TEST STRIP COMPRISING PATTERNED ELECTRODES

• US 20100206727A1
• Filed: 12/22/2009
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: LifeScan Scotland Limited (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Day, Emma Vanessa Jayne, Day, Richard Michael, Leach, Christopher Philip, Cardosi, Marco F., Mills, Leanne
• Granted Patent: US 8,486,244 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/400
• 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: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

Described herein is an analyte test strip and method for making the test strip. The test strip utilizes isolated conductive areas to define electrode whiskers. The method utilizes laser ablation to define electrode patterns.

Claims

1. An analyte test strip comprising:

a generally planar substrate that extends from a first end to a second end;

a first electrode track that extends between the first and second end of the substrate; and

a first electrode located proximate the first end of the generally planar substrate, the first electrode including;

a first electroactive area disposed on the substrate proximate the first end, the first electroactive area comprising a single continuous surface area of conductive material and a reagent disposed thereon;

two spaced-apart first whisker tracks contiguous to both the first electroactive area and one end of the first electrode track.

2. The test strip of claim 1, further comprising a second electrode located proximate the first electrode, the second electrode including:

a second electrode track that extends between the first and second end of the substrate; and

a second electrode located proximate the first end, the second electrode including;

a second electroactive area disposed on the substrate proximate the first electroactive area, the second electroactive area comprising;

a single continuous surface area of conductive material and the reagent disposed thereon; and

two spaced-apart second whisker tracks contiguous to both the second electroactive area and the second electrode track.

3. The test strip of claim 2, further comprising:

a third electrode track that extends between the first and second ends;

a third electrode located proximate the first end, the third electrode including;

a third electroactive area disposed on the substrate proximate the first and second electroactive areas, the third electroactive area comprising a single continuous surface area of conductive material and the reagent disposed thereon; and

two spaced-apart third whisker tracks of conductive material contiguous to both the third electroactive area and the third electrode track.

4. The test strip of claim 3, in which each of the two spaced-apart first and second whisker tracks comprise two generally parallel whisker tracks.

5. The test strip of claim 3, further comprising an adhesive layer disposed over a portion of the first and second whisker tracks to insulate portions of the two-spaced apart first and second whisker track.

6. The test strip of claim 1, in which the conductive material comprises a conductor selected from a group consisting essentially of gold, palladium, platinum, and combinations thereof.

7. The test strip of claim 1, in which the conductive material comprises a carbon material.

8. The test strip of claim 1, in which the reagent includes a ruthenium hexamine mediator.

9. The test strip of claim 8, in which the reagent comprises:

an enzyme; and

a buffer for dissolving said enzyme and said ruthenium hexamine mediator.

10. The test strip of claim 9, in which the ruthenium hexamine comprises a concentration range from about 15% to about 20% of weight over volume.

11. The test strip of claim 3, in which uncovered reagent is disposed over each of the two spaced apart first, second, and third whisker tracks to define respective fourth, fifth, and sixth electroactive areas, and in which each of the fourth, fifth, and sixth electroactive areas is about 10% or less with respect to the first, second and third electroactive areas.

12. The test strip of claim 11, in which one of the first, second and third electrodes comprises a generally rectangular shaped electrode having two spaced-apart islands of conductive material located in the electrode and electrically isolated from each of the electrode, each of the two isolated islands being generally rectangular in shape with at least one side contiguous to the whisker track.

13. The test strip of claim 12, in which one of the other of the first, second, and third electrodes comprises a generally rectangular shaped electrode having two spaced-apart islands of conductive material located in each of the electrodes and electrically isolated from each of the electrodes, each of the two islands being generally square in shape with at least one side of one island contiguous to the whisker track.

14. The test strip of claim 12, in which at least one side of the other island is contiguous to a whisker electrode and each whisker track or whisker electrode comprises a width ranging from about 1 microns to about 20 microns.

15. The test strip of claim 14, in which at least one side of the other island is contiguous to a whisker electrode and each whisker track or whisker electrode comprises a width ranging from about 1 microns to about 20 microns.

16. The test strip of claim 1, in which conductive layer comprises sputtered gold film.

17. The test strip of claim 16, in which the sputtered gold film comprises a film having a thickness ranging from about 20 nanometers to about 80 nanometers.

18. The test strip of claim 1, in which the conductive layer comprises a screen printed carbon ink.

19. The test strip of claim 1, in which the substrate comprises polyester.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising depositing an adhesive layer over the electroactive area.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising

a spacer disposed over a portion of the electrodes, reagent and adhesive layer to define a sample receiving chamber;

and

a top tape affixed to the spacer, the top tape including a first, second and third adhesive pads affixed to the top tape.

20. A method of making an analyte test strip, the method comprising:

forming a layer of conductive material on a substrate; and

removing selective portions of the conductive material to define a plurality of electrodes with each of the electrodes having two spaced-apart island of conductive material located in the electrode and electrically isolated from each of the electrodes; and

depositing reagent over an area contiguous to the two spaced-apart islands to define an electroactive area of each electrode.

21. The method of claim 20, in which the removing comprises ablating the conductive material via a laser light.

23. The method of claim 21, in which the depositing comprises a non-contact drop on demand deposition of the reagent.