FLEXIBLE SENSOR ASSEMBLY

• US 20130225944A1
• Filed: 02/25/2013
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: GRECO, Maurizio, SCALIA, Antonio Maria
• Application Number:
  US13/776,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20130225944A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/12 Manufacturing methods specially adapted for producing sensors for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1468 using chemical or electrochemical methods, e.g. by polarographic means A61B5/1486 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14865 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6848 Needles
• 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: Y10T 29/49007 Indicating transducer

Abstract

A sensor assembly includes: an electrically insulating and flexible body (13), in the form of a plate having a first face (13a) and a second face (13b); and a first sensor (15; 315) and a second sensor (17), which are incorporated in the body (13). The first sensor (15) is set between the first face (13a) and the second sensor (17), and the second sensor (17) is set between the first sensor (15) and the second face (13b).

Claims

1. A sensor assembly comprising:

a) an electrically insulating and flexible body, in the form of a plate having a first face and a second face; and

b) a first sensor and a second sensor, incorporated in the body;

c) wherein the first sensor is arranged between the first face and the second sensor and the second sensor is arranged between the first sensor and the second face.

2. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor overlap at least partially.

3. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are planar sensors.

4. The sensor assembly according claim 1, wherein the second sensor is operatively coupled to the first sensor.

5. The sensor assembly according to claim 4, wherein the first sensor comprises a first sensing element and the second sensor comprises a second sensing element operatively coupled to the first sensing element.

6. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor is a biosensor and comprises sensing electrodes arranged at a first end of the body;

and the second sensor is a temperature sensor thermally coupled to the sensing electrodes.

7. The sensor assembly according to claim 6, wherein the first sensor comprises contact pads arranged at a second end of the body, opposite to the first end, and wherein the contact pads are connected to respective sensing electrodes through connection lines incorporated in the body.

8. The sensor assembly according to claim 7, wherein the first sensor is an electrochemical sensor and the second sensor comprises a thermopile having hot junctions thermally coupled to the sensing electrodes and cold junctions arranged at the second end of the body.

9. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, comprising a third sensor incorporated in the body, operatively coupled to at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor and arranged between second sensor and the second face of the body.

10. The sensor assembly according to claim 9, wherein the third sensor is thermally coupled to the cold junctions of the second sensor.

11. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the body is homogeneous.

12. The sensor assembly according to claim 11, wherein the body is made of a single material selected from the group consisting of:

polyimmide, polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, polymethylmetacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, poly (3-hexylthiophene), MEH-PPV.

13. A glucometer, comprising a sensor assembly according to claim 1.

14. The glucometer according to claim 13, comprising a casing and a cannula extractable from the casing;

wherein the sensor assembly is accommodated in the cannula and is accessible for measures through one end of the cannula.

15. A process for manufacturing a sensor assembly having a body, a first sensor and a second sensor incorporated in the body, the method comprising:

a) forming a first layer that is electrically insulating and flexible;

b) forming the second sensor on the first layer;

c) forming a second layer on the first layer, so as to incorporate the second sensor;

d) forming the first sensor on the second layer;

e) forming a third layer on the second layer, so as to incorporate the first sensor.

16. The process according to claim 15, wherein the first layer, the second layer and the third layer are made of a single material selected from the group consisting of:

polyimmide, polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, polymethylmetacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, poly (3-hexylthiophene), and MEH-PPV.

17. The process according to claim 15, wherein the first layer, the second layer and the third layer are made using one and the same deposition technique.

18. The process according to claim 15, wherein forming the first sensor and forming the second sensor comprise depositing and defining respective metallization layers through photolithographic processes.

19. A blood sensor comprising:

a. a hypodermic cannula containing a flexible sensor assembly therein,

b. said flexible sensor assembly comprising a polymeric body with an embedded planar biosensor and an embedded planar temperature sensor in said body,

c. wherein each of said biosensor and said temperature sensor are located in respective distinct planes in said body so as to at least partially overlap,

d. wherein said body is homogeneous and does not comprises layers bonded together with an adhesive, and

e. wherein said biosensor has an enzyme immobilized thereon.

20. The blood sensor of claim 19, wherein said enzyme is glucose oxidase.