Microfluidic Device with Minimized Ohmic Resistance
First Claim
1. An electrochemical microfluidic device having a two- or three-electrode system for producing a detectable signal for determining the presence or amount of an analyte in a sample, said system comprising a pseudo-reference electrode and at least one working electrode in the two-electrode configuration or a reference electrode, a counter-electrode and at least one working electrode in the three-electrode configuration, said device comprising at least one microstructure in a solid substrate, said microstructure having said at least one electrode or array of working electrodes integrated in at least one wall portion of said microstructure and an electrically conductive means in addition to said two- or three-electrode system adapted to form a path of reduced electrical resistance in said microstructure between said at least one working electrode or working electrode array and the pseudo-reference of said two-electrode system or, respectively, between said at least one working electrode or working electrode array and the counter-electrode or the reference electrode of said three-electrode system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrochemical microfluidic device has one or a plurality of microstructures, such as a microchannel, in which an electrically conductive means is integrated to reduce the ohmic resistance within the microstructure and hence to improve electrochemical measurements particularly when large current densities are involved. The electrically conductive means can be connected as a counter-electrode and can be used to re-generate the product of the reaction occurring at the working electrode. A method of fabricating electrochemical microfluidic devices comprising such an electrically conductive means is also disclosed. The invention may particularly be used in all electrochemical sensor applications where detection is performed in small volumes.
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Citations
81 Claims
- 1. An electrochemical microfluidic device having a two- or three-electrode system for producing a detectable signal for determining the presence or amount of an analyte in a sample, said system comprising a pseudo-reference electrode and at least one working electrode in the two-electrode configuration or a reference electrode, a counter-electrode and at least one working electrode in the three-electrode configuration, said device comprising at least one microstructure in a solid substrate, said microstructure having said at least one electrode or array of working electrodes integrated in at least one wall portion of said microstructure and an electrically conductive means in addition to said two- or three-electrode system adapted to form a path of reduced electrical resistance in said microstructure between said at least one working electrode or working electrode array and the pseudo-reference of said two-electrode system or, respectively, between said at least one working electrode or working electrode array and the counter-electrode or the reference electrode of said three-electrode system.
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3-38. -38. (canceled)
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39. A method of fabricating an electrochemical microfluidic device comprising a two- or three-electrode system for producing a detectable signal for determining the presence or amount of an analyte in a sample, said system comprising a pseudo-reference electrode and at least one working electrode in the two-electrode configuration or a reference electrode, a counter-electrode and at least one working electrode in the three-electrode configuration, said method comprising the following steps in any order:
- forming at least one microstructure in a solid substrate, forming at least one working electrode or working electrode array integrated in at least one wall portion of said microstructure and forming an electrically conductive means in addition to said two- or three-electrode system adapted to reduce the form a path of reduced electrical resistance in said microstructure between said at least one working electrode and the pseudo-reference electrode of said two-electrode system or, respectively, between said at least one working electrode and the counter-electrode or the reference electrode of said three-electrode system.
- View Dependent Claims (40, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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41-49. -49. (canceled)
Specification