US5401376A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrochemical sensors
Assignee: Novartis AG
•
Filing: 1994-03-11
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Granted: 1995-03-28
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Expires: 2014-03-11
Abstract
Abstract An electrochemical sensor having a substrate, conductive strips deposited on the substrate, and a layer insulating portions of the conductive strips except those portions which define a working electrode and at least one second electrode. A solid electrolyte contacting the electrodes is covered by a semipermeable membrane which may comprise an acrylonitrile butadiene copolymer or an acrylate-based copolymer. A sample chamber is defined by the membrane, a cover member, and a gasket therebetween, and has a volume of from about 1 to about 2 mu L. The gasket is formulated from the highly cross-linked polymerization product of epichlorohydrin. All sensor components are selected such that a sensor operable for at least 2 days under normal conditions is produced.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph S. Foos
- 👤 Peter G. Edelman
- 👤 James E. Flaherty
- 👤 Joseph Berger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:13
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08F; C08F220/00; C08F220/02; C08F220/10; C08F220/12; C08F220/14; G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/403; G01N27/404; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/483; G01N33/487; G01N33/49; G01N33/4925; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/5317; Y10T29/532; Y10T29/53204
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
An electrochemical sensor for an analyte in a test sample comprising: (a) electrochemical means for detecting an analyte in a test sample; (b) a hygroscopic solid electrolyte provided on said electrochemical means, said electrolyte having a swell value of less than two times its dry volume when provided with water; and (c) a semipermeable membrane covering said electrolyte, wherein said membrane is permeable to said analyte.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
An electrochemical sensor for an analyte in a test sample comprising: (a) electrochemical means for detecting an analyte in a test sample; (b) a hygroscopic solid electrolyte provided on said electrochemical means, said electrolyte having a swell value of less than two times its dry volume when provided with water; and (c) a semipermeable membrane covering said electrolyte, wherein said membrane is permeable to said analyte.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
132 words
A sensor as recited in claim 1, said sensor further comprising: an electrically nonconductive substrate; a first electrically conductive material adhered to a first portion of said substrate, at least a portion of said first conductive material is covered with an electrically insulating coating and at least one portion of said first conductive material remaining uncovered by said electrically insulating coating, said uncovered portion of said first conductive material defining a working electrode area; and a second electrically conductive material adhered to a second portion of the substrate, a portion of said second conductive material is covered with the electrically insulating coating and at least one portion of said second conductive material remaining uncovered by said electrically insulating coating, said uncovered portion of said second conductive material defining a counter electrode area;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
A sensor as recited in claim 2, and further comprising a third electrically conductive material adhered to a third portion of said substrate, a portion of said third electrically conductive material is covered with the electrically insulating coating and at least one portion of said third conductive material remaining uncovered by said electrically insulating coating, said uncovered portion of said third conductive material defining a reference electrode area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
A sensor as recited in claim 3, and further comprising a fourth electrically conductive material adhered to a fourth portion of said substrate, a portion of said fourth electrically conductive material is covered with the electrically insulating coating and at least one portion of said fourth conductive material remaining uncovered by said electrically insulating coating, said uncovered portion of said fourth conductive material defining a correcting electrode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sensor as recited in claim 2, wherein said substrate comprises material selected from the group consisting of ceramics, glasses, refractories, polymers and combinations thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sensor as recited in claim 2, wherein said first and second electrically conductive material comprises a thick-film paste.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A sensor as recited in claim 2, wherein said first electrically conductive material is deposited to have a post-fired thickness of from about 0.002 mm to about 0.04 mm and a width of from about 0.02 to about 0.4 mm in at least one region of the sensor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A sensor as recited in claim 2, wherein said electrically insulating material includes a dielectric coating comprising material selected from the group consisting of ceramics, glasses, polymers and combinations thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sensor as recited in claim 2, wherein said uncovered portion of said first conductive material is defined according to the thick film silk-screening technique.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
A sensor as recited in claim 2, wherein said semipermeable membrane comprises the polymerization product of at least one monomer having the formula CH 2 ═C(R 1 )(COOR 2 ), where R 1 and R 2 are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbon groups, and alcohol groups and R 1 and R 2 can be the same or different.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
90 words
A sensor as recited in claim 10, wherein said semipermeable membrane further comprises the polymerization product of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of those laving the formulas CH 2 ═C(R 1 )(CONR 2 R 3 ), CH 2 ═C(R 1 )(OCOR 2 ), and nitrile-containing monomers, where R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbon groups, and alcohol groups and R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 can be the same or different.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A sensor as recited in claim 2, said sensor further comprising: a hygroscopic solid electrolyte provided on at least the working electrode area and the counter electrode area, said electrolyte having a swell value of less than two times its dry volume when provided with water.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A sensor as recited in claim 12, wherein said hygroscopic solid electrolyte is a cation or anion exchanger.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
A sensor as recited in claim 1, said sensor further comprising: a cover member covering said semipermeable membrane and having a recess formed therein; said recess having a perimeter facing the membrane and at least one passageway connected to the recess.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A sensor as recited in claim 1, said sensor further comprising: a gasket contacting the recess perimeter and the membrane to form a seal therebetween, the gasket, cover member, and membrane defining a sample chamber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A sensor as recited in claim 15, wherein said gasket is formulated from a material comprising an elastomeric copolymer of an epoxy compound.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sensor as recited in claim 15, wherein said sample chamber having a volume of less than 10 ML.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said semipermeable membrane comprises the polymerization product of at least one nitrile monomer and at least one conjugated diene monomer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sensor as recited in claim 18, wherein said semipermeable membrane comprises the polymerization product of acrylonitrile and butadiene.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
55 words
A sensor as recited in claim 19, wherein said semipermeable membrane further comprises a species selected from the group consisting of the polymerization product of a vinyl halide, the polymerization product of a vinylidene halide, the polymerization product of either a vinyl halide or a vinylidene halide with a nitrile-containing monomer, and a combination thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
A sensor as recited in claim 20, wherein said polyvinyl halide comprises polyvinylchloride.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sensor as recited in claim 19, wherein said semipermeable membrane further comprises a random copolymer of a polyvinylidene halide and a nitrile-containing monomer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
A sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said semipermeable membrane comprises a polymeric material having a glass transition temperature of from about -40° C. to about 110° C. that is not at the operating temperature of said sensor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said semipermeable membrane comprises a polymeric material having a "Shore A" hardness of at least about 20.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
77 words
An electrochemical sensor comprising: electrochemical means for detecting an analyte in a sample; a semipermeable membrane covering said electrochemical means, said membrane is permeable to said analyte and to species necessary for the functioning of said electrochemical means; and a cover member covering said semipermeable membrane and having a recess formed therein, said recess having a perimeter facing the membrane and at least one sample passageway connected to the recess for exposing a sample to the membrane.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
77 words
An electrochemical sensor comprising: electrochemical means for detecting an analyte in a sample; a semipermeable membrane covering said electrochemical means, said membrane is permeable to said analyte and to species necessary for the functioning of said electrochemical means; and a cover member covering said semipermeable membrane and having a recess formed therein, said recess having a perimeter facing the membrane and at least one sample passageway connected to the recess for exposing a sample to the membrane.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
A sensor as recited in claim 25, said sensor further comprising: a gasket contacting the recess perimeter and the membrane to form a seal therebetween, the gasket, cover member, and membrane defining a sample chamber.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
A sensor as recited in claim 26, said sample chamber having a volume of from 1 μL to 10 L.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
75 words
A solid-state planar electrochemical sensor comprising: an electrically nonconductive substrate; electrochemical means adhered to said substrate for detecting an analyte in a test sample; a semipermeable membrane covering provided on said electrochemical means, said membrane is permeable to said analyte; and a cover member covering said membrane and having a recess formed therein, said recess having a perimeter facing the membrane to define a sample chamber and at least one passageway connected to the recess.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
75 words
A solid-state planar electrochemical sensor comprising: an electrically nonconductive substrate; electrochemical means adhered to said substrate for detecting an analyte in a test sample; a semipermeable membrane covering provided on said electrochemical means, said membrane is permeable to said analyte; and a cover member covering said membrane and having a recess formed therein, said recess having a perimeter facing the membrane to define a sample chamber and at least one passageway connected to the recess.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
A sensor as recited in claim 28, said sample chamber having a volume of from 1 L to 10 μL.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-03-27 | 1998-09-26 | 1999-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-03-27 | 2002-09-26 | 2003-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-03-27 | 2006-09-26 | 2007-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |