Flexible electrochemical micro-sensor
First Claim
1. A device, comprising:
- a flexible substrate;
a first polymer layer on the flexible substrate;
a second polymer layer on the first polymer layer, the second polymer layer having a first surface opposite the first polymer layer;
a well extending through the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer, the well having an opening at the first surface of the second polymer layer;
a plurality of contacts on the first polymer layer;
a plurality of electrodes in the well, the plurality of electrodes extending at least partially over the opening in the well; and
a plurality of traces between the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer, each of the traces extending between a respective contact and a respective electrode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A universal electrochemical micro-sensor can be used either as a biosensor or an environmental sensor. Because of its small size and flexibility, the micro-sensor is suitable for continuous use to monitor fluids within a live subject, or as an environmental monitor. The micro-sensor can be formed on a reusable glass carrier substrate. A flexible polymer backing, together with a set of electrodes, forms a reservoir that contains an electrolytic fluid chemical reagent. During fabrication, the glass carrier substrate protects the fluid chemical reagent from degradation. A conductive micromesh further contains the reagent while allowing partial exposure to the ambient biological or atmospheric environment. The micromesh density can be altered to accommodate fluid reagents having different viscosities. Flexibility is achieved by attaching a thick polymer tape and peeling away the micro-sensor from the glass carrier substrate. The final structure is thereby transferred to the polymer tape, providing a flexible product.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A device, comprising:
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a flexible substrate; a first polymer layer on the flexible substrate; a second polymer layer on the first polymer layer, the second polymer layer having a first surface opposite the first polymer layer; a well extending through the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer, the well having an opening at the first surface of the second polymer layer; a plurality of contacts on the first polymer layer; a plurality of electrodes in the well, the plurality of electrodes extending at least partially over the opening in the well; and a plurality of traces between the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer, each of the traces extending between a respective contact and a respective electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A micro-sensor, comprising:
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a flexible substrate; a first polymer layer on the flexible substrate; a second polymer layer on the first polymer layer; a well that extends through the first and second polymer layers, the first and second polymer layers together form sides of the well, the well having a well opening at a surface of the second polymer layer; and metal electrodes on the surface of the second polymer layer, the metal electrodes extend over at least a portion of the well opening. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A device, comprising:
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a substrate; a first polymer layer on the substrate; a second polymer layer on the first polymer layer, the second polymer layer having a first surface; a well that extends through the first and second polymer layers, the well including a first well opening at the first surface of the second polymer layer and a second well opening at the first surface of the second polymer layer; an electrical contact spaced apart from the well; a conductive trace that extends between the electrical contact and the well; and a species inlet net that at least partially covers the first well opening and the second well opening, wherein the species inlet net is capacitively or inductively coupled to the conductive trace. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method, comprising:
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forming a first polymer layer on a first substrate; forming openings in the first polymer layer, the openings including a well opening; forming metal electrodes that extend over at least a portion of the well opening; forming conductive traces on the first polymer layer, the traces being electrically coupled to the metal electrodes; and forming a second polymer layer on the first polymer layer, the first and second polymer layers together forming sides of a well. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification