| abstract |
A composition providing electrically conductive adhesive hydrogels used as skin contact adhesives and an electrical interface for disposable medical devices. The hydrogels are cationic acrylates and are made from acrylic esters of quaternary chlorides and/or sulfates or acrylic amides of quaternary chlorides. The present hydrogels are formed by free radical polymerization in the presence of water by ultraviolet curing with initiator and multifunctional cross-linking agent, and include a buffer system to prevent discoloration, hydrolysis of and improve shelf-life of the hydrogels. Other additives may be added to the hydrogels either before or after curing, depending on the intended end use. The present hydrogels hydrate a subject's skin, wet around skin surface hair and protect against burning of a subject due to electrical stimulation through the hydrogel. The hydrogels, cohesiveness enables direct hydrogel-to-hydrogel contact and storage, yet remain readily separable. The hydrogels may be presented in a formula which is noncorrosive to aluminum in contact therewith, and pass standards testing for biocompatibility and electrical properties. |