D.C. biopotential sensing electrode assemblies for apparatus for disease, injury and bodily condition screening or sensing

A biopotential sensing electrode for contact with a skin surface of a human or animal subject and suitable for sensing DC biopotentials comprising:

• an electrode sensing element having a sensor body including a round disc having first and second substantially parallel opposed surfaces, and a mounting pin projecting centrally from the second surface of said disc, said disc having a diameter within a range of from 0.39 to 0.43 inches, the sensor body of said electrode sensing element being formed from an electrically conductive plastic, glass or a glass-plastic combination completely and uniformly coated with an electrically conductive silver/silver chloride coating, said coating having a thickness within a range of from 0.5 to 1.5 mil, said plastic, glass, or glass-plastic combination being impregnated with carbon to form an electrically conductive plastic-carbon, glass-carbon or plastic/glass carbon combination to provide a conductive path independent of said silver/silver chloride coating,
• an electrode terminal connected to said electrode sensing element to conduct an electrical potential therefrom, said electrode sensing element and electrode terminal each being formed to include a first and a second electrically conductive path,
• and an electroconductive medium for contact with the skin surface of a subject contacting the first surface of said round disc of said sensor body for relaying a biopotential from the skin surface of a subject to said electrode sensing element.

A biopotential sensing electrode assembly comprising:

• a thin, flexible support sheet of electrical insulating material, said support sheet including an opening and an annular section extending around said opening, a plurality of separate radially extending legs extending outwardly from said annular section, said radially extending legs providing a flexible support for one or more biopotential sensing electrodes, and
• biopotential sensing electrodes for contacting a subject mounted on said legs, each such biopotential sensing electrode including
• an electrode sensing element including a sensor body with a sensor disc having first and second opposed surfaces and a mounting pin projecting from the second surface of said disc,
• an electrode terminal connected to said electrode sensing element to conduct an electrical potential therefrom,
• a flexible plastic sheet of liquid impervious barrier material positioned between said electrode terminal and said electrode sensing element, said barrier material being adhered to the second surface of said sensor disc to form a liquid seal and including an aperture through which said mounting pin projects,
• a layer of flexible plastic material affixed to said sheet of barrier material, said layer of flexible plastic material having an aperture extending therethrough to form a well for receiving an electroconductive medium, the sensor disc of said electrode sensing element being positioned in said well, said sheet of barrier material extending outwardly from said sensor disc to close and seal a first end of said well, and an electroconductive medium for contacting a subject and transmitting a biopotential from the subject to said electrode sensing element, said electroconductive medium being received in said well in contact with the first surface of said sensor disc.

A biopotential sensing electrode for contact with a skin surface of a human or animal subject and suitable for sensing DC biopotentials comprising:

• an electrode sensing element formed from a nonmetallic, electrically conductive material forming a first electrode electrically conductive path, said nonmetallic electrically conductive material being entirely coated with a uniform external coating of an electrically conductive metal, said electrically conductive metal coating forming a second electrode electrically conductive path,
• an electrode terminal formed from a nonmetallic, electrically conductive material forming a first terminal electrically conductive path, said nonmetallic electrically conductive material forming said terminal being entirely coated with a uniform external coating of the same conductive metal which coats said electrode sensing element to form a second terminal electrically conductive path, said electrode terminal being connected to said electrode sensing element to conduct an electrical potential therefrom, the conductive metal coating for both said electrode sensing element and said electrode terminal being of a thickness within a range of from 0.5 to 1.5 mil, and
• an electroconductive medium for contact with the skin of a subject contacting said electrode sensing element for relaying a biopotential from the skin of a subject to said electrode sensing element.

A biopotential sensing electrode for contact with a skin surface of a human or animal subject and suitable for sensing DC biopotentials comprising:

• an electrode sensing element which includes a sensor body including a round disc having first and second substantially parallel opposed surfaces, and a mounting pin projecting centrally from the second surface of said disc,
• an electroconductive medium for contact with the skin surface of said human or animal subject contacting said electrode sensing element for relaying a biopotential from said skin surface of said human or animal subject to said electrode sensing element, said electroconductive medium contacting said first surface of said round disc, and
• an electrode terminal connected to said electrode sensing element to conduct an electrical potential therefrom, said electrode terminal including a terminal body having a button connector section with a first end, a second closed end, and an annular skirt section extending outwardly from said first end of said button connector section, said button connector section having a round cross section, the cross section of the button connector section in a first area adjacent to the second end thereof being greater than the cross section of the button connector section in a second area of said button connector section which includes all of said button connector section with the exception of said first area, the round cross section of said button connector section in said first area having a diameter of 0.151 inches or more, said terminal body having a chamber extending centrally of said button connector section from said second closed end and opening at said first end, said chamber being dimensioned to receive and retain the mounting pin of said electrode sensing element, said electrode sensing element and electrode terminal each including a first and a second electrically conductive path and each including only one metallic component formed of the same electrically conductive metal.