# US 12,109,407 B2 · Electrode patch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,109,407 B2 - Document ID: US12109407B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/961,110 - Filed: 2019-01-10 - Published: 2021-02-25 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-11 - Assignees: Theranica Bio-Electronics Ltd. - Applicants: Theranica Bio-Electronics Ltd. - Inventors: Ronen Jashek; Alon Ironi; Roy Zimmerman; Ofer Rivkind; Rostislav Barabash; Arie Ravid - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109407B2 ## CPC - A61N 1/0492: {Patch electrodes (A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence)} - A61N 1/0456: {Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]} - A61N 1/36021: {for treatment of pain} - A61N 1/36178: {Burst or pulse train parameters} - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - 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) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract Apparatus (20) is provided that includes a battery (48) including first and second poles (78, 79); and a circuit board (50) that includes electronic circuitry (53), the second pole (79) electrically coupled to the circuitry (53). A battery-isolation tab (42, 142) is removably disposed between the first pole (78) and the circuitry (53), and includes a non-conductive substrate (90) configured to electrically isolate the first pole (78) from the circuitry (53), while the tab (42, 142) is disposed between the first pole (78) and the circuitry (53); and a conductive layer (92) disposed upon the non-conductive substrate (90), the conductive layer (92) being electrically coupled to the first pole (78) and configured to facilitate electrical coupling of the first pole (78) to the circuitry (53), while the tab (42, 142) is disposed between the first pole (78) and the circuitry (53). Other embodiments are also described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Apparatus comprising: a battery comprising first and second poles; a circuit board that comprises electronic circuitry, the second pole of the battery being electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry; and a battery-isolation tab removably disposed between the first pole and the electronic circuitry, the battery-isolation tab comprising: a non-conductive substrate configured to electrically isolate the first pole from the electronic circuitry, while the battery-isolation tab is disposed between the first pole and the electronic circuitry; and a conductive layer disposed upon the non-conductive substrate, the conductive layer being electrically coupled to the first pole of the battery and configured to facilitate electrical coupling of the first pole of the battery to the electronic circuitry, while the battery-isolation tab is disposed between the first pole and the electronic circuitry, wherein the apparatus is configured such that upon permanent removal of the battery-isolation tab from being disposed between the first pole and the electronic circuitry, the first pole of the battery is in electrical contact with the electronic circuitry of the circuit board, wherein the apparatus further comprises: skin-contacting electrodes configured to come into electrical contact with skin of a subject; a hydrogel layer underneath the skin-contacting electrodes, the hydrogel layer being configured to adhere the apparatus to the subject's skin; a liner covering the hydrogel layer; current-outputting electrodes disposed between the circuit board and the skin-contacting electrodes; and current-receiving electrodes disposed between the circuit board and the skin-contacting electrodes, wherein the circuit board is configured to test a connectivity of the skin-contacting electrodes, without driving any current through the hydrogel layer, by driving a test current into the skin-contacting electrodes via the current-outputting electrodes while the liner covers the hydrogel layer, and detecting that the outputted current is received by the current-receiving electrodes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an electrical connecting element configured to electrically couple the conductive layer of the battery-isolation tab to the electronic circuitry, thereby electrically coupling the first pole of the battery to the electronic circuitry. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first pole of the battery is in electrical contact with the electronic circuitry of the circuit board via an electrical connection on the electronic circuitry, while the battery-isolation tab is not disposed between the first pole and the electronic circuitry, and wherein the electrical connecting element is configured to electrically couple the conductive layer of the battery-isolation tab to a test point on the electronic circuitry, the test point electrically coupled to the electrical connection. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conductive layer is an upper conductive layer disposed on at least a portion of a top surface of the non-conductive substrate, wherein the battery-isolation tab further comprises a lower conductive layer disposed on at least a portion of a bottom surface of the non-conductive substrate, such that the non-conductive substrate electrically isolates the upper conductive layer and the lower conductive layer from each other, wherein the lower conductive layer is electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry, while the battery-isolation tab is disposed between the first pole and the electronic circuitry, and wherein the upper and the lower conductive layers are together configured to facilitate electrical coupling of the first pole of the battery to the electronic circuitry, while the battery-isolation tab is disposed between the first pole and the electronic circuitry. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an electrical connecting element configured to electrically couple the upper conductive layer to the lower conductive layer, thereby electrically coupling the first pole of the battery to the electronic circuitry. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a battery housing configured to house the battery, such that the second pole of the battery is in contact with at least a portion of the electronic circuitry, the battery housing comprising: mechanical connectors configured to mechanically connect the battery housing to the circuit board; and electrical connectors configured to electrically couple the second pole of the battery to the electronic circuitry, the mechanical connectors and the electrical connectors of the battery housing being coupled to each other, such that by virtue of the mechanical connectors connecting the battery housing to the circuit board, the electrical connectors electrically couple the second pole of the battery to the electronic circuitry. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the circuit board is shaped to define slots, and wherein the mechanical connectors comprise protrusions that are configured to click into respective slots of the circuit board. ### Claim 8 A method for manufacturing an apparatus, the method comprising: assembling a battery, which includes first and second poles, with a circuit board that comprises electronic circuitry, such that (a) the second pole of the battery is electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry, and (b) a battery-isolation tab is removably disposed between the first pole and the electronic circuitry, such that a non-conductive substrate of the battery-isolation tab electrically isolates the first pole from the electronic circuitry; while the battery-isolation tab is removably disposed between the first pole and the electronic circuitry, temporarily electrically coupling the first pole of the battery to the electronic circuitry via a conductive layer that is (a) disposed upon the non-conductive substrate of the battery-isolation tab and (b) electrically coupled to the first pole of the battery; and while the first pole of the battery is temporarily electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry, testing functionality of the electronic circuitry, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first pole of the battery is in electrical contact with the electronic circuitry of the circuit board upon removal of the battery-isolation tab from between the first pole and the electronic circuitry after manufacturing of the apparatus, wherein the apparatus further comprises: skin-contacting electrodes configured to come into electrical contact with skin of a subject; a hydrogel layer underneath the skin-contacting electrodes, the hydrogel layer being configured to adhere the apparatus to the subject's skin; a liner covering the hydrogel layer; current-outputting electrodes disposed between the circuit board and the skin-contacting electrodes; and current-receiving electrodes disposed between the circuit board and the skin-contacting electrodes, wherein the method further comprises testing the connectivity of the skin-contacting electrodes, without driving any current through the hydrogel layer, by driving a test current into the skin-contacting electrodes via the current-outputting electrodes while the liner covers the hydrogel layer, and detecting that the outputted current is received by the current-receiving electrodes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein electrically coupling the first pole of the battery to the electronic circuitry comprises using an electrical connecting element to electrically couple the conductive layer of the battery-isolation tab to the electronic circuitry, thereby electrically coupling the first pole of the battery to the electronic circuitry. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first pole of the battery is in electrical contact with the electronic circuitry of the circuit board via an electrical connection on the electronic circuitry, while the battery-isolation tab is not disposed between the first pole and the electronic circuitry, and wherein using the electrical connecting element to electrically couple the conductive layer of the battery-isolation tab to the electronic circuitry comprises using the electrical connecting element to electrically couple the conductive layer of the battery-isolation tab to a test point on the electronic circuitry, the test point electrically coupled to the electrical connection. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the conductive layer is an upper conductive layer disposed on at least a portion of a top surface of the non-conductive substrate, wherein the battery-isolation tab further includes a lower conductive layer disposed on at least a portion of a bottom surface of the non-conductive substrate, such that the non-conductive substrate electrically isolates the upper conductive layer and the lower conductive layer from each other, wherein the lower conductive layer is electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry, while the battery-isolation tab is disposed between the first pole and the electronic circuitry, and wherein temporarily electrically coupling the first pole of the battery to the electronic circuitry comprises wherein temporarily electrically coupling the first pole of the battery to the electronic circuitry via the upper and the lower conductive layers. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein electrically coupling the first pole of the battery to the electronic circuitry comprises using an electrical connecting element to electrically couple the upper conductive layer to the lower conductive layer, thereby electrically coupling the first pole of the battery to the electronic circuitry. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus further includes a battery housing configured to house the battery, such that the second pole of the battery is in contact with at least a portion of the electronic circuitry, the battery housing including: mechanical connectors configured to mechanically connect the battery housing to the circuit board; and electrical connectors configured to electrically couple the second pole of the battery to the electronic circuitry, and wherein assembling the battery with the circuit board comprises coupling the mechanical connectors and the electrical connectors of the battery housing to each other, such that by virtue of the mechanical connectors connecting the battery housing to the circuit board, the electrical connectors electrically couple the second pole of the battery to the electronic circuitry. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the circuit board is shaped to define slots, wherein the mechanical connectors include protrusions, and wherein assembling the battery with the circuit board comprises clicking the protrusions into respective slots of the circuit board. ### Claim 15 Apparatus for use with a power supply, the apparatus comprising: a battery comprising first and second poles; a circuit board that comprises electronic circuitry, the second pole of the battery being electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry; and a battery-isolation tab removably disposed between the first pole and the electronic circuitry, the battery-isolation tab comprising: a non-conductive substrate configured to electrically isolate the first pole from the electronic circuitry, while the battery-isolation tab is disposed between the first pole and the electronic circuitry; a first conductive layer disposed upon the non-conductive substrate, the first conductive layer being electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry, while the battery-isolation tab is disposed between the first pole and the electronic circuitry; a second conductive layer disposed upon the non-conductive substrate, the second conductive layer being electrically coupled to the second pole of the battery, while the battery-isolation tab is disposed between the first pole and the electronic circuitry, wherein the first and the second conductive layers are electrically isolated from each other and are configured to facilitate electrical coupling of the power supply to the electronic circuitry, while the battery-isolation tab is disposed between the first pole and the electronic circuitry, and wherein the apparatus is configured such that upon permanent removal of the battery-isolation tab from being disposed between the first pole and the electronic circuitry, the first pole of the battery is in electrical contact with the electronic circuitry of the circuit board, wherein the apparatus further comprises: skin-contacting electrodes configured to come into electrical contact with skin of a subject; a hydrogel layer underneath the skin-contacting electrodes, the hydrogel layer being configured to adhere the apparatus to the subject's skin; current-outputting electrodes disposed between the circuit board and the skin-contacting electrodes; and current-receiving electrodes disposed between the circuit board and the skin-contacting electrodes, wherein the circuit board is configured to test a connectivity of the skin-contacting electrodes, without driving any current through the hydrogel layer, by driving a test current into the skin-contacting electrodes via the current-outputting electrodes, and detecting that the outputted current is received by the current-receiving electrodes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising first and second leads, which are configured to electrically couple the first and the second conductive layers to respective poles of the power supply, thereby electrically coupling the power supply to the electronic circuitry. ### Claim 17 A method for manufacturing an apparatus, the method comprising: assembling a battery, which includes first and second poles, with a circuit board that comprises electronic circuitry, such that (a) the second pole of the battery is electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry, and (b) a battery-isolation tab is removably disposed between the first pole and the electronic circuitry, such that a non-conductive substrate of the battery-isolation tab electrically isolates the first pole from the electronic circuitry; while the battery-isolation tab is removably disposed between the first pole and the electronic circuitry, temporarily electrically coupling a power supply, separate from the battery, to the electronic circuitry via (a) a first conductive layer disposed upon the non-conductive substrate, the first conductive layer being electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry, and (b) a second conductive layer disposed upon the non-conductive substrate, the second conductive layer being electrically coupled to the second pole of the battery, wherein the first and the second conductive layers are electrically isolated from each other; and while the power supply is temporarily electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry, testing functionality of the electronic circuitry, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first pole of the battery is in electrical contact with the electronic circuitry of the circuit board upon removal of the battery-isolation tab from between the first pole and the electronic circuitry after manufacturing of the apparatus, wherein the apparatus further comprises: skin-contacting electrodes configured to come into electrical contact with skin of a subject; a hydrogel layer underneath the skin-contacting electrodes, the hydrogel layer being configured to adhere the apparatus to the subject's skin; current-outputting electrodes disposed between the circuit board and the skin-contacting electrodes; and current-receiving electrodes disposed between the circuit board and the skin-contacting electrodes, wherein the circuit board is configured to test a connectivity of the skin-contacting electrodes, without driving any current through the hydrogel layer, by driving a test current into the skin-contacting electrodes via the current-outputting electrodes, and detecting that the outputted current is received by the current-receiving electrodes. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein electrically coupling the power supply to the electronic circuitry comprises using first and second leads to electrically couple the first and the second conductive layers to respective poles of the power supply, thereby electrically coupling the power supply to the electronic circuitry.