Patent ID: 7018217

Claim:
A structurally integrable electrode for providing an electrically conductive path between first and second nodes of an electrical circuit of a structural member, the electrode comprising: at least one conductive tow having a core and a conductive coating thereon, the tow extending along a longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end, and the core being formed of a plurality of reinforcement fibers extending in the longitudinal direction of the tow; first and second electrically conductive contacts disposed at the first and second ends of the tow, each contact being electrically connected to a respective one of the ends of the tow; and at least one dielectric ply extending generally parallel to the tow and at least partially around the tow such that the ply is configured to electrically insulate the tow between the first and second ends, wherein the first and second contacts are configured to be connected to the first and second nodes of the circuit and the tow is configured to be structurally integrated with the structural member such that the tow provides an electrically conductive path between the first and second nodes.