Abstract: Stimulating electrodes, such as defibrillation or pacing electrodes, are constructed utilizing a metal and its chloride, preferably tin and stannous chloride. The electrodes are relatively large and sufficiently flexible to substantially conform to the area of the body on which they are placed. An electrically conductive medium, such as a saline gel, is placed over a conductive plate having at least a surface formed substantially of tin, to which a quantity of stannous chloride is affixed. In a preferred form, the stimulating electrodes are provided as a disposable set.

Abstract: Physiological electrode elements are constructed of tin and stannous chloride. The tin may be provided in any of a variety of ways, such as a solid tin plate or foil, or the tin may be plated over either an electrically conducting or electrically non-conducting substrate. A quantity of stannous chloride is affixed to the tin. A suitable conducting medium, such as a saline gel, is placed over the stannous chloride to provide a conductive path for electrical current between the tin and the skin of a patient to which the electrode is attached. In a particular preferred embodiment, the tin-stannous chloride electrode elements are made considerably larger than conventional ECG electrodes in order to be able to convey relatively large amounts of electrical energy associated with stimulating and therapeutic applications, as well as providing low impedance to the passage of the relatively small signals associated with monitoring.

Abstract: A defibrillator cable is provided in two separate embodiments. In one embodiment, the conventional paddles and their associated leads are replaced by the present defibrillator cable, which includes a discharge control device in the cable. In the other embodiment, a paddle adapter module is provided to permit use of the conventional paddles with the electrode set of the present invention. This paddle adapter has a pair of conducting plates against which the paddles may be pressed to complete an electrical conducting path for the defibrillator signals. An audible alarm is provided to let the operator known when appropriate contact between the paddles and the adapter plates has been achieved, as well as to warn other personnel that a high energy shock is to be applied. The paddle adapter may also be provided with an ECG output terminal connected to the defibrillator leads and provided with high voltage protection, a low pass filter and a body tissue impedance simulating circuit.

Abstract: A disposable electrode set is provided in which a single pair of electrodes have the capability of transmitting signals for monitoring, stimulating and therapeutic applications. The electrodes have a metal-metal chloride (preferably tin-stannous chloride) structure to give suitable signals for monitoring, while also providing for the transfer of high energy stimulating and therapeutic signals. Transfer of the stimulating and therapeutic signals requires that the electrodes be formed with a suitable size and shape to accommodate the high energy signals. Each of the electrodes is connected to a plug, which is a part of the disposable set, by a suitable conducting line. The plug is standarized so that the disposable set can be connected to any one or any combination of the monitoring, stimulating and therapeutic devices.

Abstract: Physiological electrodes are provided for use with a magnetic connector to complete an electrical circuit between the body of a patient and an electrical instrument. These electrodes contain a ferromagnetic material to complete a magnetic circuit with a magnetic member on an associated lead wire. This ferromagnetic material is included in an electrically conductive electrode element that contains an electrically conductive material, such as a saline gel, and the ferromagnetic material is isolated from the electrically conductive medium to prevent corrosion. The electrodes are provided with an arrangement for securing the electrode element to the body of a patient, and a separating member is provided to prevent the electrically conductive electrode element from contacting the skin of the patient in certain applications. In some embodiments, an appropriate restraining structure is provided to minimize the possibility of accidental disconnect.

Abstract: A monitoring electrode system is provided in which just two electrodes and their corresponding lead lines may be utilized for a monitoring unit, such as an ECG, having three input terminals and normally requiring signals from three electrodes. To achieve such a two lead system, a body tissue impedance simulating circuit is included to provide an automatic reference line signal at the third input terminal. Protection against high voltages and radio frequency interference is provided by various circuits, such as a high voltage protection circuit, a low pass filter network or an RF choke filter network. In the preferred embodiment hereof, a pair of electrodes are provided with a connecting plug which engages a corresponding connector at the end of a cable extending from the ECG monitor. Preferably, the body tissue impedance simulating circuit and any protective circuits are located in the connector at the end of the ECG cable.

Abstract: Physiological electrode systems are based upon the utilization of a single pair of electrode elements to provide for physiological function monitoring of a patient, electrical stimulation of the patient, and electrical therapeutic treatment of the patient. The monitoring instrument, the stimulating instrument and the therapeutic instrument may be connected to the electrode elements separately or in various combinations. Preferably, the electrode elements are provided as a disposable set which are connected to the various instruments through appropriate cables. These cables may be interrelated to permit combinations of the instruments to be simultaneously connected to the electrode elements, with suitable protection being provided to prevent the instruments from adversely affecting one another. Aspects of the cables and electrode sets may be utilized to provide separate monitoring, stimulating and therapeutic electrode systems.