SOFT AND DRY ELECTRODE

Abstract

An electrode for measuring bioelectric signals of an individual includes a dome-like shape support body having a concave contact side facing the individual and an opposite convex connector side. The support body defines a central axis arranged centrally through the contact and connector sides. The electrode includes outer contact pins located on the contact side at a radially outer region of the support body for contacting an area of interest to be measured. The electrode is made of elastomeric material and has conductive properties. The support body is flexible such that after applying the electrode to the individual a force exerted centrally onto the connector side and parallel to the central axis leads to an upwards bending of the radially outer region. The upwards bending leads to tilting of the outer contact pins such that a tip of the outer contact pins moves radially outwards along the area of interest.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A soft electrode for measuring bioelectric signals of an individual, the electrode comprising: a support body having a contact side facing the individual when applying the electrode to the individual and a connector side opposite the contact side, and the support body further defining a central axis arranged centrally through the contact side and the connector side; the electrode further comprising a plurality of outer contact pins located at a radially outer region of the support body for contacting an area of interest to be measured, the plurality of outer contact pins being supported and arranged on the contact side of the support body; wherein the electrode is made of elastomeric material and has conductive properties; wherein the support body has a dome-like shape having a concave side and a convex side, wherein the concave side forms the contact side of the support body, wherein the support body is designed with a flexibility such that after applying the electrode to the individual a force exerted centrally onto the connector side and parallel to the central axis leads to an upwards bending of the radially outer region of the support body in direction of the connector side, wherein the upwards bending of the radially outer region of the support body leads to a tilting of the plurality of outer contact pins relative to the central axis such that a tip of the outer contact pins moves radially outwards along the area of interest of the individual.

14. The soft electrode according to claim 13, wherein a longitudinal axis of each of the plurality of outer contact pins is parallel to the central axis.

15. The soft electrode according to claim 13, wherein the electrode further comprises a plurality of inner contact pins located at an inner region of the support body closer to the central axis than the outer region of the support body and being dimensioned to contact the individual after the tilting of the outer contact pins occurred.

16. The soft electrode according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of outer contact pins and the plurality of inner contact pins have the same length.

17. The soft electrode according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of outer contact pins and the plurality of inner contact pins are arranged and dimensioned such that while applying the electrode to the individual the plurality of outer contact pins contact the area of interest before the plurality of inner contact pins.

18. The soft electrode according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of outer contact pins and/or the plurality of inner contact pins comprise a cone-shaped base portion and a cylinder-shaped free end portion.

19. The soft electrode according to claim 13, wherein the support body is a dome-shaped disc.

20. The soft electrode according to claim 13, wherein the support body comprises a central disc with a plurality of legs directed radially outwards, at an angle to the central axis of less than 90 degrees and defining the outer region of the dome-shaped support body, wherein the plurality of outer contact pins are arranged at the free end of the legs.

21. The soft electrode according to claim 13, wherein the connector side of the support body is provided with a knob for electrically connecting the electrode to an electronic circuit.

22. The soft electrode according to claim 13, wherein the tip of the plurality of outer contact pins comprises an inclined surface facing towards the central axis of the support body.

23. The soft electrode according to claim 13, wherein the elastomeric material of the electrode is a thermoset elastomer or a thermoplastic elastomer.

24. The soft electrode according to claim 13, wherein the electrode is formed as a single piece.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to embodiments that are illustrated in the figures. The figures show:

[0031] FIGS. 1A-1C a bottom view (FIG. 1A), a side view (FIG. 1B) and a perspective view (FIG. 1C) of an electrode with a dome-shaped circular disk;

[0032] FIGS. 2A-2B sectional views of the electrode of FIGS. 1A-1C before (FIG. 2A) and after (FIG. 2B) exerting a force to the electrode;

[0033] FIGS. 3A-3C a bottom view (FIG. 3A), a side view (FIG. 3B) and a perspective view (FIG. 3C) of an electrode with a dome-like support body with legs; and

[0034] FIGS. 4A-4C sectional views of the electrode of FIGS. 3A-3C before (FIG. 4A) and after (FIG. 4B) exerting a force to the electrode.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0035] FIGS. 1A-1C a bottom view (FIG. 1A), a side view (FIG. 1B) and a perspective view (FIG. 1C) of a soft and dry electrode 1 for measuring bioelectric signals of an individual. FIGS. 2A and 2B show sectional views of the electrode of FIGS. 1A-1C before (FIG. 2A) and after (FIG. 2B) exerting a force to the electrode.

[0036] The electrode 1 is made of elastomeric material, which is provided with conductive additives and/or is at least partially coated with a conductive coating. The electrode 1 is formed as a single piece and comprises a dome-shaped support body 2, several outer contact pins 3 and several inner contact pins 4. The support body 2 forms a concave contact side 21 supporting the contact pins 3, 4 for contacting the individual and a convex connector side 22 opposite the contact side 21. The connector side 22 is provided with a connector knob 28 for electrically connecting the electrode 1 to an electronic circuit. The support body 2 defines a central axis A arranged centrally through the contact side 21 and the connector side 22.

[0037] The support body 2 supports the plurality of outer pins 3, which are arranged at a radially outer circumferential region 23 of the support body 2. A central axis P of each pin 3 is parallel to the central axis A of the support body. In other words, when applying the electrode to the individual, the pins 3 touch the contact area of the individual in a perpendicular direction.

[0038] The dome-shaped support body 2 is flexible such that the radially outer region 23 of the support body 2 may bend upwards (i.e. away from the individual) when a force is applied centrally onto the connector side 22 of the electrode 1 and parallel to the central axis A of the support body 2. Thus, while exerting force onto the connector side 22 of the electrode 1, each outer pin 3 starts to tilt and a tip 31 of each outer pin 3 slides in a radially outward direction along the skin of the individual and thereby brushes through hair that may be present. The contact of the electrode to the individual is thereby increased. To increase rigidity of each outer pin 3, it may comprise a cone-shaped base portion and a cylinder-shaped tip portion.

[0039] The electrode shown in FIGS. 1A-1C and FIGS. 2A and 2B additionally comprises inner pins 4. The outer and inner pins 3, 4 have the same length such that a tip 41 of the inner pins 4 is offset along the central axis A in direction of the connector side 22. Thus, while applying the electrode 1 to the individual, the outer pins 3 contact the contact area of the individual first.

[0040] To facilitate the sliding movement on the skin, the free end of the pins may be rounded or provided with an inclined surface facing towards the central axis of the support body.

[0041] FIGS. 3A-3C show a bottom view (FIG. 3A), a side view (FIG. 3B) and a perspective view (FIG. 3C) of a further embodiment of a soft and dry electrode 1 for measuring bioelectric signals of an individual. FIGS. 4A and 4B show sectional views of the electrode of FIGS. 3A-3C before (FIG. 4A) and after (FIG. 4B) exerting a force to the electrode.

[0042] In contrast to the electrode 1 of FIGS. 1A-1C the support body 2 of the electrode 1 of FIGS. 3A-3C comprises a central circular disc 26 and a plurality of legs 27. The legs 27 are evenly and circumferentially arranged and directed radially outwards at an angle to the central axis A of less than 90 degrees, preferably 30 to 70 degrees. The legs 27 define the outer region 23 of the dome-shaped support body 2. The plurality of outer contact pins 3 are arranged at the free end of the legs 27. In the embodiment shown, inner pins are not present. Alternatively, inner pins, which touch the individual only after the legs start bending may be present.

[0043] While exerting a force to the electrode 1, the outer tips of the legs 27 forming the outer region 23 of the support body 2 move upwards in direction of the connector side 23, i.e. approximately parallel to the central axis A. Thereby, the outer pins 3 tilt and the tip 31 of each outer pin 3 moves outwards, radially away from the central axis A and slides along the skin of the individual.

Reference Signs

[0044] 1 electrode [0045] 2 support body [0046] 21 contact side of support body [0047] 21a concave side [0048] 22 connector side of support body [0049] 22a convex side [0050] 23 outer region of support body [0051] 24 inner region of support body [0052] 25 dome-shaped circular disc [0053] 26 central circular disc [0054] 27 leg [0055] 28 knob [0056] 3 outer contact pin [0057] 31 tip of outer contact pin [0058] 4 inner contact pin [0059] 41 tip of inner contact pin [0060] A central axis [0061] P pin axis