GB2131297A - Body engaging electrode - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided a body electrode 10 of electrically conducting rubber or plastics material having an upstanding boss 11 with a slot 14 and slit 15 spaced from one another therein to receive sheathed and unsheathed portions respectively of a wire or cable to be connected to the electrode whereby the sheathed portion of the cable is supported. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Body engaging electrode This invention concerns an electrode of the kind (hereinafter termed of the kind referred to) having an electrically conducting surface adapted to be positioned on the body and to be electrically connected with a wire or cable comprising an electrical conductor and an outer insulating sheath extending from an electro-therapy machine, such as a passive muscle exerciser, for example.

Usually electrodes of the kind referred to are of circular shape and comprise a disc of electrically conducting rubber material, whose body engaging face is provided with a profiled pattern to facilitate moisture retention, thus ensuring good electrical contact, formed integrally with a boss which protrudes upwardly on the outer face of the disc, and frequently through a covering of insulating material on that outer face.

There are many known systems for connecting the electrical conductor of the wire or cable with the boss aforesaid. These known systems either require a relatively costly plug/socket arrangement, requiring a replacement wire or cable in the event of failure or a joint of a kind wherein all flexing of the wire or cable relative to the electrode takes place on a part of the conductor which has been stripped of the insulating sheath with the invevitability of early failure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrode which overcomes the problem aforesaid.

According to the present invention, there is provided an electrode of the kind referred to comprising a plate of electrically conducting rubber or plastics material having an integrally formed upstanding boss on one side thereof, a slot and slit spaced from one another in said boss and adapted to receive a terminal portion of said sheathed wire or cable and a length of said conductor extending from said terminal portion respectively.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description, with reference to the Figures of the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only one form of electrode of the kind referred to and embodying the invention.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 shows a plane view of the electrode with the wire or cable connected thereto; Figure 2 shows a view similar to that of Figure 1 with the cap over the cable connection removed; Figure 3 shows a view similar to that of Figure 2 without any wire or cable connected; and Figure 4 shows a cross-section through the electrode on the line IV-IV of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that the electrode is essentially comprised by a generally rectangular plate-like body 10 having an upstanding circular boss 11 on one of its faces.

The body 10 comprises a layer 10a of electrically conducting rubber material formed integrally with the boss 11, and a layer 10b of insulating rubber material surrounding the boss 11 and covering the outer surface 12 of the electrode.

The inner or body-engaging surface 13 of the electrode has a profiled pattern comprised for example by a multiplicity of concentric circular grooves to facilitate retention of liquid such as a saline solution between the electrode and the skin to ensure good electrical contact.

The boss 11 is provided with a slot 14 and slits 15 parallel with and spaced from one another and lying in planes perpendicular to the plane of the plate-like body 10 and extending downwardly into the boss 11 from its outer circular end.

The width of the slot 14 is such that it can snugly receive a wire or cable complete with its outer insulating sheath.

In use a length of wire or cable to be connected to the electrode has the insulating sleeve striped from the inner conductor for a short distance at one end.

The terminal portion of the sheathed wire or cable is fitted into the slot 14, and the exposed conductor taken around the perimeter of the boss and engaged with the slit 15 (Figure 2). The connection is completed by fitting a covering cap 16 which surrounds the perimeter of the bos and assists in retention of the wire or cable (Figure 1).

it will be appreciated that any flexing between the electrode and wire or cable is accommodated in a part of the wire or cable which is sheathed thus ensuring long life.

If the wire or cable should break, a new connection can be made by the therapist without special skill or tools.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof.

CLAIMS (Filed on 21.11.83) 1. An electrode of the kind referred to comprising a plate of electrically conducting rubber or plastics material having an integrally formed upstanding boss on one side thereof, a slot and slit spaced from one another in said boss and adapted to receive a terminal portion of said sheathed wire or cable and a length of said conductor extending from said terminal portion respectively.

2. An electrode according to claim 1 wherein the face of the plate on the side of the boss and the external surfaces of the boss are covered with an insulating material.

3. An electrode according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the face of the plate opposite the boss has a profiled pattern.

4. An electrode according to claim 3 wherein said profiled pattern comprises a multiplicity of concentric circular grooves.

5. An electrode according to any preceding claim wherein said slot is dimensioned to receive the sheathed wire or cable snugly.

6. An electrode according to any preceding claim including a covering cap for the boss after the wire or cable has been engaged with the boss.

7. An electrode of the kind referred to substan

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Body engaging electrode This invention concerns an electrode of the kind (hereinafter termed of the kind referred to) having an electrically conducting surface adapted to be positioned on the body and to be electrically connected with a wire or cable comprising an electrical conductor and an outer insulating sheath extending from an electro-therapy machine, such as a passive muscle exerciser, for example. Usually electrodes of the kind referred to are of circular shape and comprise a disc of electrically conducting rubber material, whose body engaging face is provided with a profiled pattern to facilitate moisture retention, thus ensuring good electrical contact, formed integrally with a boss which protrudes upwardly on the outer face of the disc, and frequently through a covering of insulating material on that outer face. There are many known systems for connecting the electrical conductor of the wire or cable with the boss aforesaid. These known systems either require a relatively costly plug/socket arrangement, requiring a replacement wire or cable in the event of failure or a joint of a kind wherein all flexing of the wire or cable relative to the electrode takes place on a part of the conductor which has been stripped of the insulating sheath with the invevitability of early failure. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrode which overcomes the problem aforesaid. According to the present invention, there is provided an electrode of the kind referred to comprising a plate of electrically conducting rubber or plastics material having an integrally formed upstanding boss on one side thereof, a slot and slit spaced from one another in said boss and adapted to receive a terminal portion of said sheathed wire or cable and a length of said conductor extending from said terminal portion respectively. The invention will be further apparent from the following description, with reference to the Figures of the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only one form of electrode of the kind referred to and embodying the invention. Of the drawings: Figure 1 shows a plane view of the electrode with the wire or cable connected thereto; Figure 2 shows a view similar to that of Figure 1 with the cap over the cable connection removed; Figure 3 shows a view similar to that of Figure 2 without any wire or cable connected; and Figure 4 shows a cross-section through the electrode on the line IV-IV of Figure 3. Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that the electrode is essentially comprised by a generally rectangular plate-like body 10 having an upstanding circular boss 11 on one of its faces. The body 10 comprises a layer 10a of electrically conducting rubber material formed integrally with the boss 11, and a layer 10b of insulating rubber material surrounding the boss 11 and covering the outer surface 12 of the electrode. The inner or body-engaging surface 13 of the electrode has a profiled pattern comprised for example by a multiplicity of concentric circular grooves to facilitate retention of liquid such as a saline solution between the electrode and the skin to ensure good electrical contact. The boss 11 is provided with a slot 14 and slits 15 parallel with and spaced from one another and lying in planes perpendicular to the plane of the plate-like body 10 and extending downwardly into the boss 11 from its outer circular end. The width of the slot 14 is such that it can snugly receive a wire or cable complete with its outer insulating sheath. In use a length of wire or cable to be connected to the electrode has the insulating sleeve striped from the inner conductor for a short distance at one end. The terminal portion of the sheathed wire or cable is fitted into the slot 14, and the exposed conductor taken around the perimeter of the boss and engaged with the slit 15 (Figure 2). The connection is completed by fitting a covering cap 16 which surrounds the perimeter of the bos and assists in retention of the wire or cable (Figure 1). it will be appreciated that any flexing between the electrode and wire or cable is accommodated in a part of the wire or cable which is sheathed thus ensuring long life. If the wire or cable should break, a new connection can be made by the therapist without special skill or tools. It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof. CLAIMS (Filed on 21.11.83)

1. An electrode of the kind referred to comprising a plate of electrically conducting rubber or plastics material having an integrally formed upstanding boss on one side thereof, a slot and slit spaced from one another in said boss and adapted to receive a terminal portion of said sheathed wire or cable and a length of said conductor extending from said terminal portion respectively.

2. An electrode according to claim 1 wherein the face of the plate on the side of the boss and the external surfaces of the boss are covered with an insulating material.

3. An electrode according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the face of the plate opposite the boss has a profiled pattern.

4. An electrode according to claim 3 wherein said profiled pattern comprises a multiplicity of concentric circular grooves.

5. An electrode according to any preceding claim wherein said slot is dimensioned to receive the sheathed wire or cable snugly.

6. An electrode according to any preceding claim including a covering cap for the boss after the wire or cable has been engaged with the boss.

7. An electrode of the kind referred to substan tially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the Figures of the accompanying drawings.