Small volume electrochemical sensor

• US 20030201175A1
• Filed: 04/30/2002
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conductive Technologies
• Original Assignee: Conductive Technologies
• Inventors: Bohn, Donald L., Reed, Ronald E., Musho, Matthew K.
• Granted Patent: US 6,830,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/403.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/307 Disposable laminated or multilayered electrodes G01N27/3272 takes precedence

Abstract

An electrochemical sensor is provided comprised of a thin sheet or film having at least one through-hole provided therein. The thin sheet or film has first and second opposing surfaces, at least a portion of the opposing surfaces being coated with a conductive coating which extends into the at least one through-hole, each conductive coating extending partially into the at least one through-hole from each opposing surface whereby each conductive coating terminates within the at least one through-hole at a point spaced from the terminus of the opposing conductive coating which extends into the at least one through-hole, whereby the conductive coatings in the at least one through-hole are separated by a nonconductive interior surface of the at least one through-hole.

Claims

1. An electrochemical sensor comprised of a thin sheet or film having at least one through-hole provided therein, said thin sheet or film having first and second opposing surfaces, at least a portion of said opposing surfaces being coated with a conductive coating which extends into said at least one through-hole, each said conductive coating extending partially into said at least one through-hole from each opposing surface whereby each said conductive coating terminates within said at least one through-hole at a point spaced from the terminus of the opposing conductive coating which extends into said at least one through-hole, whereby said conductive coatings in said at least one through-hole are separated by a non-conductive interior surface of said at least one through-hole.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein said sheet or film is comprised of a nonconductive synthetic resin.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein said sheet or film has a thickness within the range of about 0.005 to about 0.040 inches.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein said at least one through-hole has a diameter within the range of about 0.005 to about 0.030 inches.

5. The sensor of claim 1, wherein said conductive coating comprises conductive particles in a polymer coating.

6. The sensor of claim 5, wherein said conductive particles are selected from the group consisting of carbon, silver, gold, copper and mixtures thereof.

7. The sensor of claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a multitude of through-holes.

8. The sensor of claim 1, wherein said at least one through-hole has a volume within the range of from about 1 to about 500 nL.

9. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising electrodes electrically connected to the conductive coating on each opposing surface.

10. The sensor of claim 7, comprising a multitude of through-holes arranged in at least two separate groups on said sheet or film, with each group being connected to separate electrical leads.

11. The sensor of claim 1, wherein said at least one through-hole has a slot-like configuration.

12. The sensor of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said conductive coating is coated with an electrically insulating material.