center O of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM>.

Further, in each of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM>, the virtual straight line X connecting the center C1 of the cross section of the proximal end portion and the center C2 of the cross section of the distal end portion is inclined in such a manner that the virtual straight line X is further away from the perpendicular line OL of the electrode portion forming surface 21b passing through the arrangement center O, toward the distal end portion from the proximal end portion.

Therefore, while ensuring the flexibility and elasticity of each electrode portion <NUM>, the shape of each electrode portion <NUM> can be a shape that can be difficult to bend (fall) in the direction opposite to the direction in which each electrode portion <NUM> extends (also referred to as inward, here refers to the direction toward the arrangement center O of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM>). In other words, as compared with the prior art, the shape of each electrode portion <NUM> can be a shape that hardly affected by the load input to the distal end side from the outer diagonal direction (see broken line arrow in <FIG>) and have increased rigidity to the load. Therefore, even when a relatively strong pressing force is repeatedly applied to the biological electrode <NUM>, it is suppressed that the distal end side portion of each electrode portion <NUM> is bent in the direction opposite to the direction in which it extends, stable contact of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> with respect to the body of the subject can be maintained.

Further, the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> are arranged at equal intervals on the circumferential direction. Therefore, when a pressing force is applied to the biological electrode <NUM>, it is suppressed that the stress is biased to act on some of the electrode portions <NUM>. Therefore, it can be also suppressed that some of the electrode portions <NUM> are deformed to a greater extent than the remaining electrode portions <NUM> and cannot be stably contacted with the body of the subject.

Each of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> has an oblique conical shape with a rounded apex. Therefore, it can be effectively suppressed that each electrode portions <NUM> is bent in the direction opposite to the direction in which it extends, and the distal end side portion of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> can be stably contacted with the body of the subject with little discomfort to the subject.

Further, in each of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM>, the generating line B1 at a position farthest from the arrangement center O of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> is perpendicular to the electrode portion forming surface 21b (as described above, an inclination of about ±<NUM> degrees is acceptable). Therefore, while preventing a decrease in workability at the time of demolding by suppressing the generation of the undercut portion, the shape of each electrode portion <NUM> can be a shape which is hardly affected by the load input to the distal end side from the outer oblique direction and increases the rigidity to the load input from the outer oblique direction.

In the embodiment described above, the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> are arranged concentrically on the electrode portion forming surface 21b. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. As shown in <FIG>, the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> may be arranged circularly. In this case, each of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> is arranged so as to be positioned on the circumference of the virtual circle <NUM> on the electrode portion forming surface 21b. Also in <FIG>, reference numeral O indicates the arrangement center of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> (the center of the virtual circle <NUM>), reference numeral OL indicates the perpendicular line of the electrode portion forming surface 21b passing through the arrangement center O (the center line of the virtual circle <NUM>).

In the embodiment described above, each of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> is arranged so as to be positioned on the circumference of two virtual concentric circles <NUM> and <NUM> on the electrode portion forming surface 21b of the supported portion <NUM> of the electrode member <NUM>. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Each of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> may be arranged so as to be positioned on the circumference of three or more virtual concentric circles.

Although not shown, the biological electrode <NUM> may have an additional electrode portion of any shape which is brought into contact with the body of the subject in addition to the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> as needed.

In the embodiment described above, each of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> has a circular cross section. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, each of the plurality of electrode portions <NUM> may have a cross-section of a shape other than circular (e.g., a rounded corner polygon).

Claim 1:
A biological electrode (<NUM>) comprising an electrode member (<NUM>) made of a conductive rubber having a plurality of electrode portions (<NUM>) for being brought into contact with a body of a subject,
wherein the plurality of electrode portions (<NUM>) are protrusively formed on an electrode portion forming surface (21b) of the electrode member (<NUM>) and arranged circularly or concentrically on the electrode portion forming surface (21b), and
each of the plurality of electrode portions (<NUM>) has an oblique conical shape with a rounded apex, and is formed so that a cross-sectional area thereof gradually decreases from a proximal end portion thereof toward a distal end portion thereof and a center (C2) of a cross section of the distal end portion is positioned radially outward of a center (C1) of a cross section of the proximal end portion as viewed from an arrangement center (O) of the plurality of electrode portions (<NUM>),
wherein in each of the plurality of electrode portions (<NUM>), a generating line (B1) at a position farthest from the arrangement center (O) is perpendicular to the electrode portion forming surface (21b).