U.S. patent application number 11/033636 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-13 for electric-current biosensor.
Invention is credited to Ching-Hsin Cho.
Application Number | 20060151323 11/033636 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36652172 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060151323 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cho; Ching-Hsin |
July 13, 2006 |
ELECTRIC-CURRENT BIOSENSOR
Abstract
An electric-current biosensor has first and second supports, a
pair of positive and negative electrodes on the first supports, an
activity area covers the positive and negative electrodes, a pair
of testing ports on two sides of the second support, and an
electrode film mating with the activity area. The pair of testing
ports force the sample to flow into the activity area and stops the
sample from flowing outside the support along the surface
thereof.
Inventors: |
Cho; Ching-Hsin; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Family ID: |
36652172 |
Appl. No.: |
11/033636 |
Filed: |
January 13, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
204/403.04 ;
204/403.02 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C12Q 1/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
204/403.04 ;
204/403.02 |
International
Class: |
G01N 33/487 20060101
G01N033/487; C12Q 1/00 20060101 C12Q001/00 |
Claims
1. An electric-current biosensor, comprising: a support including a
first support and a second support, said second support being
integrally connected to said first support along a folding line,
wherein the second support includes a pair of testing ports formed
at two sides thereof and extending exclusively through the
thickness of said second support; a pair of positive and negative
co-planar electrodes formed on the first support, the positive
electrode having a positive electrode film and a positive
conductive film, and the negative electrode having a negative
electrode film and a negative conductive film; an activity area
formed on the first support, said activity area covering a portion
of the pair of positive and negative electrode films; a mating
activity area formed at said second support between said testing
ports; an electrode film formed on the second support between said
testing ports; and a pair of adhesive portions formed at said
second support in non-overlapping relationship in the said mating
activity area; said electrode film being positioned in close
proximity to said activity area as the result of folding said
support along said folding line, and being maintained above the
pair of positive and negative electrode films in overlapping
relationship therewith by the adhesive connection of said pair of
adhesive portions with said first support.
2. The electric-current biosensor as in claim 1, wherein the first
support is longer than the second support.
3. The electric-current biosensor as in claim 1, wherein a unit
area of the positive electrode film is larger than that of the
positive conductive film.
4. The electric-current biosensor as in claim 1, wherein a unit
area of the negative electrode film is larger than that of the
negative conductive film.
5-12. (canceled)
13. The electric-current biosensor as in claim 1, wherein the
electrode film on the second support is further applied with said
mating activity area having the composition similar to the
composition of the activity area.
14. (canceled)
15. The electric-current biosensor as in claim 1, wherein the
adhesive portions are disposed at opposite sides of the activity
area.
16. The electric-current biosensor as in claim 1, wherein the pair
of adhesive portions is formed of a twin adhesive with a height of
approximately 0.3 mm on an insulating base.
17. An electric-current biosensor, comprising: a first support, a
second support integrally connected with the first support along a
folding line, said secured support including a pair of testing
ports at both sides thereof, a pair of positive and negative
electrodes formed on the first support, the positive electrode
having a positive electrode film and a positive conductive film,
and the negative electrode having a negative electrode film and a
negative conductive film, an activity area formed on the first
support and covering a portion of the pair of positive and negative
electrode films; and an electrode film formed on the second support
between the pair of testing ports, said electrode film being
aligned with the activity area when said electric-current biosensor
is folded along said folding line, wherein the pair of testing
ports leaves parts of the activity area exposed when the first
support covers the second support.
18. The electric-current biosensor as in claim 17, further
comprising an adhesive layer disposed adjacently to the electrode
film on the second support to adhere to the first support.
19. The electric-current biosensor as in claim 18, wherein the
adhesive layer includes an approximately 0.3 mm double-sided
adhesive tape provided with an insulating base.
20. The electric-current biosensor as in claim 17, wherein the
first support is longer than the second support, and wherein
another end of the second support is provided with an operating
area.
21. The electric-current biosensor as in claim 17, wherein the
activity area contains a composition including an enzyme, an enzyme
protective agent, a conductive medium, a surfactant, a buffer
solution, and water.
22. The electric-current biosensor as in claim 21, wherein the
enzyme is glucose oxidase.
23. The electric-current biosensor as in claim 21, wherein the
enzyme protective agent is selected from the group consisting of
albumin, dextrin, dextran, and amino acid.
24. The electric-current biosensor as in claim 21, wherein the
conductive medium is potassium.
25. The electric-current biosensor as in claim 21, wherein the
surfactant is selected from the group consisting of TritonX-100,
TritonX-405, TritonX-114, sodium lauryl sulfate,
polyoxyethylenesorbitan monolaurate (Tween20), Tween40, Tween60,
Tween80, water surfactant, and detergent.
26. The electric-current biosensor as in claim 21, wherein the
buffer solution is phosphate buffer solution.
27. The electric-current biosensor as in claim 21, wherein the
water is distilled water.
28. The electric-current biosensor as in claims 21, wherein the
electrode film on the second support is applied with a composition
similar to that of the activity area.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an electric-current
biosensor, and particularly to an electric-current biosensor that
can be operated more easily to avoid the inconvenience of having to
aim samples towards test holes, so that the samples can be guided
more easily and effectively into the activity area for obtaining an
accurate testing value.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] The simplest current method of determining blood glucose
levels uses an electric-current biosensor, later applying the
sample (such as blood) onto an electric-current biosensor. The
electric-current biosensor allows an oxidation-reduction reaction
to take place in the sample, thereby producing electric ions. The
ions accumulate into an electric current on the electric-current
biosensor. An electric-current biosensor is inserted into a measure
meter for comparing and analyzing the current, thereby determining
the blood glucose concentration.
[0005] Please refer to FIG. 3, which illustrates an
electric-current biosensor of the prior art. The electric-current
biosensor has an activity area 44 and conductive electrodes 46,
which form the structure of a small contact area, thereby creating
a small transient current. Without a sufficient current the measure
meter cannot perform value comparing or analysis, and the measuring
accuracy is affected.
[0006] Please refer to FIG. 4, which shows an improved
electric-current biosensor of another prior art. The improved
electric-current biosensor is designed to overcome the
disadvantages caused by the small reaction area as seen in FIG. 3.
The improved electric-current biosensor provides a larger electrode
contacting area for obtaining an accurate reading. The biosensor
has a support 48, which consists of a second support 52 covering a
part of a first support 50. The first support 50 has a positive
electrode 54, a negative electrode 56 and an activity area 58. The
activity area 58 covers a portion of the positive electrode 54 and
the negative electrode 56. The second support 52 has a circle
testing port 60 and an electrode film 62. The testing port 60
corresponds to the activity area 58. The electrode film 62 is
formed on the periphery around the testing port 60. When processing
measurements, the first support 50 is covered by the second support
52 and the blood sample is applied onto the activity area 58. In
this relative art the electrodes of the first support 50 and the
second support 52 overlap each other to create a larger transient
current, thereby improving the accuracy of the measure meter.
[0007] However, when the operator applies the blood sample into the
testing port for measuring the blood glucose concentration, it
requires strenuous effort to aim the sample accurately into the
testing port. If this is not done properly, the sample will be
forced outside the testing port by gravity, thereby wasting samples
and sometimes resulting in medical personal having insufficient
samples to test. Therefore the measure meter cannot achieve a
sufficient measuring current quickly enough to perform value
comparing and analyzing.
[0008] Although the related art raises the accuracy of blood
glucose determination, the electric-current biosensor of the
related art still has some inconveniences and disadvantages that
can be improved upon. The inventor, after investigation and
research, thus provides the present invention of logical design for
improving the above-mentioned imperfections.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] An objective of the present invention is to provide an
electric-current biosensor that has a pair of testing ports formed
on two sides thereof which is more convenient for users.
[0010] Another objective of the present invention is to provide an
electric-current biosensor that is tilted slightly, therefore
ensuring the sample will flow into the testing port to avoid
wasting samples.
[0011] Another objective of the present invention is to provide an
electric-current biosensor that increases the transient electric
current and improves the accuracy of blood glucose testing.
[0012] In order to achieve the above objectives, the present
invention provides an electric-current biosensor, which comprises a
support, a pair of positive and negative electrodes, an activity
area, and an electrode film. The support has a first support and a
second support covered adhesively on the first support, wherein the
second support is concaved with a pair of testing ports on two
sides thereof. The pair of positive and negative electrodes is
disposed on the first support. The pair of positive and negative
electrodes are co-planar. The positive electrode has a positive
electrode film and a positive conductive film. The negative
electrode has a negative electrode film and a negative conductive
film. The activity area is formed on the first support and is
covered with the pair of positive and negative electrode films. The
electrode film is formed on the second support and corresponds to
the activity area. The electrode film is covered with the pair of
positive and negative electrode films. The pair of testing ports
mate with the activity area and are exposed outside a part of the
activity area when the first support is covered by the second
support.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The invention will be better understood and objectives other
than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration
is given to the following detailed description thereof. The
description makes reference to the attached drawings, wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a top view of an unfolded electrical-current
biosensor according to the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a top view of a folded electrical-current
biosensor according to the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a top view of an unfolded electrical-current
biosensor of a related art; and
[0017] FIG. 4 is a side view of an unfolded electrical-current
biosensor of another related art.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] Please refer to the FIG. 1 in which the top view of an
unfolded electrical-current biosensor according to the present
invention is illustrated. The present invention provides an
electric-current biosensor comprised of a support 10, a pair of
positive and negative electrodes 18, 20, an activity area 30, and
an electrode film 32.
[0019] The support 12 has a folding line 10 formed thereon to
divide into a first support 14 and a second support 16. The first
support 14 is longer than the second support 16. The folding line
10 is between the first support 14 and the second support 16 for
folding and covering the second support 16 on the first support
14.
[0020] The first support 14 is formed with a positive electrode 18
and a negative electrode 20 which are coplanar. The positive
electrode 18 and the negative electrode 20 are separated and do not
overlap. The positive electrode 18 has a positive electrode film 22
and a positive conductive film 24. A unit of the positive electrode
film 22 is larger than that of the positive conductive film 24. The
negative electrode 20 has a negative electrode film 26 and a
negative conductive film 28. A unit of the negative electrode film
26 is larger than that of the negative conductive film 28.
[0021] The activity area 30 is on the positive electrode film 22
and the negative electrode film 26. The composition of the activity
area 30 accords to the item being measuring, the blood glucose, and
consists of enzyme, enzyme protective agent, a conductive medium,
surfactant, buffer solution, and water. Each composition is
instanced as followed:
[0022] (1) Enzyme, such as glucose oxidase, etc.;
[0023] (2) Enzyme protective agent, such as albumin, dextrin,
dextran, amino acid, etc.;
[0024] (3) A conductive medium, such as potassium, etc.;
[0025] (4) A surfactant, such as TritonX-100, TritonX-405,
TritonX-114, sodium lauryl sulfate, polyoxyethylenesorbitan
monolaurate (Tween 20), Tween 40, Tween 60, Tween 80, another water
surfactant, or detergent;
[0026] (5) A buffer solution, i.e. slats, such as phosphate buffer
solution, etc.; and
Water, such as distilled water.
[0027] The electrode film 32 is formed on the second support 16 and
corresponds to the activity area 30. The electrode film 32 is
covered with the pair of positive and negative electrode films 22
and 26. The electrode film 32 is applied to a mating activity area
34 by spreading. The mating activity area 34 has the same
composition as the activity area 30.
[0028] The second support 16 is concaved with a pair of
semicircular testing ports 36 and 38 on two sides thereof, which
correspond to the activity area 30. An adhesive layer 40 is
disposed on the second support 16 to bond with the first and second
supports 14 and 16 together. The adhesive layer 40 is disposed on
two sides of the activity area 30, and does not cover the mating
activity area 34, the testing ports 36 and 38 or a portion of the
free end of the second support 16. The portion of the free end of
the second support 16 is defined as an operating area 42. In this
preferred embodiment, the adhesive layer 40 is a twin adhesive with
a height of approximately 0.3 mm, which has an insulating base, so
that the positive and negative electrodes 18 and 20 on the first
support 14 do not cause a short circuit of the biosensor when the
electrode film 32 on the second support 16 covers the first support
14.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 2, when using the electric-current
biosensor, the support 12 is folded along the folding line 10, and
the second support 16 covers the first support 14. The pair of
testing ports 36 and 38 of the second support 16 mate with the
activity area 30 and are exposed outside a part of the activity
area 30. The electrode film 32 overlaps above the positive
electrode film 22 and the negative electrode film 26. The first and
second supports 14 and 16 are joined together by the adhesive layer
40.
[0030] When measuring the blood glucose, the operator drops an
appropriate amount of sample into one of the testing ports 36 or
38. The sample is then forced by gravity to flow into the activity
area 30, it then diffuses and, because of the pressure, the sample
oxidates within the activity area 30 quickly and produces electric
ions. The electric ions move between the positive electrode 18 and
the negative electrode 20. Finally the biosensor further cooperates
with a measure meter to compare and analyze the current for
determining the blood glucose concentration.
[0031] A summary of the characteristics and advantages of the
electric-current biosensor, is as follows:
[0032] The present invention improves upon the disadvantages of the
prior art. The circle testing port of the related art causes the
sample to flow outside of the testing area, wasting samples and not
providing accurate measurements. Especially when the sample is not
applied properly in the testing port of the prior art, the sample
will be pulled by gravity and will flow outside the support along
the surface thereof because the biosensor is titled. The present
invention forces the sample to flow into the activity area fully
and raises the electrical current, thereby improving the accuracy
of the measure meter.
[0033] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be
understood that the invention is not limited to the details
thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have been
suggested in the foregoing description, and others will occur to
those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such
substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within
the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *