Microfluidic ion-selective electrode sensor system
First Claim
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1. An ion-sensor system comprising:
- a sampler assembly comprising;
a chamber;
a connector portion; and
an end dimensioned to draw a fluid into the chamber; and
an ion-sensor cartridge comprising;
an electrical connection portion interconnecting with the sampler assembly connector portion; and
a plurality of ion-selective electrodes.
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Abstract
Ion-selective electrode sensor systems, and methods of fabricating such systems, may be utilized to analyze microfluidic sample volumes, i.e., sample volumes on the order of 1 to 1000 microliters.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An ion-sensor system comprising:
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a sampler assembly comprising;
a chamber;
a connector portion; and
an end dimensioned to draw a fluid into the chamber; and
an ion-sensor cartridge comprising;
an electrical connection portion interconnecting with the sampler assembly connector portion; and
a plurality of ion-selective electrodes.
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2. The ion-sensor system of claim 1, wherein the ion-sensor cartridge further comprises one or more reference electrodes.
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3. The ion-sensor system of claim 1, wherein the sampler assembly comprises an elongated tube having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is dimensioned to draw a fluid into the chamber by capillary action.
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4. The ion-sensor system of claim 3, wherein the proximal end comprises a lancet tip.
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5. The ion-sensor system of claim 1, wherein the ion-sensor cartridge electrical connection portion is configured as one member of an edge-connector pair.
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6. The ion-sensor system of claim 1, wherein the ion-sensor cartridge electrical connection portion is configured as one member of a pin-and-socket connector pair.
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7. The ion-sensor system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of ion-selective electrodes detects at least one of the group consisting of sodium, chlorine, potassium, and calcium.
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8. The ion-sensor system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of ion-selective electrodes comprises an electrode layer and an ion-selective layer.
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9. The ion-sensor system of claim 8, wherein the electrode layer comprises silver.
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10. The ion-sensor system of claim 8, wherein the ion-selective layer comprises an ionophore.
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11. The ion-sensor system of claim 10, wherein the ionophore comprises valinomycin.
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12. The ion-sensor system of claim 10, wherein the ionophore comprises N,N,N′
- ,N′
-tetracyclohexyl-1,2-phenylenedioxydiacetamide.
- ,N′
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13. The ion-sensor system of claim 10, further comprising an adhesion promoter anchoring the ionophore to a substrate or a dielectric layer disposed on a substrate.
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14. The ion-sensor system of claim 13, wherein the adhesion promoter is glutyraldehyde.
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15. A method of fabricating an ion-sensor system, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a substrate;
forming a plurality of ion-selective electrode regions on the substrate; and
dividing the substrate into a plurality of strips such that each strip contains a plurality of ion-selective electrodes, the strips being electrically connectable to a sampler assembly.
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16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of forming one or more reference electrode regions on the substrate.
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17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of forming an electrical connection portion on the substrate.
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18. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality of ion-selective electrodes detects at least one of the group consisting of sodium, chlorine, potassium, and calcium.
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19. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality of ion-selective electrodes comprises an electrode layer and an ion-selective layer.
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20. The method of claim 19, wherein the electrode layer comprises silver.
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21. The method of claim 19, wherein the ion-selective layer comprises an ionophore.
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22. The method of claim 15, further comprising applying an adhesion promoter to the substrate or a dielectric layer disposed on the substrate.
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23. The method of claim 22, wherein the adhesion promoter is glutyraldehyde.
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24. An ion-sensor cartridge for use in a sampler assembly, the sampler assembly comprising a connector portion and an end dimensioned to draw a fluid into a chamber of the sampler assembly, and the ion-sensor cartridge comprising:
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a plurality of ion-selective electrodes; and
an electrical connection portion interconnecting with the sampler assembly connector portion.
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25. A method of measuring one or more electrolytes in blood, the method comprising the steps of:
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extracting blood from a subject;
transferring the blood to an ion-sensor cartridge comprising an ion-selective electrode; and
analyzing one or more electrolytes in the blood.
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26. The method of claim 25, wherein the extracting step comprises pricking a finger of the subject.
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27. The method of claim 25, wherein the transferring step comprises drawing the blood into a capillary tube.
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28. The method of claim 25, wherein the analyzing step comprises interfacing the ion-sensor cartridge with an electronic controller.
Specification