Patent ID: 6973344

Claim:
An apparatus for collecting surface electromyographic (EMG) signals from a patient, comprising: a plurality of electrodes, wherein each electrode includes a front side and a back side, wherein the front side includes a patient contacting surface thereon, and wherein the back side is in connection with an electrical conducting elements; a support member that is sufficiently flexible to conform to the contours of a skin surface of a patient, wherein the support member includes: a plurality of apertures therethrough, wherein the apertures are arranged in a predetermined pattern, wherein the electrodes extend in the apertures and are in releaseable supporting connection with the support member; a front face, wherein the front face includes an adhesive thereon, wherein the adhesive has sufficient adhesive strength to adhere the support member to the skin surface of the patient and enables the support member to be removed from the skin surface of the patient with a less than harmful removal force, and wherein the front side of each electrode is positioned relative to the front face such that when the support member is adhesively adhered to the patient, the front side of each electrode contacts the skin surface of the patient; a rear face, wherein the back side of each electrode is adjacent the rear face; a plurality of flexible support discs with diameters larger than the apertures of the support member, wherein each support disc is positioned over each aperture in releasable connection with the rear face of the support member, wherein each support disc releaseably supports at least one electrode in each aperture, wherein the support discs are adhesively attached to the support member and the back side of each electrode.