Abrasive skin electrode

A disposable medical electrode which allows preparation of the skin of a patient to reduce motion artifacts after application of the electrode to the skin of the patient, said electrode comprising:

• an electrically conductive member having a surface facing the skin of a patient in use when the electrode is adhered to the skin;
• a retaining member in operative engagement with said conductive member;
• a flexible sheet member secured to said retaining member and said sheet member having an adhesive thereon for adhering the electrode to the skin of the patient;
• a flexible abrasive member in operative engagement with said retaining member and spaced apart from and movable relative to said conductive member;
• an electrolyte gel in operative contact with said conductive member and the skin of the patient when the electrode is secured to the skin of the patient, said conductive member and abrasive member being rotatable relative to the skin and said retaining member and wherein said sheet member adheres the electrode to the skin of the patient to enable the abrasion of the portion of the skin in contact with the abrasive member to minimize motion artifact while forming a reservoir area of said gel generally between said abrasive member and said conductive member.

A disposable pre-gelled medical electrode which reduces motion artifacts, said electrode comprising:

• an electrically conductive member having a first surface oriented to face the skin of the patient when the electrode is placed on the skin of the patient in use and an opposing stud on a second surface thereof for connection to an external electrically responsive monitor;
• an electrically non-conductive housing retaining said conductive member therein, said housing including an annular opening receiving said conductive member therein;
• a flexible abrasive member operatively retained by said housing and including a gel in contact with said conductive member, said abrasive member being movable relative to said conductive member and said abrasive member and said housing further forming a gel reservoir area therebetween such that when said abrasive member is pressed against the skin of the patient said gel flows into said reservoir area;
• and
• a sheet member operatively associated with said housing and having an adhesive material thereon to secure the electrode to the skin of the patient while allowing said abrasive member to be movable with respect to the skin of the patient and said sheet member.