Readout Electrode Surface Area and Impedance Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric potential measuring devices face limitations in improving evaluation quality, particularly in measuring feeble cell action potentials with high resolution and low noise, due to increased electrode impedance and background noise.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates readout electrodes with a covered and opened region, where the insulating or metal member is stacked, featuring high and low portions to increase the effective surface area, and employs electrochemical oxidation-reduction cycles to remove impurities and form uneven surfaces, thereby reducing impedance and noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the electrode surface area is increased to reduce impedance, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases due to the need for insulating members and multi-step manufacturing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a planar electrode surface to a three-dimensional surface with high and low portions, effectively increasing the electrode surface area without expanding the device footprint. This dimensional change allows greater surface area for improved measurement precision while maintaining a compact device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode surface is divided into regions with different properties: high portions with increased surface area for enhanced signal detection, low portions for fluid access, and covered regions with insulating members for electrical isolation. This local differentiation optimizes measurement precision in specific areas while managing overall device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If the electrode surface is made uneven with high and low portions to increase effective surface area, then the signal-to-noise ratio improves, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating members are positioned and fixed on the electrode surface before the electrochemical oxidation-reduction cycles create the high and low portions. This preliminary action ensures that the uneven surface formation occurs in controlled regions, reducing manufacturing precision requirements by preventing material migration to incorrect areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses electrochemical oxidation-reduction cycles to transform the electrode surface morphology, changing physical parameters (surface height, roughness) through chemical processes rather than mechanical machining. This approach achieves the desired high and low portions with relaxed manufacturing precision requirements compared to traditional mechanical methods.
3Measurement precision
If electrochemical oxidation-reduction cycles are performed to remove impurities and form uneven surfaces, then the evaluation quality improves, but the manufacturing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrochemical oxidation-reduction cycles are performed periodically to progressively remove impurities and form the uneven surface. By repeating cyclical electrochemical treatments, the process achieves thorough purification and surface structuring efficiently, balancing evaluation quality improvement with reasonable manufacturing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrochemical oxidation-reduction cycles continuously act on the electrode surface throughout the manufacturing process, simultaneously removing impurities and forming the desired uneven morphology. This continuous dual-action process maximizes the utility of the manufacturing time by achieving multiple objectives in one operation.
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 the evaluation quality by lowering electrode impedance, improving the signal-to-noise ratio, and enabling the measurement of feeble cell action potentials with high resolution and low noise.
Implementation Method 1
an electric potential measuring device in which minute readout electrodes are arranged in an array form and an electric potential generated at the interface between the readout electrode and a solution is electrochemically measured
Implementation Method 2
performing an electrochemical oxidation-reduction cycle on the readout electrode having the opened region
Data Source
AI summary
To provide an electric potential measuring device that can further improve evaluation quality. Provided is an electric potential measuring device including a plurality of readout electrodes arranged in an array form and each configured to detect an electric potential of an action potential generation point generated by an action of a cell, an insulating member, a reference electrode configured to detect a reference potential, and an amplification section configured to obtain a potential difference between a detected electric potential based on the readout electrode and a detected electric potential based on the reference electrode, in which the readout electrode has a covered region where the insulating member is stacked on the readout electrode and an opened region where the insulating member is not stacked on the readout electrode, and the readout electrode has, in the opened region, at least one high portion with high height and/or at least one low portion with low height, with a stacking surface of the readout electrode with the insulating member as a standard.