Electrochemical cell

• US 6,174,420 B1
• Filed: 05/18/1999
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lifescan Incorporated (Duv Holding Corporation)
• Original Assignee: USF Filtration and Separations Group, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Hodges, Alastair McIndoe, Maxwell, Ian Andrew, Johansen, Oddvar, Beck, Thomas William
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOGUEROLA, ALEXANDER STEPHAN
• Application Number:
  US09/314,251
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 204/403, 204/409, 204/411, 324/450
• US Class Current: 204/403.14
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3272 Test elements therefor, i.e. disposable laminated substrates with electrodes, reagent and channels optical biosensors G01N33/52

Abstract

A method of manufacture of a thin layer electrochemical cell (FIGS. 12, 14) comprising the steps of:

forming an aperture (11) extending through a sheet (1) of electrically resistive material, said aperture defining a side wall of the cell,

mounting a first thin electrode layer (13) to one side of the sheet and extending over aperture (11) whereby to define a cell first end wall,

mounting a second thin electrode layer (13) to the other side of the sheet and extending over aperture (11) whereby to define a second cell end wall in substantial overlying registration with the first electrode, and

providing means (16) for admission of a liquid into the cell.

Claims

1. An electrochemical sensor for analytic determination using a liquid sample, comprising a substantially flat strip having a thickness, the strip having at least two lateral edges, a sample-receiving cell within the strip, at least two electrodes in communication with the cell, and a notch through the entire thickness of the strip in at least one of the lateral edges thereof, wherein the notch is in fluid communication with the cell and allows entry of the liquid sample into the cell.

2. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising a vent in communication with the cell, the vent being adapted to allow air to escape the cell to facilitate entry into the cell by the liquid sample.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the entry of the liquid sample into the cell occurs via capillary action.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sample-receiving cell comprises at least one reagent.

5. The sensor of claim 4, wherein the reagent comprises a catalyst, a redox reagent, or surfactant.

6. The sensor of claim 4, wherein the reagent comprises an enzyme.

7. The sensor of claim 4, wherein the reagent comprises a glucose oxidase.

8. The sensor of claim 4, wherein the reagent comprises ferricyanide.