Method and apparatus for improving wearable electrode durability
AssigneeAvation Medical, Inc.
InventorsAustin MORGAN, Manish VAISHYA
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrode for applying transcutaneous electrical stimulation includes a flexible substrate, an electrically conductive contact pad printed on the substrate with conductive ink, and a reinforcing layer applied onto the substrate and covering a periphery of the contact pad. The reinforcing layer is configured to reinforce the periphery of the contact pad to inhibit material failures of the conductive ink along the periphery. The reinforcing layer is also configured to maintain electrical continuity along the periphery of the contact pad in order to provide electrical continuity across portions of the contact pad within the periphery that are left exposed by the reinforcing layer.
Claims19
An electrode for applying transcutaneous electrical stimulation, comprising:
- a flexible substrate;
- an electrically conductive contact pad printed on the substrate with conductive ink;
- and
- a reinforcing layer applied onto the substrate and covering a periphery of the contact pad, the reinforcing layer being configured to reinforce the periphery of the contact pad to inhibit material failures of the conductive ink along the periphery;
- wherein the reinforcing layer is configured to maintain electrical continuity along the periphery of the contact pad in order to provide electrical continuity across portions of the contact pad within the periphery that are left exposed by the reinforcing layer.
A method of manufacturing an electrode for transcutaneous electrical stimulation, comprising:
- printing an electrically conductive contact pad on a flexible polymer substrate using a conductive ink;
- applying a reinforcing layer over a peripheral region of the contact pad while leaving a central region exposed;
- and
- coupling the electrode to a wearable structure;
- wherein the reinforcing layer reduces strain in the peripheral region during cyclic deformation to inhibit crack formation in the conductive ink.
An electrode for transcutaneous electrical stimulation, comprising:
- a flexible substrate;
- a printed conductive contact pad;
- and a reinforcing structure coupled to a peripheral region of the contact pad;
- wherein the electrode is configured such that an electrical resistance and/or impedance of the contact pad remains within a predetermined range after repeated bending and/or stretching cycles representative of wear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.