Method of applying defibrillator electrode pad with folded release sheet

Abstract

A defibrillator electrode pad assembly has an adhesive release sheet configured to be removed while the electrode pad is held in a desired position on the patient. The release sheet is folded in a substantially U-shaped configuration and includes a pull-tab to be grasped by the user. The electrode pad is applied to the patient by positioning the electrode pad on the patient's skin with the release sheet facing the skin and in contact with or closely adjacent to the skin, without lifting the electrode pad from the patient's skin, pulling on the pull-tab to remove the release sheet to expose the adhesive portion, and adhering the adhesive portion to the patient's skin.

1 - 11 . (canceled)  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the electrode pad assembly further comprises a conductive gel at the skin contacting area of each electrode.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the adhesive area of each electrode comprises a non-conductive adhesive.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the adhesive area surrounds the gel.  
     
     
         15 - 16 . (canceled)  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the defibrillator electrodes are for connection to an automatic, semi-automatic or manual external defibrillator.  
     
     
         18 - 20 . (canceled)  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the release sheets are configured so that, as the release sheets are peeled away, a fold about which the release sheet is folded travels in the direction in which the release sheet is pulled.  
     
     
         22 - 25 . (canceled)  
     
     
         26 . A method for applying a defibrillation electrode pad assembly to a patient, comprising 
 removing an electrode pad assembly from a package, the electrode pad assembly comprising    first and second electrodes, each of the electrodes sized and configured for external defibrillation, and each of the electrodes having a skin-contacting area of at least 50 centimeters squared;    a non-electrode area positioned between the first and second electrodes and mechanically connected to the first and second electrodes;    an electrical cable extending from the electrode pad assembly for connecting the electrodes to a defibrillator;    an adhesive area at each of the first and second electrode, the adhesive area configured to adhere an electrode to the skin of the patient, the adhesive area at the first electrode being separated from the adhesive area at the second electrode by an area without adhesive, and    at least one release sheet covering each adhesive area, each release sheet being folded in a substantially U-shaped configuration, each release sheet having a tab sized and configured to be grasped by one hand of the user while the electrode pad assembly is positioned on the chest of the patient, and each release sheet being configured to be removed by the user pulling on the tab in a direction generally away from the non-electrode area, thereby causing the release sheet to peel away from the adhesive area,    applying the electrode pad assembly to the patient by    positioning the first and second electrodes in the desired position on the chest,    holding the assembly in the desired position by applying pressure with one hand generally in the non-electrode area,    using another hand to pull on the tab of the release sheet at the first electrode, with the pulling being in a direction generally away from the non-electrode area, to thereby remove the release sheet from the first electrode,    repeating the process of holding the assembly in the desired position by applying pressure with one hand generally in the non-electrode area, and    using another hand to pull on the tab of the release sheet at the second electrode, with the pulling being in a direction generally away from the non-electrode area, to thereby remove the release sheet from the second electrode.