Implantable Analyte Sensor Electrodes With Edge Insulation for Gas Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing implantable sensor elements for analyte detection in body fluids face issues with unwanted, increased, or inhomogeneous gas formation at electrodes, leading to potential electrode destruction and calibration failures due to limited redox material availability and biocompatibility concerns.
Innovation Solution
The use of electrode geometries with electrically insulating material covering corners and edges to achieve a more homogeneous gas formation and distribution, thereby improving electrode stability and biocompatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional electrode geometries are used without insulating material covering corners and edges, then the sensor element can be manufactured with simpler processes, but gas formation becomes inhomogeneous leading to electrode destruction and calibration failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies electrically insulating material selectively to specific locations (corners and edges) of the electrode geometry. This local modification creates non-uniform electric field distribution that prevents gas accumulation at critical points, thereby improving electrode stability without requiring complete redesign of the entire electrode structure
Solution Approach 2:
The electrically insulating material acts as an intermediary element between the electrode and the surrounding environment. It modifies the electric field distribution in the vicinity of corners and edges, preventing direct gas formation at these locations and redirecting gas formation to safer areas, thus protecting the electrode from destruction
2Reliability
If redox material is used at the counter electrode to balance detection reaction current, then the electric circuit can be closed, but gas formation increases leading to potential electrode destruction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts or removes the harmful effect of gas formation from critical electrode areas by using insulating material to block corners and edges. This allows the redox material to continue functioning at the counter electrode for circuit closure, while the gas formation is redirected away from locations where it would cause electrode destruction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful gas formation byproducts of redox reactions into a controlled phenomenon. By using insulating material to redirect gas formation to non-critical areas, the gas that would otherwise destroy the electrode is instead channeled to safe locations, allowing the redox material to continue its useful function of balancing the detection reaction current
3Reliability
If electrode corners and edges are exposed without insulating material, then gas formation occurs at these locations causing inhomogeneous distribution, but covering them with insulating material requires additional manufacturing steps
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly insulating the entire electrode surface, the patent applies insulating material only to specific critical locations (corners and edges) where gas formation would be most harmful. This localized approach achieves homogeneous gas formation distribution while minimizing the extent of modification required, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity compared to complete surface insulation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances gas formation homogeneity, reduces electrode destruction risks, and extends sensor element lifespan by allowing for improved gas removal through diffusion processes, maintaining consistent electrode potentials and biocompatibility.
Implementation Method 1
corners and/or edges of the electrodes covered with an electrically insulating material to provide a more homogeneous distribution of an electric field
Implementation Method 2
allowing for an improved removal of this gas formation, such as by diffusion processes
Implementation Method 3
the WE includes at least one detector substance adapted to perform an oxidation reaction or a reduction reaction with the analyte of interest
Implementation Method 4
the CE typically provides a reduction reaction to close the electric circuit
Data Source
AI summary
Sensor elements are provided for determining at least one analyte concentration in a body fluid. The sensor elements are at least partially implantable into a body tissue and have a substrate and at least two electrodes. One electrode is a working electrode having at least one conductive pad applied to the substrate and at least one electrically conductive sensor material is applied to the conductive pad that includes at least one detector substance adapted to perform an electrically detectable electrochemical detection reaction with the analyte. Another electrode is a counter electrode having at least one counter electrode conductive pad applied to the substrate. The sensor elements also include at least one electrically insulating material that surrounds at least the counter electrode on all sides, where a height of the electrically insulating material at least equals a height of the counter electrode conductive pad.