Non-invasive medical probe provided with suction cup

A non-invasive medical probe for monitoring a patient's condition, comprising:

• a resilient walled suction cup having a peripheral rim for application to a patient's skin;
• a suction pump connected to said cup;
• a first and a second non-invasive skin contact electrode adapted for connection to a diagnostic apparatus, the first electrode having an electrode supply being slidingly received within a bore formed in said suction cup and an electrode contact plate disposed internally within the cup on a mounting located centrally within the cup to leave a channel encircling the first electrode within the peripheral rim to be evacuated for securing the cup to the skin, and the second electrode being disposed on an external surface of the probe adjacent to the cup whereby the second electrode provides a second contact in the vicinity of a contact of the first electrode, the electrode contact plate of said first electrode and said mounting being disposed in a plane located behind the peripheral rim of the cup when the cup is in a relaxed or non-suction condition so that initial contact with the patient's skin is made at the peripheral rim of the cup and, following evacuation of the channel in the cup by said suction pump, the electrode plate of said first electrode makes contact with the patient's skin to obtain a signal at the skin surface responsive to a varying condition of the patient;
• and said cup having a resilience and form such that, when in contact with a patient's skin and subjected to suction, the wall of the cup deforms allowing the first electrode to be drawn down onto the patient's skin to make the required contact therewith, the peripheral rim and the centrally located mounting each have a respective lip projecting inwardly of the channel to provide the channel with an undercut configuration in cross-section into which the skin is drawn by the suction created within the channel, the oppositely directed lips acting to entrap the drawn in skin surface thereby enhancing the security of attachment of the suction cup.