Electrode Characteristics
Spectramed offers the best electrodes on the market - making them an overall better value for our customers.
- Outstanding electrical performance
- Ruggedly constructed for supreme durability
- Resists dry-out for extended time periods
- Can be reused repeatedly with minimal loss of performance
- Designed for maximum patient comfort
See the chart below for test results and attributes our electrodes offer. You’ll see why we can say we have the best electrodes in the market.
Electrical conductivity is the best measurement of an electrode’s performance. After all, its primary job is to transport electricity from the stimulation device and deliver as much of it as possible to the patient’s skin.
The electrical conductivity test measures an electrode’s efficiency, or how much electricity from the stimulator is delivered to the patient. During this test, a 9-volt AC electrical signal is supple dot the electrode. The electrode is attached to the H.E.C.A.T. (Hydrogel Electrode Comparison & Analysis Tool)electrode interface board and voltage measurements are taken at 324 points on the board.
H.E.C.A.T.’s advanced data acquisition capabilities obtain literally thousands of measurements, which are then analyzed and used to determine the subject electrode’s efficiency in terms of percentage of voltage delivered.
This test measures the electrodes and compares them based on the absolute values.
Every electrode features a critical component called the dispersion pad. The dispersion pad receives the electricity from the lead wire and spreads the current over the area of the electrode.
Carbon is an effective, economical material for electricity dispersion. Silver is even better, though much more expensive. An electrode with poor dispersion in undesirable. Poor dispersion can lead to “hot spots” which, under certain circumstances, can lead to unpleasant therapy experiences for the patient.
The H.E.C.A.T.’s (Hydrogel Electrode Comparison & Analysis Tool) 324 test points per 2x2 sq. electrode and high quantity of test samples paint an excellent picture of an electrode’s dispersion characteristic: The H.E.C.A.T. also provides data for the analysis of current dispersion, which leads to objective comparative results.
Why is an electrode’s moisture content considered a performance characteristic?
Water is an essential element of a hydrogel electrode. It is the base component in Spectramed’s HydroBlue electrode formula, combined with special ingredients that provide the electrode’s unique properties.
Water molecules provide the path for electrical current, and a reduction in moisture content is directly tied to electrical performance measures such as conductivity, electrical resistance, and current dispersion.
High moisture content maintains the adhesive properties of the HydroBlue electrode. As an electrode dries out, its adhesion suffers.
The H.E.C.A.T. (Hydrogel Electrode Comparison & Analysis Tool) tests for moisture content at 100 points on a 2x2 sq. electrode. Thousands of readings are taken and processed through a proprietary algorithm to determine localized and general moisture content. This information can be used to gauge the electrode’s moisture content when it is fresh out of the bag, or at any other point in its use.
Hydrogel electrode adhesion is not an easy property to quantify. As with all other electrode properties and performance characteristics, there are no industry standards to comply with or performance levels to meet.
Similarly, the ideal amount of adhesion is a standard that cannot be readily defined – because every patient, therapy and treatment environment is different. Adhesion that is not “sticky” enough for one patient may actually cause a painful removal for another.
For those reasons, we have chosen to define the average adhesion of any group of electrodes as the ideal for the group. We go further and rank the individual electrodes in the group based on the amount of deviation from the average adhesion. The electrodes deemed “too sticky” or “not very sticky” (at the extremes) rank the lowest. Many samples were tested using calibrated force equipment and standardized test methods. The values in the test are for fresh, out-of-the-bag electrodes. Adhesion tests were also conducted following an accelerated dry-out process to determine the effect of the dry-out on the hydrogel electrode adhesive.
This test resembles the electrical conductivity test conducted on fresh, out-of-the-box electrodes. However, this version is conducted on electrodes that have been forcibly dried out over a 12-hour period.
Moisture content is a vital element of the Spectramed’s HydroBlue electrodes. As electrodes dry out and lose their moisture, there is a resultant drop in the following performance metrics:
- Electrical conductivity (drops)
- Electrical dispersion (degrades)
- Electrical resistance (increases)
- Adhesion (may increase or decrease)
- Re-application (degrades)
This test is similar to the electrical resistance test conducted on fresh, out-of-the-bag electrodes. However, this version is performed on electrodes that have been forcibly dried out over a 12-hour period.
Moisture content is a vital element of Spetramed’s HydroBlue electrodes. As electrodes dry out and lose their moisture, there is a resultant drop in the following performance metrics:
- Electrical conductivity (drops)
- Electrical dispersion (degrades)
- Electrical resistance (increases)
- Adhesion (may increase or decrease)
- Re-application (degrades)
Furthermore, electrodes exhibiting dryness levels that impair adhesion can lead to unsafe or unpleasant conditions for the patient (i.e. edge-biting, arcing, burns).
Using the H.E.C.A.T (Hydrogel Electrode Comparison & Analysis Tool), the entire electrode can be tested – dispersion pad, connector, lead wires, and hydrogel. There are 324 electrical resistance test points for a 2x2 sq. electrode and in seconds, H.E.C.A.T. takes thousands of measurements. H.E.C.A.T. can also test electrical resistance on AC and DC currents.
This test is similar to the electrical resistance test conducted on fresh, out-of-the-bag electrodes. However, this version is performed on electrodes that have been forcibly dried out over a 12-hour period.
Moisture content is a vital element of Spectramed’s HydroBlue electrodes. As electrodes dry out and lose their moisture, there is a resultant drop in the following performance metrics:
- Electrical conductivity (drops)
- Electrical dispersion (degrades)
- Electrical resistance (increases)
- Adhesion (may increase or decrease)
- Re-application (degrades)
Furthermore, electrodes exhibiting dryness levels that impair adhesion can lead to unsafe or unpleasant conditions for the patient (i.e. edge-biting, arcing, burns).
This test measures the electrode’s dispersion and provides visual and numerical comparison data.
This test is similar to the electrical resistance test conducted on fresh, out-of-the-bag electrodes. However, this version is performed on electrodes that have been forcibly dried out over a 12-hour period.
Moisture content is a vital element of Spectramed’s HydroBlue electrodes. As electrodes dry out and lose their moisture, there is a resultant drop in the following performance metrics:
- Electrical conductivity (drops)
- Electrical dispersion (degrades)
- Electrical resistance (increases)
- Adhesion (may increase or decrease)
- Re-application (degrades)
Furthermore, electrodes exhibiting dryness levels that impair adhesion can lead to unsafe or unpleasant conditions for the patient (i.e. edge-biting, arcing, burns).
This test measures the electrodes and compares them based on the absolute values.
Hydrogel electrode adhesion is a difficult property to quantify. Like all other electrode properties and performance characteristics, there are no industry standards to comply with or performance levels to meet.
Likewise, the question, “What is the ideal amount of adhesion?” is a hard one to answer – because every patient, therapy and environment is unique. Adhesion that is not strong enough for one patient may actually cause pain on removal for another.
For these reasons, we have chosen to define the average adhesion of any group of electrodes as the ideal for that group. We go further and rank the individual electrodes in the group based on the amount of deviation from the average adhesion. The electrodes deemed “too sticky” or “not very sticky” (at the extremes) rank the lowest. Many samples were tested using calibrated force equipment and standardized test methods. The values in this test are for electrode samples that have been subjected to an accelerated dry out process.
The two greatest enemies of Hydrogel electrodes are fouling (contamination with skin dander, dirt, oils, etc.) and dry out. Dry out refers to the reduction of moisture content in the electrode from exposure to air.
Once an electrode is removed from its original sealed bag and exposed to air, the drying out process has begun. When in use, the electrodes are further exposed to air and the process continues.
“WARNING: Do not lift by the lead wire.”
The message above is universal – nearly all electrode manufacturers include it in their products’ care and use instructions. However, we do not. In fact, we encourage users to remove Spectramed electrodes from the patient’s skin by using the lead wire to lift them.
The truth is that for providers and patients, it is simply less hassle to remove electrodes by pulling on the lead wire – and as humans, we naturally do what’s easiest. Yet an electrode with poor materials and construction will fail when removed in this fashion, resulting in the destruction or damage of the lead wire.
Spectramed employs higher-quality materials and advanced construction techniques to allow removal of our electrode via the lead wire. Ours is the only foam-top carbon electrode on the market today that will not fail in this regard.
In this test, we place the electrode pad into a hinged fixture, which tears (shears) the pad. The object is to measure the amount of force required to tear the pad.
While it’s likely that no electrodes will ever be subjected to the stresses used in the “pad tear test”, this test clearly demonstrates the superior materials and construction methods used in producing Spectramed electrodes.
While it’s likely that no electrodes will ever be subjected to the stresses used in the “pad tear test”, this test clearly demonstrates the superior materials and construction methods used in producing Spectramed electrodes.
This test is similar to the lead wire-to-electrode pad test. In this test, we forcibly pull apart the connector from the lead wire.
The electrodes in the challenge are ranked by the amount of force required to cause a failure. The higher the force, the higher the ranking score.
In this test, we measure how well the lead wire (known as the “pigtail”) is attached to the electrode pad.
Using specially designed fixtures, we pull the lead wire from the electrode pad and record the amount of force (in kilograms) required to pull the lead wire from the pad.
The electrodes in the challenge are ranked by the amount of force required to cause a failure. The higher the force, the higher the ranking score.
Our patent pending electrode guide system ensures accurate and reliable spacing between electrodes. Re-apply the electrodes within the predetermined area for a second or third application.