Ink composition and method for use thereof in the manufacturing of electrochemical sensors

• US 20050096409A1
• Filed: 10/30/2003
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Inverness Medical Ltd. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Inverness Medical Ltd. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Marshall, Robert, O'Reilly, Thomas Joseph, Davies, Oliver William Hardwicke, Robertson, Emma-Louise, Mitchell, Darren Iain
• Application Number:
  US10/495,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20050096409A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 523/160
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/125 characterised by the manufacture of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/52 Electrically conductive inks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/30 Electrodes, e.g. test electrodes; Half-cells G01N27/414 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3272 Test elements therefor, i.e. disposable laminated substrates with electrodes, reagent and channels optical biosensors G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/403 Cells and electrode assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0269 for visual or optical inspection
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0393 Flexible materials H05K1/038 takes precedence; specific organic compositions are classified in H05K1/0313 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/162 incorporating printed capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09918 Optically detected marks used for aligning tool relative to the PCB, e.g. for mounting of components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/081 Blowing of gas, e.g. for cooling or for providing heat during solder reflowing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/1545 Continuous processing, i.e. involving rolls moving a band-like or solid carrier along a continuous production path
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/166 Alignment or registration; Control of registration
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/1216 by screen printing or stencil printing

Abstract

An ink composition for manufacturing electrochemical sensors in accordance with the present invention includes graphite, carbon black, a resin and at least one solvent (e.g., at least one solvent with a boiling point between 120° C. and 250° C.). The ink composition has a weight ratio of graphite to carbon black is in a range of from 4:1 to 1:4 and a weight ratio of a sum of graphite and carbon black to resin in a range of from 10:1 to 1:1. Also, a method for manufacturing an electrochemical sensor includes transporting a substrate web past at least one print station and printing at least one electrochemical sensor electrode on the substrate web at the print station(s). The printing is accomplished by applying an ink composition to substrate web, wherein the ink composition includes, graphite, carbon black, a resin and at least one solvent. In addition, weight ratio of graphite to carbon black in the ink composition is in a range of from 4:1 to 1:4 and a weight ratio of a sum of graphite and carbon black to resin is in a range of from 10:1 to 1:1.

Claims

1. An ink composition for use in manufacturing electrochemical sensors, the ink composition comprising:

graphite;

carbon black;

a resin; and

at least one solvent;

wherein a weight ratio of graphite to carbon black is in a range of from 4;

1 to 1;

4; and

wherein a weight ratio of a sum of graphite and carbon black to resin is in a range of from 10;

1 to 1;

1.

2. The ink composition of claim 1, wherein the solvent has a boiling point between 120°

C. and 250°

C.

3. The ink composition of claim 1, wherein the solvent includes of isophorone, diacetone alcohol and methoxy propoxy propanol.

4. The ink composition of claim 1, wherein the resin is a terpolymer that includes vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate and vinyl alcohol.

5. The ink composition of claim 1, wherein the ratio of graphite to carbon black is approximately 2.62:

1 and the ratio of the sum of graphite and carbon black to resin is approximately 2.9;

1.

6. The ink composition of claim 1, wherein a particle size of the graphite is approximately 15 microns.

7. A method for manufacturing an electrochemical sensor, the method comprising:

transporting a substrate web past at least one print station; and

printing at least one electrochemical sensor electrode on the substrate at the print station by applying an ink composition to substrate, wherein the ink composition comprises;

graphite;

carbon black;

a resin; and

at least one solvent;

wherein a weight ratio of graphite to carbon black is in a range of from 4;

1 to 1;

4; and

wherein a weight ratio of a sum of graphite and carbon black to resin is in a range of from 10;

1 to 1;

1.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

drying the ink composition that has been applied to the substrate at temperature of approximately 140°

C.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

drying the ink composition that has been applied to the substrate with an air flow of 60 m³/min.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the drying step has a duration in a range of 30 seconds to 60 seconds.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the solvent has a boiling point between 120°

C. and 250°

C.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the solvent includes of isophorone, diacetone alcohol and methoxy propoxy propanol.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the resin is a terpolymer that includes vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate and vinyl alcohol.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the ratio graphite to carbon black is approximately 2.62:

1 and the ratio is approximately 2.9;

1.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein a particle size of the graphite is approximately 15 microns.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein the transporting and printing steps are accomplished using a continuous web-based process.