Abstract: An electrode providing electrical contact with a patient's skin includes a conductive member adapted for connection to an external electrical apparatus and a non-liquid water containing film for electrically interfacing to said patient's skin, the non-liquid film being electrically and mechanically connected to said conductive member. The non-liquid water containing film includes an electrically conductive organic polymer plasticized with a polyhydric alcohol with said organic polymer being derived from a monomeric mixture comprising from about 2 to 30 pph acrylic acid, 2 to 30 pph of a glycolvinylether and 0.01 to 1.5 pph of a crosslinking agent. Preferably the polyhydric alcohol is glycerol.

Abstract: An electrode providing electrical contact with a patient's skin includes a conductive member adapted for connection to an external electrical apparatus and a non-liquid film for electrically interfacing to said patient's skin, the liquid film being electrically and mechanically connected to said conductive member. The non-liquid film includes an electrically conductive organic polymer plasticized with a polyhydric alcohol with said organic polymer being derived from a monomeric mixture comprising from about 15 to 30 pph acrylic acid, 0.5 to 30 pph N-vinylpyrrolidone and 0.01 to 2 pph of a crosslinking agent. The monomeric mixture may further comprise from about 0.5 to 8 pph of a thickening agent selected from the group consisting of N-vinylpyrrolidone/acrylic acid copolymers, N-vinylpyrrolidone/vinylacetate copolymers, and N-vinylpyrrolidone/vinylimidazole copolymers.

Abstract: A method and/or composition for monitoring electrical signals from a patient through a biomedical electrode or delivering an effective amount of electrical stimulation to said patient without causing erythema which comprises providing an antioxidant to the skin of said patient via solution, lotion, or gel prior to adhering said biomedical electrode thereto or incorporating in the hydrogel conductive adhesive of the electrode for antioxidant activity during electrical contact. Chemical precursors of some antioxidants are utilized for the manufacture and stable incorporation into hydrogel conductive adhesives to avoid interference with the preparation of the conductive adhesive by free radical polymerization.

Abstract: An electrode providing electrical contact with a patient's skin includes a conductive member adapted for connection to an external electrical apparatus and a non-liquid film for electrically interfacing to said patient's skin, the liquid film being electrically and mechanically connected to said conductive member. The non-liquid film includes an electrically conductive organic polymer plasticized with a polyhydric alcohol with said organic polymer being derived from a monomeric mixture comprising from about 15 to 30 pph acrylic acid, 0.5 to 30 pph N-vinylpyrrolidone and 0.01 to 2 pph of a crosslinking agent. The monomeric mixture may further comprise from about 0.5 to 8 pph of a thickening agent selected from the group consisting of N-vinylpyrrolidone/acrylic acid copolymers, N-vinylpyrrolidone/vinylacetate copolymers, and N-vinylpyrrolidone/vinylimidazole copolymers.

Abstract: An electrode providing electrical contact with a patient's skin includes a conductive member adapted for connection to an external electrical apparatus and a non-liquid water containing film for electrically interfacing to said patient's skin, the non-liquid film being electrically and mechanically connected to said conductive member. The non-liquid water containing film includes an electrically conductive organic polymer plasticized with a polyhydric alcohol with said organic polymer being derived from a monomeric mixture comprising from about 2 to 30 pph acrylic acid, 2 to 30 pph of a glycolvinylether and 0.01 to 1.5 pph of a crosslinking agent. Preferably the polyhydric alcohol is glycerol.

Abstract: An electrode providing electrical contact with a patient's skin includes a conductive member adapted for connection to an external electrical apparatus and a non-liquid water containing film for electrically interfacing to said patient's skin, the non-liquid film being electrically and mechanically connected to said conductive member. The non-liquid water containing film includes an electrically conductive organic polymer plasticized with a polyhydric alcohol with said organic polymer being derived from a monomeric mixture comprising from about 2 to 30 pph acrylic acid, 2 to 30 pph of a glycolvinylether and 0.01 to 1.5 pph of a crosslinking agent. Preferably the polyhydric alcohol is glycerol.

Abstract: A dermal fastener includes a first adhesive for adherence to an article and a second adhesive for adherence to skin. The second adhesive is a non-liquid water containing film including an organic polymer plasticized with a polyhydric alcohol with the organic polymer being derived from a monomeric mixture including from about 2 to about 30 pph acrylic acid to about 1 to about 30 pph of a glycol vinyl ether and about 0.01 to about 1.5 pph of a crosslinking agent. The first and second adhesives may also be disposed on opposite sides of a membrane if partition of fluid components in the adhesives is desired.

Abstract: A composition and method for treating a wound with an inherently antimicrobial dressing. The dressing is a hydrogel containing from about 15 to 95 percent, and preferably from about 61 to 90 percent, by weight of a cationic quaternary amine acrylate polymer prepared by the polymerization of acryloyloxyethyl(or propyl)-trialkyl(or aryl)-substituted ammonium salts or acrylamidoethyl(or propyl)-trialkyl(or aryl)-substituted ammonium salts. The antimicrobial hydrogels are non-irritating to the wound, absorb wound exudate, and, due to the inherently antimicrobial properties, enhance the sterile environment around the wound. The hydrogels have sufficient adhesive properties that loose contact with the wound is assured but can also be removed without leaving any gel residue on the wound. The wound dressings are preferably formed on a substrate, such as a web or patch, for ease in application to and removal from the wound.

Abstract: A dermal fastener includes a first adhesive for adherence to an article and a second adhesive for adherence to skin. The second adhesive is a non-liquid water containing film including an organic polymer plasticized with a polyhydric alcohol with the organic polymer being derived from a monomeric mixture including from about 2 to about 30 pph acrylic acid to about 1 to about 30 pph of a glycolvinylether and about 0.01 to about 1.5 pph of a crosslinking agent. The first and second adhesives may also be disposed on opposite sides of a membrane if partition of fluid components in the adhesives is desired.

Abstract: A dermal fastener includes a first adhesive for adherence to an article and a second adhesive for adherence to skin. The second adhesive is a non-liquid water containing film including an organic polymer plasticized with a polyhydric alcohol with the organic polymer being derived from a monomeric mixture including from about 2 to about 30 pph acrylic acid to about 1 to about 30 pph of a glycolvinylether and about 0.01 to about 1.5 pph of a crosslinking agent. The first and second adhesives may also be disposed on opposite sides of a membrane if partition of fluid components in the adhesives is desired.

Abstract: An electrode providing electrical contact with a patient's skin includes a conductive member adapted for connection to an external electrical apparatus and a non-liquid water containing film for electrically interfacing to said patient's skin, the non-liquid film being electrically and mechanically connected to said conductive member. The non-liquid water containing film includes an electrically conductive organic polymer plasticized with a polyhydric alcohol with said organic polymer being derived from a monomeric mixture comprising from about 2 to 30 pph acrylic acid, 2 to 30 pph of a glycolvinylether and 0.01 to 1.5 pph of a crosslinking agent. Preferably the polyhydric alcohol is glycerol.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrically conductive adhesive hydrogel comprising from about 15 to about 60%, by weight of a cationic polymer prepared by the polymerization of a monomer having the formula: wherein m is an integer of from 1 to 3; R1, R2 and R3 are selected from the group consisting of H and hydrocarbyl radicals having from 1 to 15 carbon atoms and X− is an anion and from about 5 to less than about 40% water, by weight. This electrically conductive adhesive hydrogel is useful in the manufacture of medical devices, e.g. medical electrodes, and in particular, in iontophoretic medicament delivery devices wherein said polymer may function as a scavenger of hydroxyl ions generated during iontophoresis.

Abstract: A composition and method for treating a wound with an inherently antimicrobial dressing. The dressing is a hydrogel containing from about 15 to 95 percent, and preferably from about 61 to 90 percent, by weight of a cationic quaternary amine acrylate polymer prepared by the polymerization of acryloyloxyethyl(or propyl)-trialkyl(or aryl)-substituted ammonium salts or acrylamidoethyl(or propyl)-trialkyl(or aryl)-substituted ammonium salts. The antimicrobial hydrogels are non-irritating to the wound, absorb wound exudate, and, due to the inherently antimicrobial properties, enhance the sterile environment around the wound. The hydrogels have sufficient adhesive properties that loose contact with the wound is assured but can also be removed without leaving any gel residue on the wound. The wound dressings are preferably formed on a substrate, such as a web or patch, for ease in application to and removal from the wound.

Abstract: A composition providing electrically conductive adhesive hydrogels suitable for use as skin contact adhesives and, particularly, suitable for use as an electrical interface for disposable medical devices. The hydrogels are cationic acrylates and may be, for example, preferably made from acrylic esters of quaternary chlorides and/or sulfates or acrylic amides of quaternary chlorides. The present hydrogels are formed by free radical polymerization in the presence of water, preferably by ultra-violet curing with initiator and multi-functional cross-linking agent. The present hydrogels also preferably include a buffer system to help prevent discoloration of the hydrogels and/or hydrolysis of the hydrogels and/or improve shelf-life. Other additives may be added to the present hydrogels either before or after curing (i.e. conductivity enhancers, pharmaceuticals, humectants, plasticizers, etc.) depending on intended end-use.

Abstract: An elongated segmented wound packing product comprised of individual linked segments of hydrogel enclosed within a liquid permeable pliable material, the individual segments being connected in a strand-of-beads like configuration.

Abstract: A method for making a conductive coated product comprising the steps of abrading a conductive metal substrate, applying to the conductive metal substrate a layer of a curable composition which includes 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, water and/or alcohol, and a curing agent and curing the composition on the substrate.

Abstract: A visual (as opposed to mechanical or electronic) method for detecting the state of dehydration (or hydration) of a biomedical hydrogel is disclosed. The method contemplates incorporating a pH sensitive indicator into the hydrogel as it is prepared and applying the hydrogel to the skin-contacting surface of a biomedical device such as an electrode. Shortly before the biomedical device is to be used, the color of the hydrogel on the device is visually compared with its freshly-prepared color to determine the approximate state of dehydration of the gel.