Electrode module

• US 20020179444A1
• Filed: 06/04/2001
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Epocal Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Lauks, Imants R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,896,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/416
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/307 Disposable laminated or multilayered electrodes G01N27/3272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/403 Cells and electrode assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3011 Impedance

Abstract

Planar devices incorporating electrodes for performing chemical analyses are disclosed. The devices include an electrode module in a fluidic housing. The electrode module includes a carrier module and at least one electrode thereon. More specifically, the electrode module includes a planar carrier module made of a laminate of a metal layer and an insulator layer, which metal layer is divided into at least two metal conductor elements; and at least one electrode formed directly on the carrier module and including a membrane element for imparting chemical sensitivity to the electrode, the membrane element being applied to the insulator layer to be in electrical contact with one of the metal conductor elements through the insulator layer. The insulator layer preferably has die cut perforations through which the membrane element extends into electrical contact with the conductor layer. In the most economical embodiment, the carrier module is a common chip carrier according to ISO 7816-2. The devices of cheaper construction than prior art chemical analysis chips, especially since they are of much simplified construction and of standardized format which allows the use of readily available low cost components.

Claims

1. An electrode module for use in a diagnostic device, comprising

a planar carrier module made of a laminate of a metal layer and an insulator layer, which metal layer is divided into at least two metal conductor elements;

and

at least one electrode formed directly on the carrier module and including a membrane element for imparting chemical sensitivity to the electrode, the membrane element being applied to the insulator layer to be in electrical contact with one of the metal conductor elements through the insulator layer.

2. The electrode module as defined in claim 1, wherein the metal layer is a metal foil and the insulator layer is an insulator foil.

3. The electrode module as defined in claim 1, wherein the carrier module is a chip carrier conforming to ISO standard 7816.

4. The electrode module as defined in claim 1, wherein the metal layer is divided into at least two metal conductor elements and the electrode module includes at least one electrode for each metal conductor element.

5. The electrode module as defined in claim 1, wherein the insulator layer has a perforation over each metal conductor element and the membrane element extends through the perforation for electrical contact with the metal conductor element.

6. The electrode module as defined in claim 1, further comprising an electrokinetic conductor for electrokinetic transport of a solute species to the at least one electrode.

7. The electrode module as defined in claim 1, wherein the metal foil is made of copper.

8. The electrode module as defined in claim 1, wherein the metal foil is made of copper coated with films of nickel and gold.

10. The diagnostic device of claim 8, wherein the housing further comprises an opening to introduce fluid for contact with the at least one electrode.

12. The diagnostic device of claim 8, wherein the housing has a module cavity for receiving the electrode module.

16. The diagnostic device of claim 8, wherein the carrier module is a chip carrier according to ISO standard 7816.

17. The diagnostic device of claim 8, wherein the metal layer of the electrode module has at least two metal conductor elements and at least one electrode for each metal conductor element.

18. The diagnostic device of claim 8, wherein the metal layer is a metal foil and the insulator layer is an insulator foil.

19. The diagnostic device of claim 8, wherein the insulator foil has a perforation over each metal conductor element and the membrane element extends through the perforation for electrical contact with the metal conductor element.

20. The diagnostic device of claim 8, wherein the electrode module further includes an electrokinetic conductor for electrokinetic transport of a solute species to the at least one electrode.

21. The diagnostic device of claim 8, wherein the metal layer is made of copper.

22. The diagnostic device of claim 8, wherein the metal layer is made of copper coated with films of nickel and gold.

23. The diagnostic device of claim 8, wherein the insulator layer is made of an epoxy material.

24. The diagnostic device of claim 8, wherein the metal layer is divided into a conductor array consisting of a regular pattern of individual metal conductor elements.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the electrode module is unit-use and the device is a single use disposable device.

9. A diagnostic device for performing chemical analysis, comprising

a housing;

and

an electrode module, the electrode module including a carrier module and at least one electrode, the carrier module being a laminate of a metal layer and an insulator layer, which metal layer is divided into at least two metal conductor elements, and the at least one electrode being formed directly on the carrier module and including a membrane element for imparting chemical sensitivity to the electrode, the membrane element being applied to the insulator layer for electrical contact with one of the metal conductor elements through the insulator layer.

11. The diagnostic device of claim 9, wherein the housing further comprises fluidic elements.

13. The diagnostic device of claim 9, wherein the opening is in fluid communication with the module cavity.

14. The diagnostic device of claim 12, wherein the housing is rigid in proximity to the module cavity.

15. The diagnostic device of claim 12, wherein the electrode module is sealed in the housing for preventing fluids located in the module cavity flowing around the electrode module to the conductor layer and for exposing the conductor elements to an exterior of the housing.

25. The diagnostic device of claim 19, wherein the perforation is die-cut through the insulator layer.

26. A diagnostic device for insertion into and electric contact with a connector device for providing an electric connection to a utility electrical device, the diagnostic device comprising

a housing;

an electrode module including a substantially planar carrier module made of a laminate of a metal foil and a perforated insulator foil, which metal foil is divided into at least two metal conductor elements; and

at least one electrode formed directly on the carrier module and including a membrane element for imparting chemical sensitivity to the electrode, the membrane element being applied to the insulator foil to be in electrical contact with one of the metal conductor elements through a perforation of the perforated insulator foil;

the housing having a module cavity for receiving the electrode module and the electrode module being placed in the module cavity with the insulator foil facing the interior of the module cavity, the electrode module being sealed in the housing for preventing fluids located in the module cavity flowing around the electrode module to the conductor layer and for exposing the conductor layer to an exterior of the housing for electric contact with the connector device; and

the housing having means for exposing the electrode of the electrode module to a sample fluid.