Electromedical electrode with a snap connecting means

Abstract

The electrode comprises a plate-shaped part ( 2 ) having a portion for establishing contact with the skin of a patient, and a flange part ( 5 ) connected with the plate-shaped part. Snap connecting means ( 6 ) are provided on the flange part and includes a stud portion ( 7 ) for establishing connection to a lead wire connector means of a measuring apparatus and a base portion ( 8 ) formed integrally with the stud portion. A conductive area ( 4 ) extends between the skin contact establishing portion and the snap connecting means ( 6 ). Fastening means for fastening the snap connecting means to the electrode is formed integrally with the base portion and comprises a plurality of legs ( 9 ) which protrude from the base portion. The legs are folded to a position in which they abut against the conductive area ( 4 ).

1 . An electro-medical electrode ( 1 ) comprising 
 a plate-shaped part ( 2 ) having a portion for establishing contact with the skin of a patient,    a flange part ( 5 ) connected with the plate-shaped part ( 2 ),    snap connecting means ( 6 ) provided on said flange part ( 5 ) and including a stud portion ( 7 ) for establishing connection to a lead wire connector means of a measuring apparatus, a base portion ( 8 ) formed integrally with the stud portion ( 7 ), and fastening means for fastening the snap connecting means to the electrode, said snap connecting means being positioned at a distance from the skin contact establishing portion, and    a conductive area ( 4 ) extending between said skin contact establishing portion and the snap connecting means ( 6 ),    characterized in that 
 the fastening means of said snap connecting means ( 6 ) is formed integrally with the base portion and comprises a plurality of legs ( 9 ) which protrude from said base portion, and that said legs are folded to a position in which they abut against said conductive area ( 4 ).  
   
     
     
         2 . An electrode according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the legs are folded to a position in which the flange part ( 5 ) and the conductive area ( 4 ) are sandwiched between the base portion ( 8 ) and the legs ( 9 ).  
     
     
         3 . An electrode according to  claim 1  or  2 , 
 characterized in that the legs ( 9 ) are folded away from each other to the position in which they abut the conductive area ( 4 ).  
 
     
     
         4 . An electrode according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the snap connecting means ( 6 ) is punched out of a thin sheet material.  
     
     
         5 . An electrode according to  claim 4 , characterized in that flaps ( 11 ) punched out of the sheet material and pointing away from each other are bent at a first position ( 12 ) in a direction towards each other to form a double layer of the sheet material, said double layer forming part ( 14 ) of the base portion ( 8 ), and in that the flaps ( 11 ) are bent at a second position ( 13 ) in a direction pointing away from the base portion ( 8 ) to form the legs ( 9 ).  
     
     
         6 . An electrode according to  claim 4 , characterized in that flaps ( 11 ) punched out of the sheet material between remaining parts ( 22 ) of the sheet material and pointing away from each other are bent in a direction pointing away from the base portion ( 8 ) to form the legs ( 9 ), and in that said remaining parts ( 22 ) of the sheet material form part of the base portion ( 8 ).  
     
     
         7 . An electrode according to  claim 6 , characterized in that parts ( 19 ) of the sheet material forming the base portion ( 8 ) are bent to form a double layer of the sheet material and to cover at least partially the holes ( 23 ) in the base portion ( 8 ) resulting from the punched out flaps ( 11 ).  
     
     
         8 . An electrode according  claim 1  or  2 , 
 characterized in that the legs ( 9 ) are folded-in to a position in which they abut said conductive area ( 4 ).  
 
     
     
         9 . An electrode according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that two legs ( 9 ) are provided which are positioned substantially diametrically opposite each other.  
     
     
         10 . An electrode according to any one of the  claims 1  to  8 , characterized in that three or four legs ( 9 ) are provided which in their folded positions are pointing in directions intersecting substantially at equal angles.  
     
     
         11 . An electrode according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of said legs ( 9 ) is inserted through a separate corresponding punched hole ( 10 ) in the flange part ( 5 ) of the electrode.  
     
     
         12 . An electrode according to any one of the  claims 1  to  10 , characterized in that all of said legs ( 9 ) are inserted through one single punched hole ( 15 ,  24 ) in the flange part ( 5 ) of the electrode.  
     
     
         13 . An electrode according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the single punched ( 15 ,  24 ) hole in the flange part ( 5 ) has the shape of a polygon and has a straight side corresponding to each leg ( 9 ), respectively.  
     
     
         14 . An electrode according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that edges of the legs and/or edges of the base portion are provided with teeth.  
     
     
         15 . An electrode according to  claim 14 , characterized in that the teeth are directed towards the flange part ( 5 ) in the mounted position of the snap connecting means ( 6 ) on the flange part.  
     
     
         16 . An electrode according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said snap connecting means ( 6 ) comprises nickel-plated or silver-plated brass.  
     
     
         17 . An electrode according to any one of the  claims 1  to  13 , characterized in that said snap connecting means ( 6 ) comprises corrosion-resistant and/or acid-proof steel.  
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing a snap connector ( 6 ) for fastening on a flange part ( 5 ) of an electro-medical electrode ( 1 ) for establishing electrical contact between a wire and a conductive area ( 4 ) on the electrode, characterized by punching out the snap connector of one single piece of sheet metal, whereby a substantially ball-shaped upper stud portion ( 7 ) is formed for connection with the wire, and by punching out flaps ( 11 ) to be folded as legs ( 9 ) for fastening the connector to the flange part of the electrode.  
     
     
         19 . A method of fastening a snap connector ( 6 ) on a flange part ( 5 ) of an electro-medical electrode ( 1 ) for establishing electrical contact between a wire and a conductive area ( 4 ) on the electrode, characterized by introducing legs ( 9 ) of the snap connector in one or more holes ( 10 ,  15 ,  24 ) in the flange part ( 5 ) of the electrode, and by bending the legs to abut the conductive area on the electrode.