Coated test elements

• US 8,163,560 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2004
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Pachl, Rudolf, Babic, Branislav, Frank, Martin, Schmid, Wilfried, Hoferer, Jürgen
• Primary Examiner(s): Alexander, Lyle
• Application Number:
  US10/581,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20070110613A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,699 Days
• Field of Search: 422/425, 422/430, 422/68.1, 422/412, 436/63, 436/164, 436/169, 436/808
• US Class Current: 436/63
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0295 Strip shaped analyte sensors for apparatus classified in A61B5/145 or A61B5/157
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/166 Suprahydrophobic; Ultraphobic; Lotus-effect
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502707 characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components by shaping or joining plastic parts B29C59/00, B29C65/00; by laminating B32B37/00; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/808 Automated or kit

Abstract

The invention concerns coated test elements and in particular test elements comprising a capillary gap which have a hydrophobic structured coating at least in the area surrounding the capillary gap.

Claims

1. An analytical test element for determining an analyte in a liquid, the test element comprising:

an inert carrier supporting an application zone for sample material;

a detection zone for determining the analyte;

a channel formed to transport liquid from the application zone to the detection zone; and

a hydrophobic structured surface formed in an area around the application zone, the hydrophobic structured surface comprising elevations and depressions, the height of the elevations ranging from about 50 nm to 100 μ

m;

whereby, upon dosing of the test element, sample liquid is automatically guided towards the channel and is prevented from adhering to the hydrophobic structured surface formed in the area around the application zone.

2. The test element of claim 1, wherein the channel has an opening in the area of the application zone and the hydrophobic structured surface is positioned at least around the channel opening.

3. The test element of claim 1 wherein the channel is a capillary channel.

4. The test element of claim 1 wherein an interior of the channel has at least partially a hydrophilic surface.

5. The test element of claim 1 wherein the distance between elevations on the hydrophobic structured surface is about 50 nm to 200 μ

m.

6. The test element of claim 1 wherein the hydrophobic structured surface has a surface energy of ≦

20 mN/m.

7. The test element of claim 1 wherein the hydrophobic structured surface has a contact angle with aqueous systems of ≧

120°

.

8. The test element of claim 1 wherein the hydrophobic structured surface is immobilized on the test element.

9. The test element of claim 1 wherein the test element is designed to be held within a magazine.

10. The test element of claim 9 wherein the magazine is designed to hold both used and unused test elements.

11. The test element of claim 9 wherein the magazine is located within a measuring device.

12. The test element of claim 11 wherein the measuring device is an optical or electrochemical measuring device.

13. The test element of claim 1 wherein the test element is designed to be contained in a measuring device.

14. The test element of claim 13 wherein the measuring device is an optical or electrochemical measuring device.

15. The test element of claim 1 wherein the test element is formed for determining glucose in blood.

16. A method for the determination of an analyte in a liquid, the method comprising:

applying a sample liquid to a test element having an inert carrier supporting an application zone for sample material, a detection zone for determining the analyte, and a channel formed to transport liquid from the application zone to the detection zone, wherein the test element has a hydrophobic structured surface at least in an area around the application zone, the hydrophobic structured surface comprising elevations and depressions, the height of the elevations ranging from about 50 nm to 100 μ

m;

using the hydrophobic structured surface to guide the sample towards the channel while preventing the sample from adhering to the hydrophobic structured surface formed in the area around the channel; and

qualitatively determining the analyte present in the sample liquid.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising quantitatively determining the analyte present in the sample liquid.

18. A method for the determination of an analyte in a liquid, the method comprising:

applying a sample liquid to a test element having an inert carrier, an application zone for sample material, a detection zone for determining the analyte, and a channel formed to transport liquid from the application zone to the detection zone, wherein the test element has a hydrophobic structured surface at least in an area around the application zone, the hydrophobic structured surface comprising elevations and depressions, the height of the elevations ranging from about 50 nm to 100 μ

m;

using the hydrophobic structured surface to guide the sample towards the channel while preventing the sample from adhering to the hydrophobic structured surface formed in the area around the channel; and

quantitatively determining the analyte present in the sample liquid.