# US 11,439,335 B2 · Electrode with redundant impedance reduction > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,439,335 B2 - Document ID: US11439335B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/967,697 - Filed: 2018-05-01 - Published: 2018-09-13 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2010-12-09 - Assignees: ZOLL Medical Corporation - Applicants: Zoll Medical Corporation - Inventors: Thomas E. Kaib; Shane S. Volpe; Emil Oskin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439335B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/6804: {Garments; Clothes} - A61B 5/24: Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof - A61M 35/003: {Portable hand-held applicators having means for dispensing or spreading integral media (hand-held massage devices with liquid delivery A61H7/003)} - A61N 1/046: {Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation} - A61N 1/0496: {characterised by using specific chemical compositions, e.g. hydrogel compositions, adhesives} - A61N 1/3904: {External heart defibrillators [EHD]} - A61B 5/6823: {Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip} - A61B 2562/14: Coupling media or elements to improve sensor contact with skin or tissue - A61N 1/3925: {Monitoring; Protecting} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract An electrode assembly that includes an electrically conductive layer, a first impedance reduction system, and a second impedance reduction system. The electrically conductive layer forms an electrode portion of the electrode assembly and a first surface to be placed adjacent a person's skin. The first impedance reduction system is configured to dispense a first amount of an electrically conductive gel onto the first surface of the electrically conductive layer in response to a first activation signal. The second impedance reduction system is configured to dispense a second amount of the electrically conductive gel onto the first surface of the electrically conductive layer in response to a second activation signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An integrated therapy and sensing electrode device comprising: a first therapy electrode assembly and a second therapy electrode assembly configured to be disposed in spaced apart positions on a patient's torso, the first therapy electrode assembly and the second therapy electrode assembly each including a therapy electrode; two or more ECG sensing electrodes disposed on each of the first therapy electrode assembly and the second therapy electrode assembly for monitoring ECG signals of the patient; a first impedance reduction system disposed on each of the first therapy electrode assembly and the second therapy electrode assembly and configured to reduce an impedance at a first time between the first therapy electrode assembly and the patient's skin and the second therapy electrode assembly and the patient's skin, respectively; and a second impedance reduction system disposed on each of the first therapy electrode assembly and the second therapy electrode assembly and configured to reduce the impedance at a second time subsequent to the first time between the first therapy electrode assembly and the patient's skin and the second therapy electrode assembly and the patient's skin, respectively, wherein the first impedance reduction system is configured to deploy electrically conductive gel at the first time to reduce the impedance and the second impedance reduction system is configured to deploy conductive gel at a second time subsequent to the first time to reduce the impedance. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 1, wherein the second impedance reduction system is configured to further reduce the impedance for a longer period of time than if both the first and second impedance reduction systems were activated at substantially the same time. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first impedance reduction system and the second impedance reduction system includes a pressure source which, when activated, causes the electrically conductive gel to be dispensed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional sensor configured to monitor physiological parameters of a patient other than ECG information and disposed on at least one of the first therapy electrode assembly and the second therapy electrode assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 4, wherein the at least one additional sensor is configured to monitor physiological parameters of the patient other than ECG information, including at least one of thoracic impedance, pulse oxygen level, and respiration rate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 4, wherein the at least one additional sensor comprises a heart sounds sensor disposed on one of the first therapy electrode assembly or the second therapy electrode assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 1, wherein the therapy electrode of one the first therapy electrode assembly and the second therapy electrode assembly is configured to deliver a defibrillating shock to the patient. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 1, wherein the therapy electrode of the first therapy electrode assembly and of the second therapy electrode assembly include a multiple layer laminated structure that includes an electrically conductive layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 1, wherein the therapy electrode of the first therapy electrode assembly and of the second therapy electrode assembly include an electrically conductive layer and a plurality of apertures formed through the electrically conductive layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 1, wherein the integrated therapy and sensing electrode device is disposed in a harness. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 10, wherein the harness comprises a shoulder strap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 10, wherein the harness comprises a breathable material configured to be worn for prolonged periods of time. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 1, further comprising a motion sensor configured to monitor patient activity. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 1, further comprising a user interface and a control unit, the user interface and the control unit configured to communicate wirelessly with one another. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 1, further comprising a speaker configured to issue an audible alarm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 1, further comprising a user interface including a button that, when actuated by the patient, causes delivery of a defibrillation shock to be withheld. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 1, further comprising a processor configured to perform medical data logging and storage. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 1, wherein the first therapy electrode assembly is configured to be disposed in a center of the torso of the patient and the second therapy electrode assembly is configured to be disposed on a side of the torso of the patient. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 1, wherein the two or more ECG sensing electrodes are electrically insulated from the therapy electrode of the first therapy electrode assembly and the therapy electrode of the second therapy electrode assembly. ### Claim 20 An integrated therapy and sensing electrode device comprising: a first therapy electrode assembly and a second therapy electrode assembly configured to be disposed in spaced apart positions on a patient's torso, the first therapy electrode assembly and the second therapy electrode assembly each including a therapy electrode; two or more ECG sensing electrodes disposed on each of the first therapy electrode assembly and the second therapy electrode assembly for monitoring ECG signals of the patient; a first impedance reduction system disposed on each of the first therapy electrode assembly and the second therapy electrode assembly and configured to reduce an impedance between the first therapy electrode assembly and the patient's skin and the second therapy electrode assembly and the patient's skin, respectively; and a second impedance reduction system disposed on each of the first therapy electrode assembly and the second therapy electrode assembly and configured to reduce the impedance between the first therapy electrode assembly and the patient's skin and the second therapy electrode assembly and the patient's skin, respectively, wherein the first impedance reduction system is configured to deploy electrically conductive gel to reduce the impedance and the second impedance reduction system is configured to deploy conductive gel to reduce the impedance, and wherein the second impedance reduction system is configured to further reduce the impedance for a longer period of time than if both the first and second impedance reduction systems were activated at substantially the same time. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 20, wherein at least one of the first impedance reduction system and the second impedance reduction system includes a pressure source which, when activated, causes the electrically conductive gel to be dispensed. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 20, further comprising at least one additional sensor configured to monitor physiological parameters of a patient other than ECG information and disposed on at least one of the first therapy electrode assembly and the second therapy electrode assembly. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 22, wherein the at least one additional sensor is configured to monitor physiological parameters of the patient other than ECG information, including at least one of thoracic impedance, pulse oxygen level, and respiration rate. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 22, wherein the at least one additional sensor comprises a heart sounds sensor disposed on one of the first therapy electrode assembly or the second therapy electrode assembly. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 20, wherein the therapy electrode of one the first therapy electrode assembly and the second therapy electrode assembly is configured to deliver a defibrillating shock to the patient. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 20, wherein the therapy electrode of the first therapy electrode assembly and of the second therapy electrode assembly include a multiple layer laminated structure that includes an electrically conductive layer. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 20, wherein the therapy electrode of the first therapy electrode assembly and of the second therapy electrode assembly include an electrically conductive layer and a plurality of apertures formed through the electrically conductive layer.