Electrochemical cell

• US 8,101,056 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2009
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lifescan Incorporated (Duv Holding Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lifescan Incorporated (Duv Holding Corporation)
• Inventors: Hodges, Alastair McIndoe, Beck, Thomas William, Johansen, Oddvar
• Primary Examiner(s): Noguerola, Alex
• Application Number:
  US12/567,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20100078324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 20440301-40315, 204/400, 205/777.5, 205/778, 205/792
• US Class Current: 204/400
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/004 mediator-assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3272 Test elements therefor, i.e. disposable laminated substrates with electrodes, reagent and channels optical biosensors G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3273 Devices therefor, e.g. test element readers, circuitry details not specific to biochemical electrodes G01N33/4875
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/403 Cells and electrode assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A hollow electrochemical cell is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a hollow electrochemical cell includes two sets of electrodes and an opening for admitting an analyte to the cell. At least one of the two sets of electrodes can be in fluid communication with the opening. Further, a first set of electrodes can include a working electrode spaced from a counter or counter/reference electrode by less than 500 μm one embodiment the working and counter or counter/reference electrodes are not co-planer. In another embodiment the working and counter or counter/reference electrodes are of substantially corresponding area. In yet another embodiment the working and counter or counter/reference electrodes are spaced from 100 to 200 μm apart. The first set of electrodes and the second set of electrodes can be spaced apart by greater than about 500 μm. Other embodiments of a hollow electrochemical cell are also provided, as are several embodiments of a glucose sensor.

Claims

1. A hollow electrochemical cell comprising two sets of electrodes and an opening for admitting a sample to the cell, wherein at least one of the two sets of electrodes is in fluid communication with the opening and the first set of electrodes comprises a working electrode spaced from a counter or counter/reference electrode by less than 500 μ

m, wherein the electrochemical cell is configured to be hollow immediately prior to admitting the sample to the cell and is configured for retaining the sample within the cell for analysis of the sample.

2. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the working electrode and the counter or counter/reference electrode are in different planes.

3. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 2, wherein the working electrode and the counter or counter/reference electrode are substantially opposed.

4. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 3, wherein the working electrode and the counter or counter/reference electrode are facing one another.

5. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 2, wherein the working electrode and the counter or counter/reference electrode are substantially parallel.

6. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 2, wherein the working electrode and the counter or counter/reference electrode are substantially parallel and substantially opposed.

7. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the working electrode and the counter or counter/reference electrode are of substantially corresponding area.

8. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the working electrode and the counter or counter/reference electrode are spaced from 100 to 200 μ

m apart.

9. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 8, wherein the first set of electrodes and the second set of electrodes are spaced apart by greater than about 500 μ

m.

10. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the first set of electrodes and the second set of electrodes are spaced apart by greater than about 500 μ

m.

11. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 1, further comprising a separate reference electrode.

12. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein an effective cell volume of the cell is less than about 1.5 microliters.

13. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the working electrode comprises at least one of the following materials:

graphite, carbon, and carbon-filled plastic.

14. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the cell has at least one wall.

15. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein at least one of the working electrode and the counter or counter/reference electrode is about 60 μ

m thick.

16. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein at least one of the working electrode and the counter or counter/reference electrode has a width of from about 1 mm to 5 mm.

17. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the second set of electrodes comprises at least one of a working electrode and a counter or counter/reference electrode.

18. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 17, wherein the working electrode and the counter or counter/reference electrode of the second set of electrodes are in different planes.

19. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 18, wherein the working electrode and the counter or counter/reference electrode of the second set of electrodes are substantially opposed.

20. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 19, wherein the working electrode and the counter or counter/reference electrode of the second set of electrodes are facing each other.

21. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 18, wherein the working electrode and the counter or counter/reference electrode of the second set of electrodes are substantially parallel.

22. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 18, wherein the working electrode and the counter or counter/reference electrode of the second set of electrodes are substantially parallel and substantially opposed.

23. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 17, wherein the working electrode and the counter or counter/reference electrode of the second set of electrodes are spaced from 100 to 200 μ

m apart.

24. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 23, wherein the first set of electrodes and the second set of electrodes are spaced apart by greater than about 500 μ

m.

25. The hollow electrochemical cell of claim 17, wherein the first set of electrodes and the second set of electrodes are spaced apart by greater than about 500 μ

m.

26. A hollow electrochemical cell comprising two sets of electrodes and an opening for admitting a sample to the cell, wherein at least one of the two sets of electrodes is in fluid communication with the opening and the first set of electrodes comprises a working electrode spaced from a counter or counter/reference electrode by less than 500 μ

m, wherein the electrochemical cell is configured for retaining the sample within the cell for analysis of the sample at a location at which the sample is retained.