Electrodes for detecting biosignals

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a biological signal detection electrode having stable performance over a long period of time and high reliability even with a conductive gel film. [Solution] The biological signal detection electrode comprises: an insulating substrate (20) having electric insulation; an electrode terminal (30) buried in the insulating substrate (20) so that a signal detection surface (31) is included in a portion of a bottom surface (21) of the insulating substrate (20); a conductive gel film (40) which is provided on the bottom surface (21) of the insulating substrate (20) so as to cover the signal detection surface (31); an extraction electrode (50) which has a terminal unit (51) connected to the electrode terminal (30) and exposed to the top surface of the insulating substrate (20); and a magnetic body (60) which opposes a conductive magnet (210) and is disposed under the terminal unit (51) in the insulating substrate (20), wherein the magnet body (60) is given only the function of mechanical connection, and the electrode terminal (30) is formed of a corrosion resistant material, e.g., Ag-AgCl that is not corroded by the conductive gel film (40).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrode for detecting biological signals such as electrocardiogram signals, electromyogram signals, and electroencephalograms.

Background Art

[0002] This type of electrode for detecting biological signals (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as a "detection electrode") is in the form of a bandage and is also called a patch, and is used by being attached to the skin surface of a living body (human body). An example thereof will be described with reference to FIG. 2 (for similar examples, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0003] FIG. 2 shows a state in which a detection electrode 100 and a sensor substrate 200 detachably attached to the detection electrode 100 are separated. The sensor substrate 200 includes a pair of conductive magnets  210 as detachable connectors for the detection electrode 100, and wirelessly or wiredly transmits the biological signal detected by the detection electrode 100 to a biological signal measuring device or the like (not shown).

[0004] The detection electrode 100 includes an insulating base material 110 made of an electrically insulating, for example, silicone-based tape material. A pair of electrode terminals 120 are provided on the insulating base material 110 at a predetermined interval. In this conventional example, the electrode terminal 120 is made of an iron plate plated with Au, and is formed in a dish shape into which the conductive magnet 210 of the sensor substrate 200 fits.

[0005] The electrode terminals 120 are provided so as to penetrate the insulating base material 110 so as to contact the skin surface of the living body, and a conductive gel film 130 made of an electrolytic substance is provided on the signal detection surface side (lower surface side in FIG. 2) of each electrode terminal 120.

[0006] The conductive gel film 130 has adhesiveness, and is, for example, a hydrogel body having an acrylic resin crosslinked body as a resin skeleton and uniformly containing water, polyhydric alcohol, and electrolyte neutral salts (NaCl), and enables ohmic connection between the living body and the electrode terminal 120, and is used to reduce the impedance with the skin surface.

[0007] For use, the detection electrode 100 is attached to the body, and then the conductive magnet 210 is magnetically attracted to the electrode terminal 120 to attach the sensor substrate 200 to the detection electrode 100. As a result, the biological signal (e.g., electrocardiogram signal) detected by the electrode terminals 120, 120 is attracted to the sensor substrate 200 via the conductive magnets 210, 210 and transmitted wirelessly or wired to a biological signal measuring device (not shown). The detection electrode 100 and the sensor substrate 200 are separated because the detection electrode 100 is disposable. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-15907 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-200365 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] The problem is that the electrolytic material used in the conductive gel film 130 is extremely corrosive, causing the Au-plated iron plate of the electrode terminal 120 and the conductive magnet 210 to corrode in a short period of time, resulting in a deterioration of the electrical properties of the biosignal.

[0010] Therefore, the objective of the present invention is to provide a reliable electrode for detecting biosignals that maintains stable performance over a long period of time, even while using a conductive gel film. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides a biosignal detection electrode used by being attached to the skin surface of a living organism, The device is characterized by comprising an electrically insulating insulating substrate, an electrode terminal embedded in the insulating substrate such that the signal detection surface is included in a part of the lower surface of the insulating substrate on the side that contacts the skin surface, a conductive gel film provided on the lower surface of the insulating substrate so as to cover the signal detection surface, an extension electrode having a terminal portion connected to the electrode terminal and exposed on the upper surface of the insulating substrate, and a magnetic material disposed below the terminal portion within the insulating substrate.

[0012] In the present invention, the electrode terminal is characterized by being made of a corrosion-resistant material that is not corroded by the conductive gel film.

[0013] In the present invention, the corrosion-resistant substance is characterized by being selected from Ag-AgCl, Ag paste, AU, Pt, or carbon.

[0014] Preferably, the extraction electrode is made of Ag paste.

[0015] In the present invention, more preferably, the electrode terminal is also made of Ag paste, just like the lead electrode. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a highly reliable electrode for detecting biosignals that maintains stable performance over a long period of time, even while using a conductive gel film. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] A cross-sectional view showing the main part of the biosignal detection electrode according to the present invention. [Figure 2] A cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a conventional electrode for detecting biological signals. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 1, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0019] Regarding FIG. 1, the electrode for detecting a biological signal (detection electrode) of the present invention also has a pair of electrode terminals. However, only the electrode terminal on one end side (for example, the left side) is shown in FIG. 1, and the electrode terminal on the other end side, whose illustration is omitted, has the same structure as the electrode terminal on the one end side. Also, regarding the sensor substrate 200, only one side thereof is shown. The sensor substrate 200 may be the same as the sensor substrate described in FIG. 2 above.

[0020] The detection electrode (electrode for detecting a biological signal) 10 according to this embodiment basically includes an electrically insulating insulating base material 20, electrode terminals 30, a conductive gel film 40, lead-out electrodes 50, and a magnetic body 60.

[0021] In this embodiment, the insulating base material 20 is made of a tape material of a silicone-based resin, but is not limited to a silicone-based resin as long as it is a resin having flexibility to easily deform following the skin surface of a living body. Also, the insulating base material 20 is not limited to a strip shape, and may be circular, elliptical, or the like.

[0022] The electrode terminals 30 are embedded in the insulating base material 20, and are embedded in the insulating base material 20 such that the signal detection surface 31 on the lower surface thereof is included in a part of the lower surface 21 on the side where the electrode terminals 30 contact the skin surface of the living body of the insulating base material 20. That is, the signal detection surface 31 of the electrode terminals 30 is exposed on the lower surface 21 of the insulating base material 20.

[0023] The conductive gel film  40 is provided on the lower surface 21 of the insulating base material 20 so as to cover the signal detection surface 31 of the electrode terminals 30. The material of the conductive gel film 40 may be the same as the conductive gel film 130 described in FIG. 2 above. For example, it may be a hydrogel body having an acrylic resin crosslinked body as a resin skeleton and uniformly containing water, polyhydric alcohol, and electrolyte neutral salts (NaCl). There is, for example, a product named "Techno Gel" manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. for this type of hydrogel body.

[0024] Such a conductive gel film 40 enables ohmic connection between the living body and the electrode terminal 30, and reduces impedance with the skin surface. The conductive gel film 40 is adhesive, but to enhance its adhesion to the skin surface, an adhesive layer 70 may be provided on parts other than the conductive gel film 40.

[0025] The lead electrode 50 has a terminal portion 51 that extends laterally from a portion formed to cover the upper and side surfaces of the electrode terminal 30 and is exposed on the upper surface 22 of the insulating substrate 20. The conductive magnet 210 of the sensor substrate 200 comes into contact with this terminal portion 51.

[0026] The magnetic material 60 is embedded in the insulating substrate 20 below the terminal portion 51 to serve as the object of magnetic attraction for the conductive magnet 210. In this embodiment, an iron plate is used for the magnetic material 60.

[0027] According to this, when the sensor substrate 200 is brought close to the detection electrode 10, the conductive magnet 210 is guided by the magnetic material 60 and makes contact with the terminal portion 51, thereby electrically and mechanically connecting (contacting) the detection electrode 10 and the sensor substrate 200. The magnetic material 60 does not participate in the electrical connection, but only plays the role of mechanical connection (joining).

[0028] In the present invention, the electrode terminal 30 is made of a corrosion-resistant material that is not corroded by the conductive gel film 40. Examples of this type of corrosion-resistant material include Ag-AgCl, Ag paste, AU, Pt, or carbon, but Ag-AgCl (silver-silver chloride) is preferred.

[0029] Furthermore, while Ag paste is preferably used for the lead-out electrode 50, the electrode terminal 30 and the lead-out electrode 50 may be integrated and the entire structure formed from Ag paste.

[0030] In any case, according to the present invention, a highly reliable electrode for detecting biosignals is provided that does not undergo corrosion due to the conductive gel film 40, even when using the conductive gel film 40, and maintains stable performance over a long period of time. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0031] 10. Electrodes for detecting biological signals (detection electrodes) 20 Insulating substrate 30 electrode terminal 40 Conductive gel film 50 Extraction electrode 51 Terminal section 60 Magnetic material 70 Adhesive layer

Claims

1. In an electrode for detecting biosignals, which is attached to the skin surface of a living organism and detects electrocardiogram signals, An electrically insulating insulating substrate, An electrode terminal embedded in the insulating substrate such that the signal detection surface is included in a portion of the lower surface of the insulating substrate that comes into contact with the skin surface, An adhesive conductive gel film is provided on the lower surface of the insulating substrate so as to cover the signal detection surface, A lead electrode having a terminal portion connected to the electrode terminal and exposed on the upper surface of the insulating substrate, The insulating substrate comprises a magnetic material disposed below the terminal portion, The electrode terminals are made of a corrosion-resistant material selected from Ag-AgCl, Ag paste, AU, Pt, or carbon, which are not corroded by the conductive gel film, and the lead electrode is made of Ag paste. An adhesive layer is provided on the lower surface of the insulating substrate, excluding the conductive gel film. The magnetic material described above is embedded in the insulating substrate in the portion between the terminal portion and the adhesive layer, to serve as the object of magnetic attraction for the conductive magnet of the sensor substrate. An electrode for detecting biological signals, characterized by the following features.

2. The electrode terminal and the lead electrode are integrally formed from Ag paste. The electrode for detecting biological signals according to feature 1.

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