EP0101595A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Biological probes and methods of making same
Assignee: Vital Signs Inc
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Filing: 1983-08-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-08-08
Abstract
Abstract A biological probe having one or more electrodes (34, 36) on its exterior surface (20) for detecting electrical potentials such as electrocardiogram voltages. The exposed surfaces of the electrodes (34, 36) merge smoothly with the surrounding surfaces (20) of the probe to minimize tissue trauma. The electrodes (34, 36) may be formed by applying and curing a liquid material on the probe body, and the electrodes (34, 36) may be electrically connected to conductors (12,14) embedded in the probe by the same application and curing steps.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald E. Mcginnis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:48
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/68; A61B5/6846; A61B5/6847; A61B5/6852; A61B5/07; A61B5/24; A61B5/25; A61B5/279; A61B5/28; A61B5/283; A61B5/285
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A biological probe for insertion into the body of a living organism, the probe having an elongated, flexible member having a sheath defining a smooth, exterior surface, said sheath including an electrically conductive portion constituting a first electrode, an exposed surface of said conductive portion constituting a part of the exterior surface of the sheath, said sheath also including an electrically insulating portion, characterized in that said conductive portion includes a conductive coating overlying and adhering to a surface of said insulating portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A biological probe for insertion into the body of a living organism, the probe having an elongated, flexible member having a sheath defining a smooth, exterior surface, said sheath including an electrically conductive portion constituting a first electrode, an exposed surface of said conductive portion constituting a part of the exterior surface of the sheath, said sheath also including an electrically insulating portion, characterized in that said conductive portion includes a conductive coating overlying and adhering to a surface of said insulating portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A probe as claimed in claim 1 in which said coating is composed of a soft material and the region of said insulating portion underlying said coating is also composed of a soft material, said coating and said underlying region being elastically continuous with one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A probe as claimed in claim 1 in which said conducting means includes an electrical conductor embedded in said insulating portion, said insulating portion having a depression in its surface extending inwardly to said conductor, said coating extending into said depression and contacting said conductor in said depression.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
A probe as claimed in claim 3 in which said insulating portion is composed of a polymeric material, said conductor is composed of a blend material including a polymeric material and an electrically conductive material, said coating also being composed of a blend material including a polymeric material and an electrically conductive material, said coating being fused with said conductor in said depression.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A probe as claimed in claim 4 in which all of said polymeric materials consist primarily of polymers of a common monomer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A probe as claimed in claim 5 in which said monomer is vinyl chloride.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A probe as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which said coating is no more than about 0.25 mm thick.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of forming a sheath for a biological probe including an electrically insulating portion and an electrically conductive portion constituting an electrode comprising the steps of: (a) depositing a curable liquid material in juxtaposition with a solid body constituting one of said portions so that such liquid material wets the exterior surface of such solid and flows to a contour blending smoothly with such surface; and (b) curing said liquid material to a solid form without disturbing said contour to form the other one of said portions.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of forming a sheath for a biological probe including an electrically insulating portion and an electrically conductive portion constituting an electrode comprising the steps of: (a) depositing a curable liquid material in juxtaposition with a solid body constituting one of said portions so that such liquid material wets the exterior surface of such solid and flows to a contour blending smoothly with such surface; and (b) curing said liquid material to a solid form without disturbing said contour to form the other one of said portions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 in which said insulating portion is a solid, elongated sheath portion and said electrode is formed by depositing a coating of said curable liquid'material on the exterior surface of said solid, elongated sheath portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising the step of establishing electrical connection between the electrode and an electrical conductor embedded within said solid, elongated sheath portion by causing said liquid material to flow into contact with said conductor prior to completion of said curing step.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising the steps of forming a depression in the exterior surface of said solid, elongated sheath portion and exposing a portion of the conductor in said depression before depositing the liquid material on such sheath portion, the liquid material contacting said conductor in said depression.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as claimed in claim 27 in which said solid, elongated sheath portion is a hollow tube, said depression being formed by removing a part of such wall without penetrating entirely through such wall, said liquid material being deposited so that it covers the margins of said depression.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
49 words
A method as claimed in any of claims 10 through 12 in which said conductor is composed of a blend material including a polymer and a conductive material dispersed therein and said liquid material includes an electrically conductive material and a solvent for the polymer of said blend material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 13 in which the insulating material of said sheath portion includes a polymeric material and the liquid material incorporates a solvent for such polymeric material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 in which the liquid material includes a polymeric material, the polymeric material incorporated in said insulating material and the polymeric material incoporated in the liquid material both consisting primarily of polymers of vinyl chloride.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in any of claims 13 through 15 in which the electrically conductive material incorporated in said liquid material is carbon black.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
A biological probe sheath made by the process of any of claims 8 through 16.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
130 words
A biological probe for insertion into the body of a living organism, the probe having an elongated, flexible member having a proximal end, a distal end and a sheath defining a smooth, exterior surface, said sheath including an electrically conductive portion constituting a first electrode, an exposed surface of said conductive portion constituting a part of the exterior surface of the sheath, said sheath also including an electrically insulating portion, characterized in that said conductive portion includes a mass of conductive material having an exposed surface, said mass being bonded to said insulating portion, such bond extending to the extremity of the interface between said mass and said insulating portion, there being a smooth transition between the exposed surface of said mass and the exposed surface of said insultaing portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
130 words
A biological probe for insertion into the body of a living organism, the probe having an elongated, flexible member having a proximal end, a distal end and a sheath defining a smooth, exterior surface, said sheath including an electrically conductive portion constituting a first electrode, an exposed surface of said conductive portion constituting a part of the exterior surface of the sheath, said sheath also including an electrically insulating portion, characterized in that said conductive portion includes a mass of conductive material having an exposed surface, said mass being bonded to said insulating portion, such bond extending to the extremity of the interface between said mass and said insulating portion, there being a smooth transition between the exposed surface of said mass and the exposed surface of said insultaing portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
110 words
A probe as claimed in claim 18 in which said insulating portion includes a first insulating tube and said mass of conductive material is in the form of a conductive tube, a proximal end of said conductive tube being connected to a distal end of said first insulating tube, axially-extensive portions of said tubes overlapping one another at the juncture therebetween, one such overlapping portion being disposed radially outboard of the other, the thickness of such radially outboard overlapping portion tapering towards the axial extremity of such portion, said bond extending between the confronting surfaces of said overlapping portions to the outer extremity of the interface between such confronting surfaces.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
A probe as claimed in claim 19 further comprising a bead of bonding material at the outer extremity of said interface between the confronting surfaces of said overlapping portions, said bead extending between the exterior surfaces of said tubes and defining a smooth transition therebetween.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
A probe as claimed in any of claims 18 through 20 in which said insulating portion and said conductive mass are both composed of soft materials, said insulating portion and said mass being elastically continuous with one another.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of making a biological probe comprising the steps of: (a) juxtaposing a mass of an electrically conductive material with an electrically insulating sheath portion to form a composite sheath, an exposed surface of the conductive mass forming part of the exterior surface of the composite sheath, the interface between the conducting mass and the insulating portion extending to such exterior surface; (b) forming a curable liquid phase at the interface between the conductive mass and the insulating portion, such liquid phase extending to the juncture of such interface and the exterior surface of the composite sheath, said liquid phase wetting both the condutive mass and the insulating portion; and (c) curing said liquid phase to form a bond between the conductive mass and the insulating portion, such bond extending to the extremity of said interface at said exterior surface.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of making a biological probe comprising the steps of: (a) juxtaposing a mass of an electrically conductive material with an electrically insulating sheath portion to form a composite sheath, an exposed surface of the conductive mass forming part of the exterior surface of the composite sheath, the interface between the conducting mass and the insulating portion extending to such exterior surface; (b) forming a curable liquid phase at the interface between the conductive mass and the insulating portion, such liquid phase extending to the juncture of such interface and the exterior surface of the composite sheath, said liquid phase wetting both the condutive mass and the insulating portion; and (c) curing said liquid phase to form a bond between the conductive mass and the insulating portion, such bond extending to the extremity of said interface at said exterior surface.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method as claimed in claim 22 in which a bead of said liquid phase is formed prior to completion of said curing step, on the exterior surface of the composite sheath adjacent said interface, the liquid in said bead flowing to a smooth contour extending between the exposed surface of said mass and the adjacent exposed surface of said insulating portion, the liquid phase being cured without disturbing such smooth contour.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
114 words
A biological probe having: (a) an elongated structural member having a proximal end and a distal end; (b) an electrode mounted on said member remote from the proximal end thereof; (c) a conductor electrically connected to said electrode extending from said electrode within said member towards the proximal end thereof; (d) an electrical temperature transducer mounted to said member remote from the proximal end thereof; and (e) a lead extending from said transducer towards the proximal end of said member: characterized in that: (f) said transducer is electrically connected both to said lead and to said conductor, so that said conductor serves to convey electrical signals both from said transducer and from said electrode.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
114 words
A biological probe having: (a) an elongated structural member having a proximal end and a distal end; (b) an electrode mounted on said member remote from the proximal end thereof; (c) a conductor electrically connected to said electrode extending from said electrode within said member towards the proximal end thereof; (d) an electrical temperature transducer mounted to said member remote from the proximal end thereof; and (e) a lead extending from said transducer towards the proximal end of said member: characterized in that: (f) said transducer is electrically connected both to said lead and to said conductor, so that said conductor serves to convey electrical signals both from said transducer and from said electrode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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