Importance

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Abstract

Biomedical measurements such as ECG or EEG measurements are frequently performed using a suction electrode. An electrolyte is applied to the skin of the patient and a suction electrode is placed thereon to form an electrically conducting connection between the skin and the electrode. In accordance with the present invention and hygienic improvement is provided by introducing an interface element between the skin of the patient and the reusable electrode. The interface element is preferably provided in the form of a lamellar substrate for an electrolyte having a skin contact surface and an opposed electrode contact surface. The substrate further includes a central portion, a peripheral margin portion and an intermediate portion disposed between the central portion and the peripheral margin portion. The peripheral margin portion is adapted to form a vacuum seal against the skin of the patient with a seal portion of an applied biomedical electrode. The intermediate portion is permeable to air and expandable to a dome shape so that on forming a vacuum seal with a biomedical electrode any air disposed between a patients skin and the skin contact surface of a substrate may be evacuated. Upon evacuation of the suction electrode the patients skin and the substrate are drawn inwardly into the electrode until the electrode contact surface along the central portion of the substrate electrically contacts the electrode member of the suction electrode. The interface element contains sufficient electrolyte and ensures that an ample amount of electrolyte is provided between the patients skin and the electrode member so that electrical stability during measurement is provided.

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First Claim