Electrochemical Cell and Method of Making an Electrochemical Cell

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.

1 .- 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . An electrochemical device having a sample-receiving end and a connector end, the device comprising, in sequence:
 (a) a first substrate, having a layer of conductive material applied to a first surface thereof;   (b) an electrically-resistive middle layer; and   (c) a second substrate, having a layer of conductive material applied to a first surface thereof; wherein,   the first surface of the first substrate and the first surface of the second substrate are adhered to the electrically resistive middle layer,   the device has a first sample space, said first sample space passing through the electrically resistive middle layer and being bounded on opposing sides by a portion of the conductive material of the first substrate forming an unpatterned first electrode and a portion of the conductive material of the second substrate forming an unpatterned second electrode,   the connector end comprises first and second connectors, said first connector comprising two separate contact areas on the conductive material of the first substrate for connection with a meter, said second connector comprising a contact area on the conductive material of the second substrate for connection with a meter,   the contact area of the second connector is located in a position intermediate to the contact areas of the first connector in an end view of the connector end of the strip, and   the electrically-resistive middle layer extends between the first and second substrate to the contact area of the second connector.   
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 28 , further comprising a reagent disposed within the sample space. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the reagent comprises an enzyme and a redox mediator. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the enzyme is a glucose responsive enzyme and is selected from the group consisting of glucose oxidase and glucose dehydrogenase. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the conductive material on the first substrate is selected from the group consisting of gold, carbon, silver, palladium, and platinum. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the conductive material on the second substrate is the same or different from the conductive material on the second substrate and is selected from the group consisting of gold, carbon, silver, palladium, and platinum. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the middle layer has a thickness of 50 to 500 μm. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the sample space has a volume of less than 1 μl. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the sample space has a volume of less than 500 nl. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the sample space has a volume of 100 to 300 nl. 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the sample space has a width dimension that is defined by opposing sides of an opening punched in the electrically resistive middle layer, wherein the opposing sides are substantially straight and parallel to one another. 
     
     
         39 . An electrochemical device having a sample-receiving end and a connector end, the device comprising, in sequence:
 (a) a first substrate, having a layer of conductive material applied to a first surface thereof;   (b) an electrically-resistive middle layer; and   (c) a second substrate, having a layer of conductive material applied to a first surface thereof; wherein,   the first surface of the first substrate and the first surface of the second substrate are adhered to the electrically resistive middle layer,   the device has a first sample space, said first sample space passing through the electrically resistive middle layer and being bounded on opposing sides by a portion of the conductive material of the first substrate forming an unpatterned first electrode and a portion of the conductive material of the second substrate forming an unpatterned second electrode,   the connector end comprises first and second connectors, said first connector comprising two separate contact areas on the conductive material of the first substrate for connection with a meter, said second connector comprising a contact area on the conductive material of the second substrate for connection with a meter,   the contact area of the second connector is located in a position intermediate to the contact areas of the first connector in an end view of the connector end of the strip, and   the contact area of the second connector extends from the electrically-resistive middle layer.   
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 39 , further comprising a reagent disposed within the sample space. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 40 , wherein the reagent comprises an enzyme and a redox mediator. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 41 , wherein the enzyme is a glucose responsive enzyme and is selected from the group consisting of glucose oxidase and glucose dehydrogenase. 
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein the conductive material on the first substrate is selected from the group consisting of gold, carbon, silver, palladium, and platinum. 
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 43 , wherein the conductive material on the second substrate is the same or different from the conductive material on the second substrate and is selected from the group consisting of gold, carbon, silver, palladium, and platinum. 
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein the middle layer has a thickness of 50 to 500 μm. 
     
     
         46 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein the sample space has a volume of less than 1 μl. 
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein the sample space has a volume of less than 500 nl. 
     
     
         48 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein the sample space has a volume of 100 to 300 nl. 
     
     
         49 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein the sample space has a width dimension that is defined by opposing sides of an opening punched in the electrically resistive middle layer, wherein the opposing sides are substantially straight and parallel to one another.