Skin abrading medical electrode mounting and packaging system

Abstract

A unitary electrode mounting and packaging system for roughening the skin of a patient and applying an electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring electrode to the skin in a single step. A sheet of a thin plastic material is folded over itself to form a U-shaped carrier having an upper panel connected to a lower panel by the fold. The upper panel supports an electrode and an amount of an electrically conductive gel in a pocket that is covered by the electrode. The lower panel includes an abrasive or roughened material on the bottom surface of the lower panel opposite the electrode. To place the electrode on the skin, the carrier is positioned against the skin of a patient such that the roughened material contacts the skin and pressure is applied downwardly on the electrode. A tab connected to the lower panel then is grasped and pulled by an individual such that the roughened material abrades the skin beneath the carrier to clear the portion of the skin located beneath the electrode. Continued pulling of the tab then deposits the electrically conductive gel and the electrode on the portion of the skin cleared by the roughened material on the lower panel.