Medical Electrodes

Medical electrodes are generally comprised of a lead (for conduction of electrical current), a metal electrode, and electrode-conducting paste or gel for surface electrodes. There is also often a metal (for good electrical contact) snap for the lead to snap into place so that the electrode can be disposable while the lead can be reused.

Electrodes can be classified into many groupings; those useful for EEG, for example, follow:

• disposable electrodes (both types, without gel and pregelled)
• reusable disc electrodes (gold, silver, stainless steel, or tin)
• headbands
• saline-based electrodes, which include various kinds