Biosensor electrode

Abstract

This bioelectrode is provided with: a base plate having a plurality of through-holes that are separated from each other; a plurality of electrode parts; and a fixing plate attached to a projecting portion of a connection terminal. Each of the electrode parts is provided with a coating layer, an electroconductive connection terminal that penetrates through the coating layer, and an electroconductive gel layer that is electrically connected to the connection terminal and comes into contact with a living body, in which the connection terminal has a projecting portion that projects from the coating layer and the projecting portion penetrates through one of the plurality of through-holes in the base plate. The size of each of the plurality of through-holes in the base plate is such a size that the projecting portion of the connection terminal can be inserted and can pass through each of the through-holes, and is smaller than the size of the fixing plate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a biological electrode, and more particularly to a biological electrode that is installed on a living body in order to acquire signals from the living body or to perform various treatments or care on the living body.

Background Art

[0002] In order to transmit an electrical signal from a living body to a measuring device or to transmit an electrical stimulus from a stimulating device to a living body, a biological electrode having a conductive layer adhered to the skin surface of the living body is used.

[0003] As such a biological electrode, for example, as shown in FIG. 1(A), a pad 101 having a plurality of electrodes provided on a support and a male hook 102 made of metal that conducts with the plurality of electrodes, and this male hook 102 A method of connecting to a female hook 104 of a corresponding connector 103 of an external device through the above has been used for a long time. The male hook 102 and the female hook 104 are fitted to each other to establish an electrical connection as a connection terminal. FIG. 1(B) shows a state in which the pad 101 of FIG. 1(A) is moved in the direction of the arrow, and the male hook 102 and the female hook 104 are fitted to each other to attach the pad 101 to the connector 103. As described above, a biological electrode having a plurality of electrode portions for one main body is more preferable than a configuration of a biological electrode having only one electrode for one main body for ease of handling on the user side and for avoiding unintentional problems and measurement failures.

[0004] The connection terminal (male hook) that is electrically connected to the plurality of electrodes of the biological electrode and the connection terminal (female hook) of the corresponding connector of an external device such as a measuring device or a stimulating device need to fit perfectly with each other, and the positional accuracy of the connection terminal is required. By the way, the distance between the connection terminals may be slightly displaced due to errors during the manufacture of the biological electrode, the measuring device, or the stimulating device, or due to long-term use. In addition, the distance between the connection terminals of the biological electrode may vary depending on the part of the living body to which the biological electrode is applied. Therefore, it is preferable that the distance between the connection terminals of the biological electrode can be changed.

[0005] Patent Document 1 discloses a pad for a biological electrode in which a fragile part is formed between electrode parts in a holding body, and the distance between the electrode parts can be changed by cutting the fragile part. In this pad for a biological electrode, the distance between the two electrode parts can be changed by cutting the fragile part as needed while keeping the distance between the two electrode parts constant at all times.

[0006] Patent Document 2 discloses a sheet for a biological electrode including a sheet-like support and two electrodes provided on one surface of the support, and having a plurality of grooves extending parallel to each other in a direction intersecting the direction in which the electrodes face between the two electrodes. In this sheet 1 for a biological electrode, by folding the base substrate as the support with the plurality of grooves provided between the two electrodes as folding parts by mountain folding and valley folding, the electrodes attached to the biological surface are less likely to fall off even when the wearer moves, and the distance between the two electrodes can be arbitrarily adjusted.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] In the pad for a biological electrode of Cited Document 1, once the fragile part formed in the holding body is cut, it cannot be restored to the original configuration. In the sheet for a biological electrode of Cited Document 2, although the pad for a biological electrode can be expanded and contracted in the direction in which the electrodes face with the plurality of grooves as folding parts, it is only in one direction, and the entire pad for a biological electrode must be replaced even when a part of the electrode is consumed.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a biological electrode including a plurality of electrodes capable of changing the distance between connection terminals of adjacent electrode portions.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes the following embodiments.

[0011] Item 1. A biological electrode, comprising: a base plate having a plurality of through holes spaced apart from each other; a plurality of electrode portions, each electrode portion comprising: a coating layer; Lead an electrical connection terminal having a protruding portion protruding from the coating layer, the protruding portion penetrating one of the plurality of through holes of the base plate; a plurality of electrode portions including a conductive layer that is electrically connected to the connection terminal and contacts a living body; a fixing plate attached to the protruding portion of the connection terminal; and; a biological electrode, wherein the sizes of the plurality of through holes of the base plate are such that the protruding portions of the connection terminals can be inserted therethrough and are smaller than the size of the fixing plate.

[0012] Item 2. The biological electrode according to Item 1, wherein the electrode portion is movable within the range of the through hole of the base plate, and the distance between the connection terminals of adjacent electrode portions can be changed.

[0013] Item 3. The biological electrode according to Item 1 or 2, wherein the connection terminal and the conductive layer of each electrode portion are separated, and each electrode portion further includes a second conductive layer extending between the coating layer and the conductive layer in a state of contacting the connection terminal and the conductive layer.

[0014] Item 4. The biopole according to item 3, wherein each of the electrode portions is attached to the second conductive layer and further includes an insulating layer that covers an end portion on the side opposite to the protruding portion of the connection terminal or a conductor fitted to the connection terminal in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the coating layer extends.

[0015] Item 5. The biological electrode according to item 1, wherein each of the electrode portions further includes a conductor that penetrates the coating layer and fits with the connection terminal. Item 6. The biological electrode according to item 1, wherein the connection terminal penetrates the coating layer. Item 7. The biopole according to any one of items 1 to 6 wherein the connection terminal has a male hook.

[0016] Item 8 . The biopole according to any one of items 1 to, wherein the protruding portion of the connection terminal is inserted into a through hole of the base plate, and a fixing plate is fitted to the protruding portion, so that the electrode portion can be arranged at a position where an area of the conductive layer does not overlap with the base plate by 50% or more in a plan view in a state where the electrode portion is attached to the base plate so as not to come off from the base plate. 6 wherein the connection terminal has a male hook.

[0017] Item 9 . The biopole according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein the conductive layer includes a conductive gel layer.

[0018] Item 10 . A set for assembling a biopole, comprising a base plate having a plurality of through holes spaced apart from each other, a plurality of electrode portions detachable from the base plate, each electrode portion including a coating layer, Lead an electrical connection terminal having a protruding portion protruding from the coating layer, a plurality of electrode portions electrically connected to the connection terminal and including a conductive layer that comes into contact with a living body, a fixing plate attachable to the protruding portion of the connection terminal, and A set for assembling a biological electrode, wherein the sizes of the plurality of through holes in the base plate are such that the protruding portions of the connection terminals can be inserted therethrough and are smaller than the size of the fixing plate. Item 11. The set for assembling a biological electrode according to item 10, wherein each of the electrode portions further includes a conductor that penetrates the coating layer and fits with the connection terminal. Item 12. The set for assembling a biological electrode according to item 10, wherein the connection terminal penetrates the coating layer.

Advantages of the Invention

[0019] According to the biological electrode of the present invention, the distance between the connection terminals of adjacent electrode portions can be changed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 10

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Figure 14

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] The bioelectrode of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the bioelectrode 1 of one embodiment of the present invention includes a fixing plate 10, a base plate 20 having a plurality (three in the figure) of through holes 22 spaced apart from each other, and a plurality (three in the figure) of electrode portions 30, and is configured by assembling these.

[0023] Each electrode portion 30 includes a coating layer 31, a conductive connection terminal 32 penetrating the coating layer 31, and a conductive gel layer 35 (see FIG. 5(B)) as a conductive layer electrically connected to the connection terminal 32. In the present embodiment, the connection terminal 32 is a hook-shaped genko, and the protruding portion 32a of the connection terminal 32 protrudes from the coating layer 31. That is, the protruding portion 32a protrudes outside the surface of the coating layer 31. The fixing plate 10 has a through hole 12 and can be attached to the protruding portion 32a of the connection terminal 32 through the through hole 12. The size of the plurality of through holes 22 of the base plate 20 is such that the protruding portion 32a of the connection terminal 32 can be inserted therethrough and is smaller than the size of the fixing plate 10. More specifically, the diameter D of the plurality of through holes 22 of the base plate 20 1 is larger than the diameter D of the protruding portion 32a of the connection terminal 32 2 and smaller than the diameter D of the fixing plate 10. 3 Note that the size of the through-hole refers to the diameter or surface area of the through-hole when the surface shape of the through-hole is circular, and when the surface shape of the through-hole is not circular, it is determined by the surface area of the through-hole. The size of the fixing plate 10 refers to the surface area of the wide surface of the fixing plate 10.

[0024] When assembling the biological electrode 1, first, the protruding portion 32a of the connection terminal 32 of the electrode portion 30 is inserted into the corresponding through-hole 22 of the base plate 20. Thereby, the electrode portion 30 is detachably attached to the base plate 20. Next, the protruding portion 32a of the electrode portion 30 is inserted into the through-hole 12 of the fixing plate 10.

[0025] In this embodiment, the fixing plate 10 is thin, the through-hole 12 is plastically deformed to some extent, and the protruding portion 32a of the connection terminal 32 of the electrode portion 30 is slightly narrower in diameter on the proximal side than at the tip of the protruding portion 32a. For example, the diameter of the through-hole 12 of the fixing plate 10 is the same as or smaller than the maximum diameter of the protruding portion 32a. Preferably, the diameter of the through-hole 12 is 0.1 mm to 1 mm smaller than the maximum diameter of the protruding portion 32a. Therefore, after the protruding portion 32a penetrates the through-hole 12 of the fixing plate 10, the fixing plate 10 stays near the portion where the diameter is slightly narrower on the proximal side than the tip of the protruding portion 32a and is prevented from coming out of the protruding portion 32a without applying an external force. Since the fixing plate 10 is fixedly attached to the protruding portion 32a, the base plate 20 is also held between the fixing plate 10 and the electrode portion 30 without coming off from the protruding portion 32a, and the fixing plate 10, the base plate 20, and one or a plurality of electrode portions 30 are integrated or combined.

[0026] When disassembling the assembly of the biological electrode 1, when manually applying an external pressure to the fixing plate 10 and / or the electrode portion 30 in the direction of pulling out the fixing plate 10 from the protruding portion 32a of the connection terminal 32 of the electrode portion 30, the protruding portion 32a of the connection terminal 32 of the electrode portion 30 passes through the through-hole 12 of the fixing plate 10 and is separated from the fixing plate 10. Next, the substrate plate 20 can also be easily removed from the protruding portion 32a of the connection terminal 32 of the electrode portion 30.

[0027] In this embodiment, the outer shape of the fixing plate 10 is substantially circular, but the outer shape of the fixing plate 10 is not limited. The outer shape of the fixing plate 10 may be, for example, circular, elliptical, rectangular, or the like. The fixing plate 10 is preferably transparent in terms of enhancing the visibility of the positions of the base plate 20 and the electrode portion 30, but may also be opaque. The material constituting the fixing plate 10 is not limited, but is preferably a synthetic resin, and examples thereof include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and the like. The thickness of the fixing plate 10 should not be too thick because it needs to penetrate the protruding portion 32a of the connection terminal 32 and be mounted on the protruding portion 32a. For example, it is 50 to 200 μm, preferably 75 to 185 μm.

[0028] In this embodiment, the outer shape of the base plate 20 is a substantially triangular shape with rounded sides, but is not particularly limited and may be, for example, circular, elliptical, rectangular, or the like. Further, a tab or a protrusion for facilitating the removal of the base plate 20 from the connector of the external device may be provided on the outer shape of any of these shapes. Also, the number of through holes 22 provided in the base plate 20 is not limited to three. The base plate 20 is preferably transparent in terms of enhancing the visibility of the positions of the fixing plate 10 and the electrode portion 30, but may also be opaque. The material constituting the base plate 20 is not limited, but is preferably a synthetic resin, and examples thereof include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and the like. The thickness of the base plate 20 is not particularly limited and is, for example, 10 μm to 1 mm, preferably 50 to 200 μm.

[0029] FIG. 3 shows a biological electrode 1 in which a fixing plate 10, a base plate 20, and three electrode portions 30 are integrated or assembled. Such a biological electrode 1 may also be referred to as a biological electrode assembly. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the biological electrode 1 of FIG. 3 as viewed from the back. In FIG. 3, the protruding portion 32a of the connection terminal 32 of the electrode portion 30 is inserted through the through-hole 22 of the base plate 20, and the protruding portion 32a is inserted through the through-hole 12 of the fixing plate 10. In a state where the fixing plate 10, the base plate 20, and the three electrode portions 30 are assembled, the electrode portion 30 and its protruding portion 32a can move within the range of the through-hole 22 of the base plate 20. Since the protruding portion 32a of the connection terminal 32 of each electrode 30 can move laterally within the range restricted by the wall defining the through-hole 22 of the base plate 20, the distance between the connection terminals 32 of adjacent electrode portions 30 can be changed. Further, in a state where the fixing plate 10, the base plate 20, and the three electrode portions 30 are assembled, each electrode portion 30 can rotate about its connection terminal 32, so the positional relationship between adjacent electrode portions 30 can also be changed. In a state where the fixing plate 10, the base plate 20, and the three electrode portions 30 are assembled, in plan view, if a large proportion of the total area of the conductive gel layer 35 of each electrode portion 30 is arranged at a position that does not overlap with the base plate 20, the connection terminal 32 and the conductive gel layer 35 applied to the skin of the subject or patient are separated (offset structure), so noise due to the movement of the living body or the unevenness of the living body surface is less likely to occur, and the electrical connection of the connection portion 32 is stable, which is preferable. More preferably, 50% or more of the total area of each conductive gel layer 35 in plan view can be arranged at a position that does not overlap with the base plate 20.

[0030] Next, the configuration of the electrode portion 30 will be described in detail. FIG. 5(A) is a plan view of one electrode portion. In the present embodiment, the electrode portion 30 has a shape in which a substantially rectangular portion with rounded corners and a substantially circular portion are joined in plan view. The connection terminal 32 is provided near the transition region where the electrode portion 30 transitions from the substantially rectangular portion with rounded corners to the substantially circular portion in the longitudinal direction of the electrode portion 30, and is provided along the substantially center line in the width direction of the electrode portion 30.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 5(B) and 6, each electrode portion 30 includes a coating layer 31, a conductive connection terminal 32 penetrating the coating layer 31, a sheet-like conductive layer 36 as a second conductive layer laminated in contact with the coating layer 31, a conductive gel layer 35 in contact with the conductive layer 36 on the surface of the conductive layer 36 opposite to the coating layer 31, an insulating layer 37 laminated in contact with the conductive layer 36 on the surface of the conductive layer 36 opposite to the coating layer 31 and covering the bottom plate portion 34b of the conductor 34 fitted with the connection terminal 32, and a release film 38 covering the surface of the conductive gel layer 35. In this embodiment, the conductor 34 is the shank of a hook.

[0032] The coating layer 31 is not particularly limited as long as it is an insulating material, and examples include, but are not limited to, synthetic resin, glass, paper, etc. Preferably, the coating layer 31 is preferably formed from a synthetic resin. Examples of the synthetic resin include various resins such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyolefin resins such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), polyurethane resins, polyester resins, foams, non-woven fabrics, woven fabrics, or laminates thereof. The coating layer 31 may be transparent or opaque, but is preferably opaque from the viewpoints of design and covering the components under the coating layer 31. The coating layer 31 can be colored as needed, such as white, yellow, green, blue, red, brown, purple, gray, black, etc. The thickness of the coating layer 31 is not particularly limited and depends on the material. For example, in the case of a resin film, it is preferably 20 to 200 μm, and in the case of a foam, it is preferably about 0.2 to 1 mm.

[0033] In this embodiment, the connection terminal 32 made of genko forms a pair with a conductor made of hosho. The connection terminal 32 has a flat plate portion 32b and a protruding portion 32a extending from the flat plate portion 32b. The conductor 34 also has a flat plate portion 34b and a protruding portion 34a extending from the flat plate portion 34b. The protruding portion 34a of the conductor 34 penetrates the coating layer 31 and the conductive layer 36, and is fitted into a recess formed inside the protruding portion 32a. The lower surface of the flat plate portion 32b of the connection terminal 32 is in contact with the coating layer 31, and the upper surface of the flat plate portion 34b of the conductor 34 is in contact with the conductive layer 36. The coating layer 31 and the conductive layer 36 are firmly fixed by the opposing surfaces of the connection terminal 32 and the conductor 34. The connection terminal 32 and the conductor 34 may be made of metal or may be made of resin with a conductive coating. However, in order to suppress polarization, a resin coated with silver chloride silver or a carbon molded product coated with silver chloride silver is preferred.

[0034] The connection terminal 32 and the conductive gel layer 35 are separated, but the conductive layer 36 extends between the coating layer 31 and the conductive gel layer 35 in a state of being in contact with the connection terminal 32 and the conductive gel layer 35, and serves to electrically connect the connection terminal 32 and the conductive gel layer 35. In this embodiment, the conductive layer 36 is laminated to substantially the same size as the coating layer 31, but the size of the conductive layer 36 may be smaller than that of the coating layer 31 or vice versa. When the electrode portion 30 is viewed in plan from the side of the coating layer 31 as shown in Fig. 5(A), the conductive layer 36 is not visible.

[0035] The conductive layer 36 can be composed of any material as long as it is a conductive element (component). Preferably, it is a conductive film or sheet formed by mixing particles coated with conductive carbon, metal, and / or conductive polymer in resin and molding (for example, a resin coated with silver chloride silver or a carbon molded product coated with silver chloride silver), a resin film or sheet printed with conductive ink, and a metal sheet. When the base material of the conductive layer 36 is formed of resin, if the resin film or sheet is too soft, it will bend, and if it is too hard, it will not conform to the skin and prevent accurate measurement. Therefore, the total thickness of the conductive layer 36 is preferably 25 to 180 μm. In terms of hardness and price, materials such as polyethylene (PE), polyurethane (PU), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), etc. are preferred for the resin.

[0036] In this specification, the film refers to a thin film with a thickness of less than 250 μm, and the sheet refers to a thin plate with a thickness of 250 μm or more.

[0037] The insulating layer 37 is laminated in contact with the conductive layer 36 on the surface opposite to the surface in contact with the covering layer 31 of the conductive layer 36, covering the bottom plate portion 34b of the conductor 34 of the connection terminal 32. Therefore, when the electrode portion 30 is viewed in plan from the side of the insulating layer 37 as shown in Fig. 5(C), the bottom plate portion 34b of the conductor 34 is not visible. Since the conductive layer 36 and the conductive gel layer 35 need to be in contact, the insulating layer 37 extends from one end in the longitudinal direction of the electrode portion 30, including the periphery of the connection terminal 32, to the middle of the longitudinal direction of the electrode portion 30. The material of the insulating layer 37 is not particularly limited as long as it is an insulating material, but various resin films such as polyolefin resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride resin, polyester resin, and polyurethane resin can be used. The insulating layer 37 may be transparent or opaque, but it is preferably opaque from the viewpoints of design and covering the components under the insulating layer 37. The thickness of the insulating layer 37 is not particularly limited, for example, it is 10 to 50 μm.

[0038] The conductive gel layer 35 extends in contact with the conductive layer 36 from the end opposite to the end closer to the connection terminal 32 in the longitudinal direction of the electrode portion 30 toward the end closer to the connection terminal 32. At the location where the insulating layer 37 is laminated on the conductive layer 36, the conductive gel layer 35 is laminated on the insulating layer 37. The conductive gel layer 35 is covered by the covering layer 31 via the conductive layer 36. Since the connection terminal 32 and the conductive gel layer 35 are electrically connected via the conductive layer 36, the electrical signal acquired from a living body (animal, especially a human) is input from the connection terminal 32 of the biological electrode 30 to an external device via the connection terminal of the connector of the external device.

[0039] The material of the conductive gel layer 35 is not particularly limited. The conductive gel layer 35 can be composed of, for example, an acrylic resin imparted with conductivity, a urethane resin imparted with conductivity, etc., and is preferably a sticky hydrogel containing an electrolyte. The sticky hydrogel contains a polymer matrix obtained by copolymerizing and crosslinking a monofunctional monomer which is an acrylic monomer and a crosslinkable monomer, water, a polyhydric alcohol, and an electrolyte. Examples of the acrylic monomer include (meth)acrylamide-based monomers, (meth)acrylic acid esters, and (meth)acrylic acid. Specific examples of the (meth)acrylamide-based monomers include (meth)acrylamide, N,N-dialkyl(meth)acrylamide, N-alkyl(meth)acrylamide, N-hydroxyalkyl(meth)acrylamide, N-alkoxyalkyl(meth)acrylamide, an amino group-containing cationic acrylamide-based compound, a sulfonic acid group-containing anionic monofunctional monomer or its salt, and derivatives thereof. The crosslinkable monomer is preferably a monomer having two or more polymerizable double bonds in the molecule. Specific examples of the crosslinkable monomer include polyfunctional (meth)acrylamides or polyfunctional (meth)acrylic acid esters such as methylenebis(meth)acrylamide, ethylenebis(meth)acrylamide, (poly)ethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, (poly)propylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, glycerin di(meth)acrylate, glycerin tri(meth)acrylate, tetraallyloxyethane, diallylammonium chloride, etc. The sticky hydrogel may further contain a polyhydric alcohol such as glycerin or polyethylene glycol as a wetting agent. The sticky hydrogel may contain other additives as necessary. Examples of the other additives include rust inhibitors, fungicides, antioxidants, defoamers, stabilizers, surfactants, colorants, etc. Various such sticky hydrogels are known, including the conductive gel of the applicant. The thickness of the conductive gel layer 35 is not particularly limited, but is, for example, 0.3 mm to 1.2 mm.

[0040] Before the biological electrode 30 is attached to a living body for use, a release film 38 is adhered onto the conductive gel layer 35. By covering the conductive gel layer 35 with the release film 38, the conductive gel layer 35 can be protected and safeguarded from drying. The release sheet 38 is configured to have the same size as the conductive gel layer 35 or be slightly larger than the conductive gel layer 35. When the release sheet 38 is peeled off, the conductive gel layer 35 is exposed, so that the exposed conductive gel layer 35 can be brought into contact with the skin surface of the living body.

[0041] Returning to FIG. 3, the biological electrode 30 assembled with the fixing plate 10, the base plate 20, and the plurality of electrode portions 30 can be attached to an external device by electrically connecting the connection terminal 32 of the biological electrode 30 and the connection terminal of the connector of the external device. Since the connection terminal 32 of the present embodiment forms a male hook, it can be easily designed to fit with an external device whose connection terminal consists of a female hook.

[0042] The biological electrode of the present embodiment can be used as a medical electrode such as an electrode for low-frequency therapy; an electrode for electrocardiogram (ECG); a biological potential measurement electrode used for electroencephalogram, nystagmus, electromyogram, etc.; an electrical stimulation electrode used for TENS, low-frequency therapy, etc.; a counter electrode plate for an electric scalpel; an electrode for iontophoresis. Examples of corresponding external devices include electrotherapy devices (including low-frequency therapy devices, pain therapy devices, non-invasive headache treatment devices), electrocardiogram measuring devices, biological potential measuring devices, high-frequency surgical devices, iontophoresis devices, EMS devices used for body shaping and muscle training, wearable vital sensors, and the like.

[0043] Here, the effects of the biological electrode 1 of the above embodiment will be described below. (1) In the biological electrode 1 of the above embodiment of the present invention, the diameter D of the plurality of through holes 22 in the base plate 20 1 is larger than the diameter D of the protruding portion 32a of the connection terminal 32 2 and also larger than the diameter D of the fixing plate 10 3It is smaller than this. Therefore, by inserting the protruding portion 32a of the connection terminal 32 into the through hole 22 of the base plate 20 and then attaching the fixing plate 10 to the protruding portion 32a, the electrode portion 30 can be attached to the base plate 20 without coming off from the base plate 20. For this reason, the protruding portion 32a of the electrode portion 30 can move within the range of the through hole 22 of the base plate 20, and the distance between the protruding portions 32a of the connection terminals 32 of the adjacent electrode portions 30 can be changed. According to such a configuration, the following effects are achieved. · Since the distance between the connection terminals 32 of the adjacent electrode portions 30 can be changed, when attaching the biological electrode 1 to an external device, the distance between the connection terminals 32 of the electrode portion 30 can be adjusted to match the interval between the connection terminals of the connector of the external device. For this reason, peeling of the electrode is suppressed, and the stability of the electrical connection portion is improved, so that the measurement stability is improved. · Furthermore, since the position of the electrode portion 30 can be changed by rotating the electrode portion 30 about the protruding portion 32a of the electrode portion 30, the position of the electrode portion 30 can be adjusted according to the site and shape of the skin surface of the living body to which the biological electrode 1 is applied. By appropriately arranging the electrode portion 30 on the skin surface of the living body, the measurement accuracy is improved. · Since each of the electrode portions 30 is independent, it is easy to follow the movement of the living body and the unevenness of the attachment surface. · Since a plurality of electrode portions 30 are grouped into one set, attaching and detaching to the external device is easier than attaching and detaching the electrode portions 30 to the external device one by one. For example, when detaching from the connector of the external device, it can be detached by pulling the base plate 20. · Since a plurality of electrode portions 30 are detachably attached to the base plate 20 independently, the electrode portions 30 can be exchanged individually, and it is not necessary to replace the entire biological electrode 1. · Once the base plate 20 and the electrode portion 30 attached to the base plate 20 may be made non-removable from each other by means such as an adhesive. · Since the electrode portion 30 is not provided with a stretching portion or a cutting portion, the change of the electrode portion 30 is less than that of the electrode portion of the prior art, and it is robust. ·By sharing the electrode portion 30, low cost is achievable. Alternatively, it is also easy to change the size and shape of the electrode portion 30.

[0044] (2) In the biological electrode 1 of the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the connection terminal 32 of each electrode portion 30 and the conductive gel layer 35 are separated from each other, and each electrode portion 30 further includes a conductive layer 36 that extends between the coating layer 31 and the conductive gel layer 35 in a state of being in contact with the connection terminal 32 and the conductive gel layer 35. According to such a configuration, since the connection terminal 32 and the conductive gel layer 35 applied to the skin of the subject or the patient are separated (offset structure), noise due to the movement of the living body or the unevenness of the living body surface is less likely to occur, and the electrical connection of the connection portion 32 is stabilized. For this reason, peeling of the electrode is suppressed, and the stability of the electrical connection portion is improved, thereby improving the measurement stability.

[0045] (3) In the biological electrode 1 of the above-described embodiment of the present invention, each electrode portion 30 further includes an insulating layer 37 that is attached to the conductive layer 36 and covers an end portion on the side opposite to the protruding portion 32a of the connection terminal 32 in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the coating layer 31 extends. According to such a configuration, the electrical connection between the connection terminal 32 and the conductive gel layer 35 becomes better. Further, the user of the biological electrode 1 is prevented from contacting the end portion on the side opposite to the protruding portion 32a of the connection terminal 32.

[0046] (4) In the biological electrode 1 of the above-described embodiment of the present invention, it has a connection terminal 32 made of genko and a conductor 34 made of hosho fitted to the connection terminal 32. According to such a configuration, the connection terminal 32 can be easily manufactured using known components.

[0047] (5) In the biological electrode 1 of the above-described embodiment of the present invention, by inserting the protruding portion 32a of the connection terminal 32 into the through hole 22 of the base plate 20 and fitting the fixing plate 10 to the protruding portion 32a, the electrode portion 30 is attached to the base plate 20 so as not to come off from the base plate. In this state, in a plan view, 50% or more of the area of the conductive gel layer 35 can be arranged at a position not overlapping with the base plate. According to such a configuration, since the connection terminal 32 and the conductive gel layer 35 are offset, the electrical connection of the connection portion 32 is stabilized. In addition, it is easy to attach the conductive gel layer 35 to the biological surface according to the site and shape of the skin surface of the living body to which the biological electrode 1 is applied.

[0048] The present invention has been described by taking the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 as examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications as follows are possible.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 7, the electrode portion 30 may be arranged such that the connection terminal 32 and the conductive gel layer 35 are coaxial, that is, vertically overlap via the coating 31, in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the coating layer 31 extends, without including the conductive layer 36. In this embodiment, the end portion of the connection terminal 32 opposite to the protruding portion 32a is embedded in the conductive gel layer 35, and the electrical signal acquired from the living body is directly transmitted from the conductive gel layer 35 to the connection terminal 32. The insulating layer 37 may be omitted.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 8, the electrode portion 30 may not include the conductor 34. In the case of this embodiment, the protruding portion 32a of the connection terminal 32 penetrates the coating layer 31, and the flat plate portion 32b contacts the coating layer 31 at a part of the surface of the coating layer 31 that contacts the conductive gel layer 35. The flat plate portion 32b is laminated on the flat plate portion 32 and fixed to the coating layer 31 by an adhesive sheet 39 whose peripheral edge contacts the coating layer 31. However, the adhesive sheet 39 may be an adhesive, or the adhesive sheet 39 may be omitted. Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the electrode portion 30 may not include the conductor 34.

[0051] The connection terminal 32 was described as a genko in the embodiment of FIG. 2-8, but it is not limited to this as long as it is a connection terminal that can be electrically connected to the connection terminal of the connector of an external device. Further, although the conductor 34 was described as a hoso, it is not limited to this as long as it is a member that can engage with the connection terminal 32.

[0052] FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of a bioelectrode in which three electrode portions 30 of FIG. 7 are integrated with the fixing plate 10 and the base plate 10 in the same procedure as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-6. In this embodiment, the three electrode portions 30 are arranged in series, but the distance between the connection terminals 32 of adjacent electrode portions 30 can be changed. Further, the position of the electrode portion 30 can also be changed by rotating the electrode portion 30 about the protruding portion 32a of the electrode portion 30. Each of the electrode portions 30 is independent.

[0053] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a fixing plate 10 according to another embodiment. In this embodiment, the fixing plate 10 has a through hole 12, and four slits 14 are provided at equal intervals from the through hole 12 further toward the outside in the radial direction of the fixing plate 10. According to such a configuration, even when the fixing plate 10 is harder and less deformable than the fixing plate 10 shown in FIG. 3 or has a thickness, since the through hole 12 slightly expands due to the slits 14, after the protruding portion 32a penetrates the through hole 12 of the fixing plate 10, the shape of the fixing plate 10 restores as much as possible, and as long as no external force is applied, the fixing plate 10 stays on the base end side rather than the tip end of the protruding portion 32a and is prevented from coming out of the protruding portion 32a.

[0054] FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of a fixing plate 10 according to another embodiment. Instead of the through hole 12, the fixing plate 10 may have the shape of another through portion through which the protruding portion 32a of the electrode portion 30 is inserted. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the fixing plate 10 may have cuts 14 in a cross shape or a radial shape. Further, not limited to the cuts 14, a through portion may be provided at the center of the fixing plate 10, and as long as the through portion expands plastically and the protruding portion 32a of the electrode portion 30 is inserted therethrough.

[0055] Figs. 12(A)-(C) are schematic perspective views of the electrode portion 30 of another embodiment. In this embodiment, the electrode portion 30 has a substantially rectangular shape with rounded four corners in a plan view. The arrangement of each component of the electrode portion 30 is the same as that described in the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Such an electrode portion 30 having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view may be used instead of one, two, or three of the three electrodes 30 shown in Fig. 2.

[0056] In the embodiments of Figs. 2-6 and the embodiments of Figs. 7 and 8, instead of the conductive gel layer 35, any conductive layer that is arranged in contact with a living body (animal, particularly a human) and transmits electrical signals from / to the living body may be used.

[0057] Instead of the fixing plate 10 in the embodiments of Figs. 2-6 and the embodiment of Fig. 10, a perforated speed nut that is an integrally molded metal product may be used as the fixing plate. Further, the speed nut may be formed from a material other than metal such as resin.

[0058] In the embodiments of Figs. 2-4 and the embodiment of Fig. 7, the number of electrode portions 30 in the biological electrode 1 is shown as three, but a plurality is sufficient, and the number of electrode portions 30 may be two or four or more. Also, the arrangement of the connection terminals 32 of the plurality of electrode portions 30 is not limited to the arrangement on the vertices of the triangle shown in Fig. 3 or the arrangement in a line shown in Figs. 12(A)-(C). The number of fixing plates 10 and the number of through holes 22 provided in the base plate 20 are not limited to three either, and each may be two or four or more.

[0059] In any of the above embodiments, as shown in FIG. 13, an anti-slip or pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 24 may be provided on the skin side surface of the base plate 20, that is, the surface of the wide surface of the base plate 20 on the side where the electrode portion 30 is located. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 24 may be a known adhesive sheet or adhesive, or an adhesive gel. In FIG. 13, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 24 is provided in a substantially rectangular shape on the surface portion of the base plate 20 surrounded by the three electrode members 30, but is not limited thereto. When the electrode portion 30 is fixed to the wearer's body, the movement of the electrode member 30 due to body movement is suppressed and it is difficult to peel off. However, with such a configuration, the base plate 20 can be fixed to the skin by the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 24. In addition, the position of each electrode portion 30 can be temporarily fixed by the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 24 so that it does not move. Since the base plate 20 and the electrode member 30 each have an adhesive adhesive layer 24 and a conductive gel layer 35, the biological electrode 1 is more strongly fixed to the skin surface of the wearer's body, and peeling of the electrode member 30 from the skin surface is suppressed.

[0060] In any of the above embodiments, as shown in FIG. 14, the shape of the through hole 22 of the base plate 20 may be a long hole in which the length L is longer than the width W. The hole may be linear, arc-shaped, meandering, or zigzag. A part or all of the width W of the through hole 22 along the length L of the base plate 20 is larger than the diameter D of the protruding portion 32a of the connection terminal 32 2 and smaller than the diameter D of the fixing plate 10. 3 With such a configuration, since the movement of the protruding portion 32a is restricted by the wall defining the through hole 22, the moving direction of the electrode portion 30 can be restricted. The connection terminal 32 and the connection terminal of the connector of the external device may be fitted in any form. For example, it may be a spring hook or a magnet hook. A set for assembling a biological electrode separately including the fixing plate 10, the base plate 20, and the plurality of electrode portions 30 according to any of the above embodiments is also included in the present invention.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0061] 1...Biological electrode, 10...Fixing plate, 12...Through hole, 20...Substrate plate, 22...Through hole, 30...Electrode portion, 31...Coating layer, 32...Connection terminal, 32a...Protrusion, 34...Conductor, 35...Conductive layer, 36...Conductive layer, 37...Insulating layer.

Claims

1. A biological electrode, comprising: a base plate having a plurality of through holes spaced apart from each other; a plurality of electrode portions, each electrode portion comprising: a coating layer; a conductive connection terminal having a protruding portion protruding from the coating layer, the protruding portion penetrating one of the plurality of through holes of the base plate; a plurality of electrode portions comprising a conductive layer that is electrically connected to the connection terminal and contacts the living body; a fixing plate attached to the protruding portion of the connection terminal; and wherein: the diameter or length of the plurality of through holes of the base plate is larger than the diameter of the protruding portion of the connection terminal and smaller than the size of the fixing plate; a biological electrode capable of changing the distance between the protruding portions of the connection terminals of adjacent electrode portions.

2. The biological electrode according to claim 1, wherein the connection terminal and the conductive layer of each electrode portion are separated, and each electrode portion further comprises a second conductive layer extending between the coating layer and the conductive layer in a state of contacting the connection terminal and the conductive layer.

3. The biological electrode according to claim 2, wherein each electrode portion further comprises an insulating layer that is attached to the second conductive layer and covers an end portion on the side opposite to the protruding portion of the connection terminal or a conductor fitted to the connection terminal in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the coating layer extends.

4. The biological electrode according to claim 1, wherein each electrode portion further comprises a conductor that penetrates the coating layer and fits with the connection terminal.

5. The biological electrode according to claim 1, wherein the connection terminal penetrates the coating layer.

6. The biological electrode according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the connection terminal has a male hook.

7. The biological electrode according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the protruding portion of the connection terminal is inserted into the through hole of the base plate, and the fixing plate is fitted with the protruding portion, so that in a state where the electrode portion is attached to the base plate so as not to come off from the base plate, 50% or more of the area of the conductive layer can be arranged at a position not overlapping with the base plate in plan view.

8. The biological electrode according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the conductive layer includes a conductive gel layer.

9. A set for assembling a biological electrode, comprising: a base plate having a plurality of through holes spaced apart from each other; a plurality of electrode portions detachable from the base plate, each electrode portion comprising: a coating layer; a conductive connection terminal having a protruding portion protruding from the coating layer; A plurality of electrode portions including a conductive layer that is electrically connected to the connection terminal and contacts a living body; A fixing plate that can be attached to the protruding portion of the connection terminal; and comprising; The diameter or length of the plurality of through holes in the base plate is larger than the diameter of the protruding portion of the connection terminal and smaller than the size of the fixing plate; A set for assembling a bioelectrode, capable of changing the distance between the protruding portions of the connection terminals of adjacent electrode portions of the plurality of electrode portions attached to the base plate when the bioelectrode is assembled.

10. The set for assembling a bioelectrode according to claim 9, wherein each electrode portion further includes a conductor that penetrates the coating layer and fits with the connection terminal.

11. The set for assembling a bioelectrode according to claim 9, wherein the connection terminal penetrates the coating layer.

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