ELECTRICAL DEVICES WITH ENHANCED ELECTROCHEMICAL ACTIVITY AND MANUFACTURING METHODS THEREOF

• US 20160195489A1
• Filed: 03/15/2016
• Published: 07/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Charlton, Steven C., Peteu, Serban, Sun, Steve, Wang, Yuan
• Granted Patent: US 10,408,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/006 for glucose
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/26 involving oxidoreductase
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3271 Amperometric enzyme electrodes for analytes in body fluids, e.g. glucose in blood amperometry per se G01N27/49; aspects concerning the enzyme reagent C12Q1/001
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48707 by electrical means G01N33/49, G01N33/493 take precedence

Abstract

In some aspects, a device is provided having a member with a region of enhanced electrochemical activity. In one aspect, a sensor of enhanced electrochemical activity is provided for detecting an analyte concentration level in a bio-fluid sample. The sensor may include a sensor member of a semiconductor material wherein the sensor member has a surface region of enhanced electrochemical activity. In other aspects, the member may be made of semiconducting foam having a surface region of enhanced electrochemical activity. In some embodiments, the region may be thermally-induced. Manufacturing methods and apparatus are also provided, as are numerous other aspects.

Claims

1. An analyte sensor for detecting an analyte concentration level in a biofluid sample, comprising:

a sensor member of a semiconductor material, the sensor member including a surface region of enhanced electrochemical activity, wherein the surface region of enhanced electrochemical activity is thermally induced; and

an active region in contact with the surface region of enhanced electrochemical activity, the active region including one or more catalytic agents or reagents or a combination of catalytic agents or reagents, the active region capable of reacting with and converting an analyte from the biofluid sample into reaction products from which an electrical current is generated.

2. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the sensor member comprises a semiconductor cladding and the cladding includes the surface region of enhanced electrochemical activity.

3. The sensor of claim 2 wherein the semiconductor cladding comprises silicon carbide.

4. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the sensor member comprises a fiber, and the surface region of enhanced electrochemical activity is formed on a surface of the fiber.

5. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the sensor member comprises a fiber, and the surface region of enhanced electrochemical activity is formed on less than all of a radial periphery of the fiber.

6. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the surface region of enhanced electrochemical activity is formed on an outer surface of the sensor member and has a depth of at least approximately 5 microns.

7. The sensor of claim 6 wherein the depth is at least approximately 10 microns.

8. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the surface region of enhanced electrochemical activity is comprised of an annulus formed on a surface of the sensor member.

9. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the surface region of enhanced electrochemical activity is comprised of a plurality of annuli formed on a surface of the sensor member.

10. The sensor of claim 1 wherein a current density upon exposure of the sensor to an analyte is greater than approximately 1 μ

A/cm².

11. A method for detecting an analyte concentration level in a biofluid sample, comprising:

providing a sensor member of a semiconductor material, the sensor member including a surface region of enhanced electrochemical activity, wherein the surface region of enhanced electrochemical activity is thermally induced;

creating an active region in contact with the surface region of enhanced electrochemical activity, the active region including one or more catalytic agents or reagents or a combination of catalytic agents and reagents; and

exposing the active region to the biofluid sample to cause a reaction with and conversion of an analyte in the biofluid sample into reaction products from which an electrical current is generated.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein providing a sensor member includes providing a sensor member with a semiconductor cladding and the cladding includes the surface region of enhanced electrochemical activity.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the semiconductor cladding includes silicon carbide.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein providing a sensor member includes providing a sensor member with a fiber, and the surface region of enhanced electrochemical activity is formed on a surface of the fiber.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein providing a sensor member includes providing a sensor member with a fiber, and the surface region of enhanced electrochemical activity is formed on less than all of a radial periphery of the fiber.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising forming the surface region of enhanced electrochemical activity on an outer surface of the sensor member with a depth of at least approximately 5 microns.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the depth is at least approximately 10 microns.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising forming the surface region of enhanced electrochemical activity as an annulus formed on a surface of the sensor member.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising forming the surface region of enhanced electrochemical activity as a plurality of annuli formed on a surface of the sensor member.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein a current density upon exposure of the sensor to an analyte is greater than approximately 1 μ

A/cm².