Biosensor and ultrasonic method of making a biosensor
View Patent ↗There is provided a test strip for testing a fluid sample, including a sample cavity configured to receive the fluid sample and an ultrasonically-spread reagent layer arranged on at least one surface of the sample cavity. There is also provided a method for making a biosensor, including providing a substrate having a region for receiving a sample; dispensing a liquid substance on at least one surface of the region for receiving a sample; and subjecting the substrate to ultrasonic vibrations to quickly and uniformly spread the liquid substance on the at least one surface of the region for receiving a sample.
1. A method for making a biosensor, comprising the steps of:
providing a substrate having a region for receiving a sample;
dispensing a liquid substance on a surface of the region for receiving a sample; and
applying ultrasonic vibrations at an angle of about 60-90 degrees to the bottom of the substrate to quickly and uniformly spread the liquid substance on the surface of the region for receiving a sample.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing step comprises providing the substrate with a sample cavity having a volume between about 0.0001 mL and 1 mL.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing step comprises providing the substrate with a sample cavity having a volume between about 0.0001 mL and 0.001 mL.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing step comprises dispensing at least one droplet of a reagent including an enzyme specific for glucose.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing step comprises dispensing at least one droplet of a reagent including an electron mediator.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic vibration are applied at a frequency between about 18 kHz and 50 kHz.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the ultrasonic vibrations are applied at a frequency of about 20 kHz.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the ultrasonic vibrations are applied at a frequency of about 40 kHz.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic vibrations are applied using an ultrasonic horn.
10. A method for manufacturing a plurality of biosensors, comprising:
arranging a plurality of test strip substrates into an array;
providing each test strip substrate in the array with a sample cavity;
dispensing a liquid solution on a surface of the sample cavity of each test strip in the array; and
subjecting the sample cavity of each test strip in the array to ultrasonic vibrations to quickly and uniformly spread the liquid solution on the surface of the sample cavity of each test strip in the array, wherein the ultrasonic vibrations are applied at an angle of about 60-90 degrees to the bottom of the sample cavity of each test strip in the array.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the providing step comprises providing each test strip in the array with a sample cavity having a volume between about 0.0001 mL and 1 mL.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the providing step comprises providing each test strip in the array with a sample cavity having a volume between about 0.0001 mL and 0.001 mL.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the dispensing step comprises dispensing a reagent on a bottom surface of the sample cavity of each test strip in the array, the reagent including an enzyme specific for glucose.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the dispensing step comprises dispensing a reagent on a bottom surface of the sample cavity of each test strip in the array, the reagent including an electron mediator.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the subjecting step comprises subjecting the sample cavity of each test strip in the array to ultrasonic vibrations having a frequency between about 18 kHz and 50 kHz.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the subjecting step comprises subjecting the sample cavity of each test strip in the array to ultrasonic vibrations having a frequency of about 20 kHz.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the subjecting step comprises subjecting the sample cavity of each test strip in the array to ultrasonic vibrations having a frequency of about 40 kHz.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the subjecting step comprises subjecting the sample cavity of each test strip in the array to ultrasonic vibrations by passing the array of test strips over an ultrasonic horn.
19. A method for making a plurality of test strips, comprising the steps of:
arranging a plurality of test strips into an array, each test strip comprising (1) a base layer, (2) a spacer layer arranged on the base layer, and (3) a sample cavity defined by the base and spacer layers;
dispensing a liquid reagent layer on a surface of the sample cavity; and
passing the array over an ultrasonic generator to subject the sample cavity of each test strip to ultrasonic vibrations to quickly and uniformly spread the liquid reagent layer, and wherein the passing step comprises subjecting the sample cavity of each test strip in the array to ultrasonic vibrations that are between about 60-90 degrees to the surface of the sample cavity.
20. The method of claim 19 , comprising the step of passing the array over, under, or through drying equipment to dry the ultrasonically spread liquid reagent layer.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the arranging step comprises:
forming a plurality of electrodes on the base layer of each test strip, the plurality of electrodes comprising a working electrode, a counter electrode, and at least one fill-detect electrode; and
forming a plurality of electrical contacts on the base layer of each test strip, the plurality of electrical contacts being electrically connected to the plurality of electrodes.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the passing step comprises subjecting the sample cavity of each test strip in the array to ultrasonic vibrations having a frequency between about 18 kHz and 50 kHz.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the passing step comprises subjecting the sample cavity of each test strip in the array to ultrasonic vibrations having a frequency between about 20 kHz and 40 kHz.
24. The method of claim 19 , wherein the dispensing step comprises dispensing a liquid reagent layer including an enzyme specific for glucose and an electron mediator.
25. The method of claim 19 , wherein the passing step comprises subjecting the sample cavity of each test strip in the array to ultrasonic vibrations having a frequency between about 18 kHz and 50 kHz.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the passing step comprises subjecting the sample cavity of each test strip in the array to ultrasonic vibrations having a frequency of about 20 kHz.
27. The method of claim 25 , wherein the passing step comprises subjecting the sample cavity of each test strip in the array to ultrasonic vibrations having a frequency of about 40 kHz.