Electrochemical cell

Abstract

A biosensor for use in determining a concentration of a component in an aqueous liquid sample is provided including: an electrochemical cell having a first electrically resistive substrate having a thin layer of electrically conductive material, a second electrically resistive substrate having a thin layer of electrically conductive material, the substrates being disposed with the electrically conductive materials facing each other and being separated by a sheet including an aperture, the wall of which aperture defines a cell wall and a sample introduction aperture whereby the aqueous liquid sample may be introduced into the cell; and a measuring circuit.

1 - 32 . (canceled)  
   
   
       33 . A biosensor for use in determining a concentration of a component in a liquid sample, the biosensor comprising: 
 an electrochemical cell, the electrochemical cell comprising a first electrically resistive substrate having a first electrically conductive material on a first face, a second electrically resistive substrate having a second electrically conductive material on a second face, the substrates being disposed with the first electrically conductive material facing the second electrically conductive material and being separated by at least one insulating sheet, the cell further comprising a wall, a reagent that is deposited on at least a portion of the wall, and a sample introduction aperture formed in the insulating sheet, whereby a sample may be introduced into the cell.    
   
   
       34 . The biosensor of  claim 33 , wherein the electrochemical cell further comprises a working electrode and a counter or counter/reference electrode, wherein the working electrode is spaced from the counter or counter/reference electrode by less than about 500 microns.  
   
   
       35 . The biosensor of  claim 33 , wherein the electrochemical cell further comprises a working electrode and a counter or counter/reference electrode, wherein the working electrode is spaced from the counter or counter/reference electrode by less than about 200 microns.  
   
   
       36 . The biosensor of  claim 33 , wherein the aperture defines a working electrode area in the cell.  
   
   
       37 . The biosensor of  claim 33 , wherein the reagent comprises potassium ferricyanide and glucose oxidase dehydrogenase.  
   
   
       38 . The biosensor of  claim 33 , wherein the reagent is deposited onto at least a portion of the wall by ink jet printing.  
   
   
       39 . The biosensor of  claim 33 , wherein the reagent is deposited onto at least one of the electrically conductive materials.  
   
   
       40 . The biosensor of  claim 33 , further comprising at least one adhesive layer that is positioned between the first and second electrically conductive materials.  
   
   
       41 . A biosensor for use in determining a concentration of a component in a liquid sample, the biosensor comprising: 
 a thin layer electrochemical cell, the cell comprising: 
 (a) an electrically resistive sheet comprising an aperture;  
 (b) a first electrode layer covering the aperture on a first side of the electrically resistive sheet;  
 (c) a second electrode layer covering the aperture on a second side of the electrically resistive sheet, wherein a wall of the aperture cooperates with the electrode layers to define at least a portion of the cell wall;  
 (d) a reagent that is deposited on at least a portion of the cell wall; and  
 (e) a passage for admission of a liquid sample into the aperture.  
   
   
   
       42 . The biosensor of  claim 41 , further comprising a measuring circuit.  
   
   
       43 . The biosensor of  claim 41 , wherein the electrochemical cell further comprises a working electrode and a counter or counter/reference electrode, wherein the working electrode is spaced from the counter or counter/reference electrode by less than about 500 microns.  
   
   
       44 . The biosensor of  claim 41 , wherein the aperture defines a working electrode area in the cell.  
   
   
       45 . The biosensor of  claim 41 , wherein the reagent comprises about 0.2 molar potassium ferricyanide and about 1% by weight of glucose oxidase dehydrogenase.  
   
   
       46 . The biosensor of  claim 41 , wherein the reagent is deposited onto at least a portion of the cell wall by ink jet printing.  
   
   
       47 . The biosensor of  claim 41 , wherein the reagent is deposited onto at least one of the first and second electrode layers.  
   
   
       48 . The biosensor of  claim 41 , wherein the first and second electrode layers are separated by at least one additional layer.  
   
   
       49 . The biosensor of  claim 48 , wherein the at least one additional layer is an adhesive layer.