Electrochemical cell and method of making an electrochemical cell

Inventors

Harding, Ian • Iyengar, Sridhar G. • Larson, Marina T. • Oppedahl, Carl

Assignees

Agamatrix Inc

Abstract

Electrochemical test cells are made with precision and accuracy by adhering an electrically resistive sheet having a bound opening to a first electrically conductive sheet. A notching opening is then punched through the electrically resistive sheet and the first electrically conductive sheet. The notching opening intersects the first bound opening in the electrically resistive sheet, and transforms the first bound opening into a notch in the electrically resistive sheet. A second electrically conductive sheet is punched to have a notching opening corresponding to that of first electrically conductive sheet, and this is adhered to the other side of the electrically resistive sheet such that the notching openings are aligned. This structure is cleaved from surrounding material to form an electrochemical cell that has a sample space for receiving a sample defined by the first and second conductive sheets and the notch in the electrically resistive sheet.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to an electrochemical device that includes a sample-receiving end and a connector end formed from, in sequence, a first substrate with a layer of conductive material, an electrically-resistive middle layer, and a second substrate with a layer of conductive material. The first surface of the first substrate and the first surface of the second substrate are adhered to the electrically resistive middle layer so that the conductive layers face each other across the resistive layer except in a defined sample space. The device has unpatterned first and second electrodes in the sample space, and the sample space passes through the electrically resistive middle layer.

The sample space is defined by openings in the layered structure, including bounded openings and corresponding openings/notching openings that intersect to create a notch in the resistive layer. Opposing unpatterned conductive electrodes are formed on first and second conductive substrates separated by the electrically resistive sheet, with the sample space and notch defining the geometry in which electrical interaction occurs. The arrangement is configured to provide a disposable electrochemical cell/sensor that supports small sample volumes without printing or lithography.

Connector-end features are included to enable electrical connection to a test meter, using first and second connectors with contact pads arranged on a common edge and separated by the electrically resistive middle layer. The described layered construction supports configurations including sample-acceptance geometries and optional reagent integration within the sample space, including an enzyme and a redox mediator such as glucose oxidase with ferricyanide/ferrocyanide. The description further states manufacturing of multi-test stacked or multi-sample-space devices using registration and layered-sheet fabrication, and includes discussion of vent hole and airlock prevention mitigation in the sample-receiving area.

Claims Coverage

The provided partial document includes two independent claims: clm-00001 and clm-00014. Each independent claim centers on a layered electrochemical device having unpatterned electrodes separated by an electrically resistive middle layer, together with connector-end structures for a test meter.

Across both independent claims, the core claim coverage is a layered electrochemical device in which adhered first and second conductive substrates form unpatterned opposing electrodes that bound a sample space passing through an electrically resistive middle layer, with connector-end contact pads arranged to contact a test meter while conductive facing portions are separated by the electrically resistive middle layer except in the sample space.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications