Electrochemical Cell

• US 20100192369A1
• Filed: 09/16/2009
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lifescan Incorporated (Duv Holding Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lifescan Incorporated (Duv Holding Corporation)
• Inventors: Johansen, Oddvar, Beck, Thomas William, Hodges, Alastair McIndoe
• Application Number:
  US12/560,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20100192369A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/825
• 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 method of manufacture of an electrochemical cell is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, at least one non-metal working electrode is provided, at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode is provided such that it is not co-planer with respect to the working electrode, and a spacer is provided interposed between the working and counter or counter/referenced electrode. In one embodiment the counter or counter/reference electrode can be separated from the working electrode by a distance of from about 20 microns to about 200 microns. Alternatively, the cell can have an effective volume of less than 1.5 microliters. A method of manufacture of an electrochemical apparatus is also provided. The method can include providing both a hollow electrochemical cell for measuring a concentration of glucose in a blood sample and a mechanism configured to determine a concentration of a redox mediator from, at least in part, a measured current of the cell. Other methods of manufacture of electrochemical apparatuses and electrochemical cells are also provided.

Claims

1-30. -30. (canceled)

31. A method of manufacture of an electrochemical cell, comprising:

(1) providing at least one non-metal working electrode;

(2) providing at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode such that it is not co-planer with respect to the working electrode and is separated from the working electrode by a distance of from about 20 microns to about 200 microns; and

(3) providing a spacer interposed between the working and the counter electrode or counter/reference electrode, wherein the spacer comprises a non-conductive material.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein providing at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode further comprises providing at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode such that it is substantially opposed to the working electrode.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein providing at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode further comprises providing at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode such that it is facing the working electrode.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein providing at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode further comprises providing at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode such that it is substantially parallel to the working electrode.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein providing at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode further comprises providing at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode such that it is substantially parallel and substantially opposed to the working electrode.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein providing a hollow electrochemical cell further comprises providing a fluid permeable side-wall on at least one side of the hollow cell permitting entry of the sample into the hollow cell.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the fluid permeable side-wall comprises an opening.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein the hollow electrochemical cell has an effective volume of less than 1.5 microliters.

39. The method of claim 31, wherein at least one non-metal working electrode comprises a material selected from the group consisting of graphite, carbon, and carbon-filled plastic.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode comprises a metal substrate or a metal coated substrate.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, platinum, palladium, iridium, lead, and alloys thereof.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the metal comprises silver, and wherein the blood sample comprises chloride ions and a reduced form of a redox species or an oxidized form of a redox species.

43. The method of claim 31, wherein the non-conductive material of the spacer is a polymeric material.

44. The method of claim 31, wherein walls of the spacer and the electrodes define the effective cell volume of the hollow electrochemical cell.

45. A method of manufacture of an electrochemical apparatus, comprising:

(1) providing a hollow electrochemical cell for measuring a concentration of glucose in a blood sample, by;

(a) providing at least one non-metal working electrode;

(b) providing at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode such that it is not co-planer with respect to the working electrode and is separated from the working electrode by a distance of from about 20 microns to about 200 microns; and

(c) providing a spacer interposed between the working and the counter electrode or counter/reference electrode, wherein the spacer comprises a non-conductive material; and

(2) providing a mechanism configured to determine a concentration of a redox mediator from, at least in part, a measured current of the cell.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising providing a mechanism configured to determine a concentration of glucose in a blood sample from, at least in part, a measured current of the cell.

47. The method of claim 45, further comprising providing a mechanism configured to apply an electric potential difference between the working electrode and the counter electrode or counter/reference electrode.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising providing a mechanism configured to measure a current between the working electrode and the counter electrode or counter/reference electrode.

49. A method of manufacture of an electrochemical cell, comprising:

(1) providing at least one non-metal working electrode;

(2) providing at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode such that it is not co-planer with respect to the working electrode; and

(3) providing a spacer interposed between the working and the counter electrode or counter/reference electrode, wherein the spacer comprises a non-conductive material, and wherein the hollow electrochemical cell has an effective volume of less than 1.5 microliters.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein providing at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode further comprises providing at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode such that it is substantially opposed to the working electrode.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein providing at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode further comprises providing at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode such that it is facing the working electrode.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein providing at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode further comprises providing at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode such that it is substantially parallel to the working electrode.

53. The method of claim 49, wherein providing at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode further comprises providing at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode such that it is substantially parallel and substantially opposed to the working electrode.

54. The method of claim 49, wherein providing at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode further comprises separating the working electrode and the counter electrode or counter/reference electrode by a distance of from about 20 microns to about 200 microns.

55. The method of claim 49, wherein providing a hollow electrochemical cell further comprises providing a fluid permeable side-wall on at least one side of the hollow cell permitting entry of the sample into the hollow cell.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the fluid permeable side-wall comprises an opening.

57. The method of claim 49, wherein at least one non-metal working electrode comprises a material selected from the group consisting of graphite, carbon, and carbon-filled plastic.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode comprises a metal substrate or a metal coated substrate.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, platinum, palladium, iridium, lead, and alloys thereof.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the metal comprises silver, and wherein the blood sample comprises chloride ions and a reduced form of a redox species or an oxidized form of a redox species.

61. The method of claim 49, wherein the non-conductive material of the spacer is a polymeric material.

62. The method of claim 49, wherein walls of the spacer and the electrodes define the effective cell volume of the hollow electrochemical cell.

63. A method of manufacture of an electrochemical apparatus, comprising:

(1) providing a hollow electrochemical cell for measuring a concentration of glucose in a blood sample, by;

(a) providing at least one non-metal working electrode;

(b) providing at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode such that it is not co-planer with respect to the working electrode; and

(c) providing a spacer interposed between the working and the counter electrode or counter/reference electrode, wherein the spacer comprises a non-conductive material, and wherein the hollow electrochemical cell has an effective volume of less than 1.5 microliters; and

(2) providing a mechanism configured to determine a concentration of a redox mediator from, at least in part, a measured current of the cell.

64. The method of claim 63, further comprising providing a mechanism configured to determine a concentration of glucose in a blood sample from, at least in part, a measured current of the cell.

65. The method of claim 63, further comprising providing a mechanism configured to apply an electric potential difference between the working electrode and the counter electrode or counter/reference electrode.

66. The method of claim 65, further comprising providing a mechanism configured to measure a current between the working electrode and the counter electrode or counter/reference electrode.