Disposable self-hydrating electrode

非侵入性形式的电疗，如经颅直流电刺激（tDCS），已显示出改善从中风后损伤到成瘾的各种疾病和病症的前景。为tDCS施加低电流剂量的传统方法使用经由内部导电碳层连接到电流源的海绵基电极。这种设计的显著缺点包括难以控制将电极舒适地耦合到皮肤所需的盐溶液的最佳量。电极的过饱和可能导致释放过量水分，从而导致患者不适，并且可能导致电流从刺激电极直接转向接收电极，从而导致治疗功效的降低或取消。在电极水合问题的另一端，由于高电极-皮肤电阻，电极水合不足可能导致受试者的不适感。

Non-invasive forms of electrotherapy such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have shown promise in improving a wide range of disorders and conditions ranging from post-stroke impairments to addiction. Traditional methods of applying low current doses for tDCS use sponge-based electrodes connected to the electric current source via an inner conductive carbon layer. Significant disadvantages of this design include difficulty controlling the optimal amount of saline solution required for a comfortable coupling of the electrode to the skin. Oversaturation of the electrode may cause release of excess moisture causing discomfort to the patient, and may cause the current to be diverted from the stimulating electrode directly to the receiving electrode resulting in a reduction or cancellation of treatment efficacy. On the other end of the electrode hydration problem, insufficient electrode hydration may cause an uncomfortable sensation for the subject due to high electrode-skin resistance.