A reduced skin-irritation defibrillation electrode

A new type of disposable external defibrillation electrode has been developed to reduce the skin irritation commonly associated with defibrillation and synchronized cardioversion. This design employs an impedance gradient to reduce the proportion of current delivered to the electrode periphery. The temperature distribution under the new electrode was compared to that of several other types of commercially available electrodes after repeated high-energy biphasic defibrillation discharges to domestic swine. Skin temperature distributions were acquired using non-invasive thermography. Histological examination of erythematous sites excised 24 hours after defibrillation quantified the associated skin damage. Thermographic results indicate that the new impedance-gradient electrode produces lower maximum temperature increases than electrodes without increased perimeter impedance. Likewise, histological results demonstrate that the new electrode design produces less skin damage than traditional uniform impedance electrodes.