Electrode sensor and use of electrode sensor as EIT electrode

Abstract

Electrode sensor comprising an array of spaced apart individual contact elements (27', 41), and an interface structure (30, 35) for forming contact between said contact elements and the skin; said interface structure comprising an interface layer of an essentially electrically insulating or poorly electrically conducting material (20', 29, 37) defining a skin (31) contact surface on one side and an array contact surface on the other side of the interface layer, a first pattern of an electrically conducting material on the array contact surface, a second pattern of an electrically conducting material on the skin contact surface, and electrical pathways (21', 39) connecting the first pattern with the second pattern; whereas, the first pattern comprises pattern elements, each individual contact element (27', 41) comprises a contacting surface area large enough to cover several pattern elements of said first pattern when contacting the array contact surface of the interface structure, and by contacting distinct sections of the first pattern with said individual contact elements, groups of electrical pathways establish contact further with distinct sections of the second pattern, so that an individual contact element (27', 41) defines an individual effective electrode on the skin contact surface. Method of manufacturing said electrode sensor, comprising the steps of: providing said interface structure, creating a first pattern of an electrically conducting material on its array contact surface, a second pattern of an electrically conducting material on its skin contact surface, electrically conducting pathways connecting the first pattern with the second pattern, and contacting sections of the electrically conducting first pattern with an array of spaced apart contact elements.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to an electrode sensor for contacting the surface of the wearer's skin with a plurality of electrodes, in particular to an electrode sensor for use in electrical impedance tomography (EIT). The electrode sensor includes a plurality of electrode contact elements. Each of said electrode contact elements individually contacts the skin of a test subject and allows the application or measurement of a local electric potential and / or current to form and measure an electric field in a living body. [0002] The present invention relates to a device and a method for forming a reliable and stable electrical contact between an electronic component of an electrical impedance imaging device and the skin of a living organism. Background technique [0003] Electrical impedance imaging (EIT) is a known technique. More details on this technique can be found in "Electrical impedancetomography" by Costa EL, LimaRG, Amato MB, Curr Opin Crit ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Although each electrode is made of a conductive material, the mechanical support structure that mechanically connects them must not be made of a highly conductive material (i.e. not made of a material with conductivity in the metallic range), as this would cause short circuits, or at least strengthen the electrodes crosstalk between

Despite the careful construction of known electrode support structures, they lack good electrical contact properties as well as good wear properties

Furthermore, commercially produced electrode support structures are expensive

Therefore, acceptance by patients and testers and / or medical staff is usually low

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