Abstract: An electrolyte (70) for use in a single-use biomedical electrode assembly (A, B, C, D) designed for receiving body-generated electrical signals at a patient's skin surface includes: Component Range (%) Skin penetration agent 10-25  Thickener 0-10 Alkali metal or alkaline earth 1-13 metal chloride Alkali metal or alkali earth 1-13 metal nitrate Surfactant 0.001-5    Soluble silver salt, as silver   0-0.01 Buffer 0-10 Water Q.S. The skin penetration agent improves penetration of the outer, dead skin layers by the electrolyte, thereby improving pickup of minute electrical signals generated within the patient's body. A preferred skin penetration agent includes sodium 2-pyrrolidone-5 carboxylate at a concentration of 15-20% by weight of the electrolyte composition.

Abstract: To separate drugs within a chamber (66) formed beneath a dome-like housing (24) from another biomedically active substance, the chamber (66) is subdivided into two chamber portions (166, 266) by enclosing, within said chamber, a plastic bag (101) or by stretching a membrane (102) thereacross. The plastic bag, or the membrane, respectively, is ruptured upon depression of a terminal element (34) located at the apex of the dome of the housing. The subdivision of the chamber into two chamber portions prevents intermixing of the biologically active substances during storage. One of the chamber portions may retain liquids which are suitable in the article, and preferably are separated from another one of the liquids, such as a surfactant, and thus permits a wide choice, of, respectively, biologically active and other substances. Unintended leakage of the substances through a microporous membrane (76) closing off the housing is prevented by applying a cover strip across the membrane.

Abstract: To separate electrolyte (70) within a chamber (66) formed beneath a dome-like housing (24) from a signal transmission connector (34) and thus prevent corrosion of the terminal portion (38, 40) exposed to the interior of the chamber by the electrolyte, the interior of the chamber (66) is subdivided into two chambers (166, 266) by enclosing within said chamber a plastic bag (101) or stretching a membrane (102) thereacross, the subdividing means (101, 102) being ruptured upon depression of the contact terminal (34) of the housing; the electrolyte is retained solely within the chamber (266, 266a) separate from the interior portion (38, 40) of the terminal so that the corrosive influence of the electrolyte is prevented from attacking the metal of the terminal prior to use of the electrode, and during storage.

Abstract: A disposable biomedical electrode which includes a vaulted dome-like electrolyte-containing chamber or cavity bridged at its open bottom by a highly flexible and conformable microporous membrane, the latter being covered with an adhesively-secured protective film the film being strippable preparatory to adhesively securing the electrode to a body surface. The electrode material and shape are such that the vaulted housing is physically distortable upon downward pressure applied thereto, thereby to force the electrolyte to diffuse through the microporous membrane into positive and low-electrical-resistance contact with the skin surface of a subject.