Silicon microprobe with integrated biosensor

Abstract

Microprobe device 10 provides an analyte signal from biosensor 12 to an external analyte meter indicating analyte presence in an analyte-containing bodily fluid of a subject (not shown).

1 . A microprobe device to provide a signal to an analyte meter indicating analyte presence in an analyte-containing bodily fluid of a subject comprising: 
 a single substrate having a body portion and a microprobe portion, the body portion and microprobe portion integrally formed together on the substrate;    an open fluid channel formed in the substrate, the channel positioned longitudinally along a surface of the substrate from a penetration end of the microprobe portion to the body portion of the substrate;    a cavity extending into the body portion of the substrate; and    a biosensor integrated with a surface of the substrate, the biosensor located over the cavity and configured to sense the analyte presence and provide a signal in response thereto.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the fluid channel that passes into the subject during penetration is uncovered.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the open fluid channel is configured to transport the analyte-containing fluid to the biosensor by capillary action even in the absence of a cover over any portion of the fluid channel that passes into the subject during penetration.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the cavity is in fluid contact with the open fluid channel.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the open fluid channel has a cross-section of any shape etched into the substrate of the microprobe portion.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the cavity has at least one cross-sectional dimension that is greater than that of the channel.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the biosensor is coupled with the cavity, the cavity located in at least part of the open fluid channel.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the biosensor is located in the cavity.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a silicon substrate.  
     
     
         10 . A microprobe device to provide a signal to an analyte meter indicating analyte presence in an analyte-containing bodily fluid of a subject comprising: 
 a single substrate having a body portion and a microprobe portion, the body portion and microprobe portion integrally formed together on the substrate;    a biosensor integrated with the substrate, the biosensor located on the body portion of the microprobe and configured to sense the analyte presence and provide a signal in response thereto; and    an open fluid channel formed in the substrate, the channel positioned longitudinally along a surface of the substrate from a penetration end of the microprobe portion to the body portion of the substrate.    
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein a portion of the fluid channel that passes into the subject during penetration is uncovered.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the open fluid channel is to transport the analyte-containing fluid to the biosensor by capillary action even in the absence of a cover over any portion of the fluid channel that passes into the subject during penetration.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the biosensor is uncovered.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a cavity extending into the substrate, the cavity located in at least part of the open fluid channel.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the cavity is in fluid contact with the open fluid channel.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the biosensor is coupled with the cavity.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the biosensor is positioned over the open fluid channel.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the substrate is a silicon substrate.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the microprobe portion is width tapered along an entire length dimension, wherein the rate of decrease in width at a penetration end of the microprobe portion of the substrate is greater than the rate of decrease in width at a body end of the microprobe portion of the substrate.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the surface is a planar surface.  
     
     
         21 . A microprobe device to provide a signal to an analyte meter indicating analyte presence in an analyte-containing bodily fluid of a subject comprising: 
 a single silicon substrate having a body portion and a microprobe portion, the body portion and microprobe portion integrally formed together on the substrate;    an open fluid channel formed in the substrate, the channel positioned longitudinally along a surface of the substrate from a penetration end of the microprobe portion to the body portion of the substrate;    a cavity extending into the body portion of the substrate; and    a biosensor integrated with a surface of the substrate, the biosensor located over the cavity and configured to sense the analyte presence and provide a signal in response thereto.    
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein a portion of the fluid channel that passes into the subject during penetration is uncovered.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the open fluid channel is configured to transport the analyte-containing fluid to the biosensor by capillary action even in the absence of a cover over any portion of the fluid channel that passes into the subject during penetration.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the cavity is in fluid contact with the open fluid channel.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the open fluid channel has a cross-section of any shape etched into the substrate of the microprobe portion.