Biomedical electrical clasp

A spring-operated biomedical electrical clasp for gripping a biomedical skin-contacting electrode to be applied to the skin of a patient, said clasp comprising:

• a clasp base and a clasp lever each having a handle end and a jaw end,
• said clasp lever being operatively connected by means of a leaf spring to the clasp base for articulation relative to the clasp base,
• said leaf spring is connected between the lever and the base for supporting the lever on the base and for closing the clasp by yieldably biasing the jaw ends of the base and lever toward one another,
• the leaf spring has a lower portion positioned proximate to the clasp base and connected thereto,
• said leaf spring has an intermediate section with a deflection therein extending upwardly from the clasp base toward the lever, and
• the spring has a lever supporting portion connected to the lever and located on the opposite side of the deflection from said lower portion,
• and the deflection has an upper portion positioned adjacent to the lever that acts as a fulcrum for the lever when manual pressure is applied to the lever for opening the clasp.

A spring-operated biomedical electrical clasp for a biomedical electrode comprising:

• first and second articulated clasp members, the clasp members each having a jaw end and a handle end,
• said clasp members being connected together by means of a leaf closing spring, said spring yieldably biasing the jaw ends of the clasp members toward one another, said second clasp member comprises a base,
• said leaf closing spring having end portions extending lengthwise of each of the clasp members,
• said spring also having an intermediate section with a bend adjacent the jaw end of the clasp members,
• a deflection in the intermediate section of the spring, said deflection extending between the two clasp members and having a portion raised above the base and positioned adjacent to the first clasp member to act as a fulcrum for the first clasp member and to help support the first clasp member as well as biasing the jaw end of the first clasp member toward the jaw end of the base.

A biomedical clasp for making contact with a biomedical electrode, said clasp comprising,

• a clasp base and a clasp lever, each including cooperating opposing jaws at one end for gripping the biomedical electrode therebetween,
• a leaf spring connected between the clasp base and the clasp lever for closing the jaws,
• said spring having a flat section,
• retaining means for securing the flat section of the spring in a fixed position relative to the clasp base for forcing the jaws together,
• a deflection located between the opposing jaws and the retaining means and said deflection is positioned to extend between the base and the lever, said deflection having a free upper end adjacent the lever to serve as a fulcrum for the lever,
• said fulcrum allowing the jaws to be opened easily when finger pressure is applied to the lever and engagement between the retaining means and the spring providing a firm closing pressure between the jaws of the clasp.

A spring-operated biomedical electrical clasp for gripping a biomedical skin contacting electrode that is applied to the skin of a patient, said clasp comprising:

• an elongated clasp base having a handle end and a jaw end portion,
• a clasp lever connected to the clasp base and said clasp lever also having a handle end and a jaw end, portion,
• said clasp lever being operatively associated with the clasp base for movement about a point of articulation relative to the clasp base to permit the jaw end portions of the clasp base and clasp lever to open and close for gripping the skin contacting electrode,
• a closing spring operatively associated between the clasp base and the clasp lever for yieldably biasing the jaw end portions toward a closed position for causing the jaw end portions to grip the electrode,
• an electrically conductive jaw face member connected to at least one of said jaw end portions to define an electrically conductive jaw surface positioned between the jaw end portions of the clasp base and clasp lever,
• electrically conductive means connected to the jaw face for establishing electrical contact between the jaw face and a lead wire that is to be electrically coupled to the clasp, and
• at least one stop means as a part of the clasp between the jaw end portions of the clasp base and clasp lever adjacent to the electrically conductive jaw face for engaging and limiting a distance that the biomedical skin contacting electrode can enter the clasp to prevent undesired electrical contact between a matrix portion of the biomedical electrode and the electrically conductive jaw face,
• said stop means is positioned upon one of said jaw end portions between the electrically conductive jaw face and the point of articulation of said clasp,
• whereby the prevention of electrical contact between said matrix and the clasp avoids impairment of electrical signals that would otherwise result from such contact.