Electrochemical sensor
First Claim
1. An electrochemical sensor useful for measuring the concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample, comprising:
- (a) opposing working and counter electrode elements, spatially displaced by a spacer having a first cutout portion forming a capillary space between the working and counter electrode elements and a second cutout portion allowing electrical connection between the counter electrode element and a meter and power source, wherein the capillary space is vented by a port in the working or counter electrode elements, the working electrode element including1) a first insulating substrate,2) an electrically conducting material affixed to the first insulating substrate, and3) a second insulating substrate affixed to the electrically conducting material and the spacer, the second insulating substrate having a first cutout portion for exposing a portion of the electrically conducting material to the capillary space and a second cutout portion which allows contact between the electrically conducting material and the meter and power source, the counter electrode element including1) an insulating substrate, and2) an electrically conducting material affixed to the insulating substrate and the spacer; and
(b) a reagent disposed in the capillary space, the reagent being specifically reactive with the analyte in the fluid sample to produce an electrochemically-measurable signal which can be correlated to the concentration of the analyte in the fluid sample.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for fabricating high-resolution, biocompatible electrodes is disclosed, allowing production of an electrochemical sensor which is capable of precise analyte concentration determination on a very small sample size. Electrically conducting material is affixed to a first insulating substrate. A second insulating substrate is then affixed to the electrically conducting material and patterned using photolithography to define an electrode area. Alternatively, the electrically conducting material may be screen printed directly onto a standard printed circuit board substrate in the case of a counter or reference electrode. In either case, the substrate may be rigid or flexible. When the electrodes produced in accordance with the present invention are then used in an electrochemical sensor which includes a reagent, the small and highly-defined electrode areas permit highly-accurate electrochemical analyte measurements to be performed on very small sample sizes.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An electrochemical sensor useful for measuring the concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample, comprising:
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(a) opposing working and counter electrode elements, spatially displaced by a spacer having a first cutout portion forming a capillary space between the working and counter electrode elements and a second cutout portion allowing electrical connection between the counter electrode element and a meter and power source, wherein the capillary space is vented by a port in the working or counter electrode elements, the working electrode element including 1) a first insulating substrate, 2) an electrically conducting material affixed to the first insulating substrate, and 3) a second insulating substrate affixed to the electrically conducting material and the spacer, the second insulating substrate having a first cutout portion for exposing a portion of the electrically conducting material to the capillary space and a second cutout portion which allows contact between the electrically conducting material and the meter and power source, the counter electrode element including 1) an insulating substrate, and 2) an electrically conducting material affixed to the insulating substrate and the spacer; and (b) a reagent disposed in the capillary space, the reagent being specifically reactive with the analyte in the fluid sample to produce an electrochemically-measurable signal which can be correlated to the concentration of the analyte in the fluid sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An electrochemical sensor useful for measuring the concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample, comprising:
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(a) opposing working and reference electrode elements, spatially displaced by a spacer having a first cutout portion forming a capillary space between the working and reference electrode elements and a second cutout portion allowing electrical connection between the reference electrode element and a meter and power source, wherein the capillary space is vented by a port in the working or reference electrode elements, the working electrode element including 1) a first insulating substrate, 2) an electrically conducting material affixed to the first insulating substrate, and 3) a second insulating substrate affixed to the electrically conducting material and the spacer, the second insulating substrate having a first cutout portion for exposing a portion of the electrically conducting material to the capillary space and a second cutout portion which allows contact between the electrically conducting material and the meter and power source, the reference electrode element including 1) an insulating substrate, 2) an electrically conducting reference material affixed to the insulating substrate and the spacer; and (b) a reagent disposed in the capillary space, the reagent being specifically reactive with the analyte in the fluid sample to produce an electrochemically-measurable signal which can be correlated to the concentration of the analyte in the fluid sample. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification