Multiplexed Biosensor Array With Shared Electrodes and Reusable Fluidics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biosensors for biomarker detection are large, costly, generate significant waste, and are limited by the space occupied by electrical tracks and electrodes, hindering multiplexed analysis and increasing manufacturing complexity.
Innovation Solution
A biosensor system comprising a reusable array of individually addressable electrochemical cells with shared counter and reference electrodes, combined with a disposable fluidic component made of porous material, allowing for compact design and reduced waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional three-electrode electrochemical cell configuration is used with independent electrodes for each cell, then each cell can be individually addressable, but the number of required electrical connections increases three times the number of cells, greatly limiting the array size and increasing manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the counter electrode and reference electrode into a single shared electrode structure that serves all working electrodes simultaneously. This combining approach reduces the connection requirement from three connections per cell to just one connection per working electrode, while maintaining individual cell addressability through the shared electrode architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared counter/reference electrode performs multiple functions for multiple working electrodes at the same time. This universal electrode structure provides both counter and reference functions across all cells in the array, eliminating the need for separate dedicated electrodes for each cell and significantly reducing overall connection complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If both the fluidic component and the array of transducers are designed as disposable components, then the system is simple to manufacture, but significant waste is generated after each test
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into two distinct parts: a reusable electrochemical cell array that can be manufactured once and used multiple times, and disposable fluidic components or samples that are consumed during each test. This segmentation allows the expensive transducer array to be preserved while only the consumable fluidic parts are discarded, significantly reducing waste compared to making the entire system disposable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a strategy where the electrochemical cell array is recovered and reused across multiple tests, while only the fluidic components are discarded after single use. This selective discarding and recovery approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while dramatically reducing material waste and operational costs.
3Volume of moving object
If the array of electrochemical cells is designed to be compact, then the device size is reduced, but the space occupied by electrical tracks and contact pads limits the array size that can be defined on one substrate
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the counter and reference electrodes into a shared structure, the patent reduces the total electrical track area required on the substrate. Instead of needing separate tracks for three electrodes per cell, the shared electrode configuration requires fewer tracks, allowing more cells to be packed into a compact array on the same substrate area.
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
The system achieves multiplexed and quick biomarker detection with reduced waste and cost, enabling efficient analysis of multiple samples or biomarkers in a compact format.
Implementation Method 1
a disposable fluidic component made of porous material, allowing for compact design
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
The invention refers to a biosensor system for quick and multiplexed detection of biomarkers present in biological fluids. The biosensor system comprises a reusable array of at least two individual electrochemical cells (1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e) coupled to a disposable fluidic component. Each cell can be addressed individually. The array includes a set of working electrodes (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) and at least one shared counter/reference electrode (5) in common for all the electrochemical cells, such that each electrochemical cell includes one working electrode and the shared counter/reference electrode. Preferably, the system includes a disposable paper component (8) having a reactive microfluidic component distributed in fluidic channels (9), isolated by hydrophobic barriers (10). The paper component (8) is operatively aligned with the array of electrochemical cells for the electrochemical detection by means of a polymeric cartridge. The multiplexed biosensor system features a reduced size, and that allows reduction of analysis costs and material waste.