Patent ID: 7171276

Claim:
An assembly for use with an electro-acupuncture device having at least two electrodes, said electrodes adapted to provide electrical stimulation to a user's skin when the device is secured to the skin, said electrodes defining an inter-electrode gap provided between the electrodes which separates the electrodes, said assembly comprising: a scrim having a top surface and a bottom surface, said scrim provided with pores extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, wherein said top surface contacts the electrodes when the assembly is releasably applied to the electro-acupuncture device, and said bottom surface contacts the skin when the electro-acupuncture device is secured to the skin; and a plurality of masses of hydrogel disposed on the scrim and permeating into the pores of the scrim such that the masses of hydrogel are present on the top surface and the bottom surface of the scrim, wherein the masses of hydrogel are sized and positioned on the scrim such that, for at least one orientation of the scrim relative to the electrodes, any masses positioned within the inter-electrode gap when the assembly is releasably applied to the electro-acupuncture device do not bridge the electrodes, the masses of hydrogel are elongated strips having widths less than the inter-electrode gap even when deformed under contact with the electrodes and the skin.