Electrode and cable connections in electrocardiography systems

Abstract

In electrocardiography (ECG) system, a patient cable connecting one or more electrodes to a processing device for processing ECG signals may include one or more electrode connectors mechanically keyed to respective electrodes and/or a device connector mechanically and/or electronically keyed to a cable connector of the processing device. In some embodiments, keying between the cable and electrode is achieved, for example, with an electrode including a hollow-post portion that defines a bore in conjunction with a post protruding from an arm of the electrode connector that is sized to fit within the bore.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrode assembly comprising:
 a backing;   an electrode extending through an opening in the backing, the electrode comprising a ring-shaped disk portion adhering to a first side of the backing and a hollow-post portion protruding from the second side of the backing; and   a conductive patch disposed on the first side of the backing over the ring-shaped disk portion of the electrode.   
     
     
         2 . The electrode assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the backing comprises adhesive tape. 
     
     
         3 . The electrode assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive patch comprises hydrogel.