Defibrillation electrodes

A reusable component of a hands-free defibrillation electrode, the reusable component having a flexible nonconductive element, and a flexible metallic element supported by the flexible nonconductive element, wherein the flexible metallic element comprises a plurality of substantially inflexible metallic elements interconnected by flexible metallic linking elements, and wherein the majority of the flexibility of the metallic element is provided by the flexible metallic linking elements, wherein the flexible metallic element has an exposed surface on one side of the reusable component and the exposed surface is configured to be adhered to a disposable coupling portion, and wherein the reusable component is configured to accept an electrical defibrillation pulse and spread the electrical pulse across the exposed surface area, from which it is delivered to the patient's chest through the disposable coupling portion.