Method of defining electrodes using laser-ablation and dielectric material

• US 8,399,070 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2012
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Beer, Greg P., Edelbrock, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuan, Dah-Wei
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAW, NGA LEUNG V
• Application Number:
  US13/488,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20120244295A1
• Time in Patent Office: 287 Days
• Field of Search: 427/555, 427/2.13, 204/520, 204/401, 204/403.1, 204/403.11, 204/409
• US Class Current: 427/555
• 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 forming an electrochemical test sensor includes providing a base. Electrochemically-active material is placed on the base. Dielectric material is applied over the electrochemically-active material. A first selected area of the dielectric material is laser-ablated to expose the electrochemically-active material. A second selected area of the dielectric material and the electrochemically-active material are laser-ablated to expose the base. The first selected area is different from the second selected area. A second layer is applied to assist in forming a channel in the test sensor. The channel assists in allowing a fluid sample to contact a reagent located therein. The dielectric material is located between the base and the second layer.

Claims

1. A method of forming an electrochemical test sensor, the method comprising the acts of:

providing a base;

placing electrochemically-active material on the base;

applying dielectric material over the electrochemically-active material;

laser-ablating a first selected area of the dielectric material to expose the electrochemically-active material;

laser-ablating a second selected area of the dielectric material and the electrochemically-active material to expose the base, the first selected area being different from the second selected area; and

applying a second layer to assist in forming a channel in the test sensor, the channel assisting in allowing a fluid sample to contact a reagent located therein,

wherein the dielectric material is located between the base and the second layer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the laser-ablating of the selected areas further exposes meter contacts on the test sensor.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second layer is a lid.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the second layer is a spacer and further includes applying a lid to the spacer so as to define the channel, the spacer being located between the lid and the base.

5. The method claim 1 wherein the second layer is a spacer-lid combination.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrochemically-active material is a metallic conductive material.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the reagent includes glucose oxidase or glucose dehydrogenase.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the channel is a capillary channel.