Electrode module

• US 7,824,529 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2005
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Epocal Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Lauks, Imants R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olsen; Kaj K
• Application Number:
  US11/041,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20050150761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,107 Days
• Field of Search: 204/400, 204/403.02, 204/403.05, 204/403.06, 204/406, 204/409
• US Class Current: 204/400
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/307 Disposable laminated or multilayered electrodes G01N27/3272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/403 Cells and electrode assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3011 Impedance

Abstract

A chip-carrier module known from smart card technology is adapted as an electrode array for use in disposable sensing or separation devices containing electrodes. The electrodes are manufactured directly onto chip-carrier module. The preferred electrode module includes a chip-carrier module and at least one electrode formed thereon, the chip-carrier module being a laminate of a metal foil and an insulator foil, which metal foil is divided into at least two conductor regions, the insulator foil having a perforation over each conductor region, and the at least one electrode being formed by a membrane layer applied to the insulating foil to extend through one of the perforations for electrical contact with the conductor region associated therewith, the membrane layer imparting chemical sensitivity to the electrode. The result is an electrode module for use in disposable sensing or separation devices containing electrodes, whose unit cost of manufacture is low even at modest manufacturing volume.

Claims

1. An electrode module for use in a diagnostic device for performing chemical analysis of a species in a sample fluid and for electrical contact with a contacting element of a connector device, comprising

a chip carrier module made of a planar laminated bi-layer of a metal layer and an insulator layer, the insulator layer having opposing first and second sides, the metal layer being located on the first side, forming a lowermost surface of the module and being divided into at least two conductor elements;

and

a membrane element located on the opposite, second side of the insulator layer, the membrane element being in electrical contact with one of the conductor elements through the insulator layer and together with the one conductor element forming an electrode, the membrane element being configured to contact the sample fluid;

the membrane element being made of electrochemical material for imparting chemical sensitivity to the electrode and for developing an electrical signal at the electrode when the species comes into contact with the membrane element;

the electrode module having an insulator side and a conductor element side and being configured to permit simultaneous electrical and sample fluid contact with the electrode through physical, electrical contact of the contacting element with the one conductor element on the lowermost surface of the electrode module and simultaneous sample fluid contact with the membrane element on the insulator side of the electrode module.

2. The electrode module as defined in claim 1, wherein the chip carrier module is a flexible chip carrier module, the metal layer is a metal foil and the insulator layer is an insulator foil and electrical contact by the contacting element is made opposite the membrane element.

3. The electrode module as defined in claim 2, wherein the metal foil is made of copper.

4. The electrode module as defined in claim 2, wherein the metal foil is made of copper coated with films of nickel and gold.

5. The electrode module as defined in claim 1, wherein the chip-carrier module is a chip-carrier conforming to ISO standard 7816.

6. The electrode module as defined in claim 1, wherein the metal layer is divided into at least two metal conductor elements and the electrode module includes at least one electrode for each metal conductor element.

7. The electrode module as defined in claim 1, wherein the insulator layer has a perforation over each metal conductor element and the membrane element extends through the perforation for electrical contact with the metal conductor element.

8. The electrode module as defined in claim 1, further comprising an electrokinetic conductor for electrokinetic transport of a solute species to the at least one electrode.

9. An electrode module for use in a diagnostic device for performing chemical analysis of a species in a sample fluid and for electrical contact with a contacting element of a smart card connector device, comprising

a smart card chip carrier module made of a planar laminated bi-layer of a metal layer and an insulator layer, the insulator layer having opposing first and second sides, the metal layer being located on the first side, forming a lowermost surface of the module and being divided into at least two conductor elements;

and

a membrane element located on the opposite, second side of the insulating layer, the membrane element being in electrical contact with one of the conductor elements through the insulator layer;

the membrane element and the one conductor element together forming an electrode and the membrane element being configured to contact the sample fluid and being made of electrochemical material for imparting chemical sensitivity to the electrode and for developing an electrical signal at the electrode when the species comes into contact with the membrane element, the electrode module having a membrane element side and a conductor element side and being configured to permit simultaneous electrical and sample fluid contact with the electrode through physical, electrical contact of the external contacting element with the one conductor element on the lowermost surface and simultaneous sample fluid contact with the membrane element on the insulator side of the electrode module.

10. The electrode module as defined in claim 9, wherein the electrode module includes at least one electrode for each metal conductor element.

11. The electrode module as defined in claim 10, wherein the insulator layer has a perforation over each metal conductor element and the membrane element extends through the perforation for electrical contact with the metal conductor element.

12. The electrode module as defined in claim 9, further comprising an electrokinetic conductor for electrokinetic transport of a solute species to the at least one electrode.