Biological fuel cell and methods

• US 7,238,442 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2006
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Heller, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan; Patrick Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLS, MONIQUE M
• Application Number:
  US11/277,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20060159981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 429/43, 429/2, 429/40, 429/41, 429/42, 429/12, 429/27, 429/29
• US Class Current: 429/401
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/9008 Organic or organo-metallic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/16 Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which microorganisms function as catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell has an anode and a cathode with anode enzyme disposed on the anode and cathode enzyme is disposed on the cathode. The anode is configured and arranged to electrooxidize an anode reductant in the presence of the anode enzyme. Likewise, the cathode is configured and arranged to electroreduce a cathode oxidant in the presence of the cathode enzyme. In addition, anode redox hydrogel may be disposed on the anode to transduce a current between the anode and the anode enzyme and cathode redox hydrogel may be disposed on the cathode to transduce a current between the cathode and the cathode enzyme.

Claims

1. A fuel cell consisting essentially of:

an anode;

anode enzyme disposed on the anode, the anode being configured and arranged for electroxidizing an anode reductant in the presence of the anode enzyme;

a cathode spaced from the anode; and

cathode enzyme disposed on the cathode, the cathode being configured and arranged for electroreducing a cathode oxidant in the presence of the cathode enzyme.

2. A fuel cell consisting essentially of:

an anode;

anode redox polymer disposed on the anode;

anode enzyme disposed on the anode and in contact with the anode redox polymer, the anode being configured and arranged for electroxidizing an anode reductant in the presence of the anode enzyme;

a cathode spaced from the anode;

cathode redox polymer disposed on the cathode; and

cathode enzyme disposed on the cathode and contacting the cathode redox polymer, the cathode being configured and arranged for electroreducing a cathode oxidant in the presence of the cathode enzyme.