Device and methods for the application of mechanical force to a gel/sensor assembly
First Claim
1. A press device to apply mechanical force to improve contact between an ionically conductive gel and a sensor, comprisinga press device having first and second surfaces, wherein the first surface is conformed to hold a gel and sensor assembly, and the second surface is conformed to contact the assembly such that the application of mechanical force to the first and second surfaces of the device brings the gel into contact with the sensor, wherein the amount of mechanical force that can be applied is lower than the amount of force that would cause unacceptable deformation of the gel, sensor, or assembly.
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Abstract
Devices and methods are described for improving the contact of a conductive material, for example, a hydrogel, with a sensor, for example an electrode, by means of using mechanical force to apply the conductive material to the sensor before use of the conductive material and sensor in a sampling device. The device and methods of the present invention improve the sensor response characteristics in transdermal sampling devices placed in operative contact with a skin or mucosal surface of a biological system to obtain a chemical signal associated with an analyte of interest.
339 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A press device to apply mechanical force to improve contact between an ionically conductive gel and a sensor, comprising
a press device having first and second surfaces, wherein the first surface is conformed to hold a gel and sensor assembly, and the second surface is conformed to contact the assembly such that the application of mechanical force to the first and second surfaces of the device brings the gel into contact with the sensor, wherein the amount of mechanical force that can be applied is lower than the amount of force that would cause unacceptable deformation of the gel, sensor, or assembly.
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11. A method of improving signal detection in a transdermal sampling device, said device employing an ionically conductive material in contact with a sensor, comprising
applying force to bring the ionically conductive material into contact with the sensor, wherein the amount of force applied is lower than the amount of force that would cause unacceptable damage to the conductive material or sensor, wherein said force is mechanical pressure, and the mechanical pressure is applied by a press device, said press device comprising, a first surface on which the tonically conductive material and sensor are placed, said ionically conductive material and sensor being functionally aligned: - and,
a second surface which is conformed to contact the ionically conductive material and sensor in such a way as to apply a mechanical force that brings the ionically conductive material into contact with the sensor, where the amount of mechanical force applied is lower than the amount of force that would cause unacceptable deformation of the ionically conductive material or sensor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification