ES1220194U - ANALYSIS DEVICE FOR A LIQUID SAMPLE (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

An analysis device for a liquid sample, comprising: a microfluidic analysis channel (15) made of an absorbent material with a suitable porosity allowing a capillary flow of at least one liquid sample, apt to generate electricity; at least one receiving absorbent region (11) coupled to said microfluidic analysis channel (15); at least one collecting absorbent region (12) coupled to said microfluidic analysis channel (15); a cathode zone (13) formed by at least one cathode coupled to said microfluidic analysis channel (15); an anodic zone (14) formed by at least one anode coupled to said microfluidic analysis channel (15); and at least one detection zone (21) with at least one sensor connected to said microfluidic analysis channel (15), wherein each receiving absorbent region (11) and each collecting absorbent region (12) are connected to the microfluidic analysis channel (15), so that when a liquid sample is deposited in the receiving absorbent region (11), the sample flows through capillary action through the microfluidic analysis channel (15) to reach the collecting absorbent region (12) where it is absorbed, and wherein the sensor interacts with the liquid sample to be tested, when said sample flows by capillarity through the microfluidic analysis channel (15). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

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ANALYSIS DEVICE FOR A LIQUID SAMPLE

Technical field

The present invention is generally directed to the field of analysis devices. In particular, this invention refers to an analysis device for a liquid sample. Although preferably the sample to be analyzed is liquid, and may contain suspended particles, the invention can also analyze a sample of a gas or a gel.

State of the art

A fuel cell or cell, also known as a fuel cell, is an electrochemical device that converts the chemical energy of a fuel into electrical energy, said conversion taking place whenever the fuel is supplied to the cell. These devices have been developed for more than a decade and have recently begun to find opportunities in, for example, medical applications.

The fuel cells differ from conventional batteries in that the fuel cells allow the continuous replenishment of the reagents consumed, that is, the generation of electricity from an external source of fuel and oxygen, as opposed to the limited storage capacity of energy a battery has. In addition, the electrodes in a battery react and change according to how it is charged or discharged, while the electrodes of a fuel cell are catalytic and relatively stable. Likewise, conventional batteries consume solid reagents, and once exhausted, they must be discarded or recharged with electricity. In general, in a fuel cell the reagent (s) flow inwards and the products of the reaction flow outwards. This flow of reagent (s) is usually obtained using, for example, external pumps, which can result in a complex and expensive configuration of the fuel cell.

For example, US 2009092882 A1 (Kjeang E. et al.) Discloses an architecture of a microfluidic fuel cell with flow through the electrodes. The anode and cathode electrodes are porous and comprise a network of interstitial pores. A virtual insulator is located between the electrodes, in an electrolytic channel. The virtual insulator consists of a collaminar flow of an electrolyte. An inlet directs substantially all the flow of the reactive liquid through the porous electrode. This configuration has the disadvantage that it requires means,

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eg an external pump, to provide the reactive liquid through the inlet for the fuel cell to function.

Recently, it has been reported that the integration of a micro-direct methanol fuel cell can provide both successful pumping and electrical power to a microfluidic platform [JP Esquivel, et al., "Fuel cell powered microfluidic platform for lab on a chip applications ", Lab on a Chip (2011) 12, 74-79], The electrochemical reactions that take place in the fuel cell generate CO2, which is normally considered a waste without any use. In this case, however, CO2 it is accumulated and used to pump a fluid in the microfluidic platform.Therefore, the pumping of a fluid, which can be a reagent of a fuel cell, is obtained without the need of an external pump, so it is necessary to use a Methanol fuel cell for this purpose, so, in this case, a complex and expensive configuration is also obtained In addition, the use of a first fuel cell to generate a flow of a reaction Vo towards a second fuel cell would lead to a complex system.

US 2012288961 describes a capillarity based device that makes use of a flow measurement element and / or a volume measurement characteristic of a porous membrane to perform microfluidic analyzes.

However, none of the cited prior art documents discloses an analysis device that includes a single microfluidic analysis channel provided both the analysis and detection functions.

Brief Description of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention provide an analysis device for a liquid sample, preferably a biological sample such as blood, urine, sweat, saliva, tears, sperm, milk, juice, alcoholic beverages, water, etc., comprising an analysis channel microfluidic made of an absorbent material with adequate porosity allowing a capillary flow of at least one liquid sample capable of generating electricity; a receiving absorbent region or zone coupled to said microfluidic analysis channel; a collecting absorbent region or zone coupled to said microfluidic analysis channel; a cathodic zone formed by at least one cathode coupled to said microfluidic analysis channel; an anodic zone formed by at least one anode coupled to said channel of

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microfluidic analysis; and a detection zone with at least one sensor connected to said microfluidic analysis channel.

In the proposed analysis device, the receiving absorbent region and the collecting absorbent region are connected to the microfluidic analysis channel, so that when a liquid sample is deposited in the receiving absorbent region, the liquid sample flows by capillary action through the channel of Microfluidic analysis to reach the collecting absorbent region where it is absorbed.

In addition, the sensor in the detection zone interacts with the liquid sample to be tested, or analyzed, when said sample flows capillary through the microfluidic analysis channel.

By having a single microfluidic analysis channel, the proposed analysis device allows to reduce the volume of the liquid sample required both to generate and to carry out the analysis. In addition, it comprises a simplified design that requires a smaller amount of material needed for its manufacture (compared to other analysis devices with different microfluidic channels). It also simplifies the manufacturing process, which leads to greater profitability of the analysis device.

The analysis device may comprise more than one receiving absorbent region coupled to the microfluidic analysis channel, in which case the different receiving absorbent regions may be completely independent or may be separate regions and located on the same physical support, also called subregions in this application for patent.

In addition, the receiving and collecting absorbent regions may be located at different heights, which facilitate capillary flow through the microfluidic analysis channel.

In the present invention the term "suitable for generating electricity" is understood as any fluid comprising at least one oxidizing or reducing substance, such that the fluid can interact with one of the cathodes or anodes for generating electricity. Preferably, the fluid is a liquid, although it may contain suspended particles, or be a gas or a gel.

In addition to the appropriate flow for generating electricity, the analysis device of the present invention can also incorporate at least one electrolytic fluid in the receiving region (s) coupled to the microfluidic analysis channel. Preferably, this fluid

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Electrolytic is located in a receiving region other than the one or those used to deposit a fluid capable of generating electricity.

The analysis device of the present invention has the advantage that the flow of fluids capable of generating electricity, that is to say that the flow of reagents is obtained by capillary action and / or diffusion, eliminating the need to use, for example, pumps or other means to circulate these reagents. In this sense, one of the key points of the analysis device is that the absorption of the collecting absorbent region causes a continuation in the flow by capillary action once the microfluidic analysis channel has become saturated. The proposed analysis device is very simple and can be very cheap, since the microfluidic analysis channel and the absorbent regions can be manufactured from materials that are abundant, cheap and biodegradable, such as fiber-based materials and cellulose, like paper.

Preferably, the microfluidic analysis channel may comprise mostly a material independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrophilic polymer, textile fiber, glass fiber, cellulose and nitrocellulose; it is especially preferable that said material is biodegradable.

Also, the receiving and collecting absorbent regions are preferably made of a material selected from a paper-based material, a fiber-based material and a nitrocellulose-based material.

In other embodiments of the present invention, any cathode and any anode coupled to the microfluidic analysis channel may comprise a material selected primarily from the group consisting of noble metals, non-noble metals, enzymes and bacteria. In the event that any of the electrodes comprises enzymes or bacteria, the pH of the medium can be acidic, basic or neutral depending on the stability of said enzymes or bacteria at different pH. Preferably, the pH of the medium is one in which both the metals, enzymes or bacteria present in any of the electrodes have greater stability and catalytic activity. To obtain this optimum pH, it is possible to immobilize suitable substances inside the fuel cell.

Preferably, the analysis device as described in the present invention may be a test strip for analysis, preferably a test strip known as a "lateral flow test strip".

In one embodiment, the analysis device also includes a conductive track (or a first conductive track) to connect the anodic zone and the cathodic zone of the device

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analysis with at least one electronic circuit. The electronic circuit is connected by another conductive track (or a second conductive track) to the sensor included in said detection zone. The electronic circuit is also connected to the display system to display the results of the analysis.

The electronic circuit and the display system can be integrated in a separate unit that can be connected by the conductive tracks, mentioned previously, to the analysis device.

The sensor included in the detection zone may be an electrochemical, optical, piezoelectric, magnetic, surface plasmon resonance, sonic acoustic wave or mass spectroscopy sensor.

In one embodiment, the sensor may be formed by two separate components, a first component that operates as a detector and a second component that operates as a transducer. Both components may be included in the analysis device or alternatively, the second component operating as a transducer may be included in said independent unit.

In other embodiments of the invention, each electrochemical sensor of the analysis device may be based on carbon electrodes. This type of material for electrochemical sensors also contributes significantly to making the analysis device of the invention more biodegradable.

In other embodiments of the invention, the electronic circuit of the analysis device may be a silicon-based microelectronic circuit or a printed electronic circuit. Additionally, the display system may be a screen, for example a screen printed on paper, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) screen, or an electrochromic screen.

In other embodiments of the invention, the conductive tracks of the analysis device may be made of carbon. This type of material for the conductive tracks allows the analysis device to be highly biodegradable.

Even in other embodiments of the invention, the analysis device further includes a wireless communication module (Bluetooth, NFC, RF, etc.) to communicate the results of an analysis performed by the analysis device to an external receiver.

Brief description of the figures

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The foregoing and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which should be taken by way of illustration and not limitation, in which:

Figures 1a-1d: schematic representations of a top view of a fuel cell that can be used in an analysis device, according to different embodiments.

Figures 2a-2c: schematic representations of a top view of a lateral flow test strip according to different embodiments in which two microfluidic channels are used.

Figure 3a: Schematic representation of catholyte and anolyte fluids flowing through a microfluidic channel, as can be seen in Figure 1b.

Figure 3b: schematic representation of a 3D configuration of a microfluidic channel and coupled cathodic and anodic areas, through which catholyte and anolyte fluids flow.

Figure 3c: Schematic representation of catholyte, anolyte and electrolyte fluids flowing through a microfluidic channel, seen in Figure 1c.

Figure 4a: schematic representation of a top view of an analysis device for a liquid sample according to an embodiment of the invention. In this case, a single microfluidic analysis channel is used, simplifying the configurations described previously.

Figure 4b: schematic representation of a top view of an analysis device for a liquid sample according to an embodiment of the invention. In this case, a single microfluidic analysis channel is also used; although the electronic circuit and the display system are integrated in a separate unit that can be connected to the analysis device.

Figure 5a: schematic representation of a top view of an analysis device for a liquid sample according to an embodiment of the invention. In this case, the detection zone of the analysis device is formed by a first component operating as a detector and a second component operating as a transducer.

Figure 5b: schematic representation of a top view of an analysis device for a liquid sample according to an embodiment of the invention. In this case, the detection zone of the analysis device is also formed by

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two different components, a detector and a transducer; however, the transducer component is included in a separate unit together with the electronic circuit and the display system.

Figures 6a and 6b: schematic representation of an example of the proposed analysis device, specifically when it is an autonomous glucometer.

Figures 7a and 7b: schematic representation of an example of the proposed analysis device, specifically when it is an autonomous lateral flow reader.

Figure 8: Schematic representation of a top view of an analysis device for a liquid sample according to an embodiment of the invention. In this case, a single microfluidic analysis channel is used and a wireless communication module is included to communicate the analysis results.

Detailed description of an embodiment example

Figure 1a shows a schematic representation of a top view of a fuel cell. This fuel cell comprises a microfluidic channel 10, a receiving absorbent region 11 coupled to the microfluidic channel 10 at one end of said microfluidic channel 10, and a collecting absorbent region 12 coupled to the microfluidic channel 10 at an opposite end of said channel. In order to facilitate a capillary action through the microfluidic channel 10, it is preferable that said end coupled to the collecting absorbent region 2 and the end to which the receiving absorbent region 11 is coupled, are located at different heights, regardless of which end is higher.

This particular configuration of the fuel cell allows at least one fluid suitable for generating electricity to be deposited in the receiving absorbent region 11, that is, a fluid comprising fuel reagents. In addition to allowing the flow of these fluids, by capillary action, through the microfluidic channel 10, until reaching the collecting absorbent region 12 where the fluids are absorbed, thus allowing continuous flow through the microfluidic channel 10.

The fuel cell of Figure 1a also comprises a cathodic zone comprising at least one cathode 13, and an anodic zone comprising at least one anode 14, coupled to the microfluidic channel 10 so that the cathodic zone 13 and the anode zone 14 can generate electrochemical energy due to its interaction with at least one fluid comprising fuel reagents when they continuously flow through a microfluidic channel 10 by capillary action. In this embodiment, the fluid deposited in the sole

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receiving absorbent region 11 may comprise reducing and oxidizing agents, so that the interaction of the cathodic zone 13 with the reducing agents and interaction of the anodic zone with the oxidizing agents can lead to an electrochemical voltage between the cathodic zone 13 and the anode zone 14. In this particular embodiment, the cathodic zone 13 is located on a side face of the microfluidic channel 10, and the anodic zone 14 is located on an opposite side of the microfluidic channel 10.

Still referring to Figure 1a, the receiving absorbent region 11 may comprise at least one chemical substance that has previously been immobilized in a defined area of the receiving absorbent region 11, so that the substance can be dissolved by adding an external liquid, preferably an aqueous liquid

Figure 1b is a schematic representation of a top view of another fuel cell. This configuration is very similar to the configuration of Figure 1a, with the difference that the receiving absorbent region 11 comprises two receiving absorbent subregions, identified as 11a and 11b, which are separated but located on the same physical support. In the first receiving absorbent subregion 11a a catholyte fluid can be deposited, resulting in reducing agents interacting with the cathodic zone 13, and in the second receiving absorbent subregion 11b an anolyte fluid comprising oxidizing agents that can interact with the area can be deposited Anodic 14. Alternatively, the first receiving absorbent subregion 11a may comprise an oxidizing substance previously immobilized in an area of the first receiving absorbent subregion 11a, and the second receiving absorbent subregion 11b may comprise a reducing substance previously immobilized in an area of the second subregion receiving absorbent 11b. Thus, these immobilized oxidizing or reducing substances can be solubilized, for example, by adding an external liquid, preferably an aqueous liquid.

In the embodiment of Figure 1b, the microfluidic channel 10 comprises two branches 18, such that the receiving absorbent subregion 11a is coupled to a microfluidic channel 10 through one of these branches 18, and the second receiving absorbent subregion 11b is coupled to the microfluidic channel 10 by a second of these branches 18. Said first branch 18 and the cathodic zone 13 are disposed substantially on the same side of the microfluidic channel 10, so that the cathodic zone 13 can interact substantially completely with a catholic fluid when it flows along the microfluidic channel 10. Also, the second branch 18 and the anodic zone 14 are arranged substantially on the same side of the microfluidic channel 10, so that

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the anodic zone 14 can interact substantially completely with an anolyte fluid when it flows through the microfluidic channel 10. More details on the flow of catholyte and anolyte fluids are described below.

The configuration described in the previous paragraph implies a relative positioning between the first receiving absorbent subregion 11a and the cathodic zone 13, and between the second receiving absorbent subregion 11b and the anodic zone 14, which allows the production of electrochemical energy more efficiently than in the embodiment of figure 1a. In fact, with this fuel cell configuration a "clean" interaction between the catholyte fluid can be obtained, comprising at least one reducing agent, and the cathodic zone 13, and a "clean" interaction between the anolyte fluid, comprising at least an oxidizing agent, and the anode zone 14, consequently the fuel cell is more efficient.

In this line, Figure 3a shows a configuration of a microfluidic channel 10, a cathodic zone 13 and an anodic zone 14 similar to the fuel cell that can be seen in Figure 1b. Figure 3a also shows how a catholyte fluid 31 and an anolyte fluid 30 can flow through the microfluidic channel 10. Particularly, the catholyte fluid 31, which comprises reducing agents, can flow in such a way that it substantially obtains a complete interaction between them and the / the cathode / s contained in the cathodic zone 13. Also, the anolyte fluid 30, which comprises oxidizing agents, can flow in such a way that it substantially obtains a complete interaction between these and the anode / s contained in the anodic zone 14 .

Figure 3a also shows how, in this particular embodiment, the catholyte fluid 31 and the anolyte fluid 30 can begin to mix after advancing a certain distance, forming an area called diffusion zone 32. In this particular embodiment, the cathodic zone 13 and the anodic zone 14 are positioned in the microfluidic channel 10 at a distance sufficiently short with respect to the end where the receiving absorbent subregions 11a, 11b are coupled to prevent the diffusion zone 32 from coming into contact with any of the cathodes comprised in the cathodic zone 13, any of the anodes included in the anodic zone 14, or both. Therefore, although the catholyte fluid 31 and the anolyte fluid 30 can finally be mixed, in this embodiment an interaction between the completely catholyte fluid 31 and the cathodic zone 13 is ensured, and between the completely anolyte fluid 30 and the anodic zone 14 .

Figure 3b is a schematic representation of a 3D microfluidic channel 10 and the configuration of the cathodic zone 13 and the anodic zone 14, in accordance with another embodiment.

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This configuration is an alternative to the configurations shown in Figures 1b and 3a. In this case, the first and second receiving absorbent subregion 11a, 11b, not shown in Figure 3b, are arranged such that the flow of the catholyte fluid 31 is substantially obtained over the flow of the anolyte fluid 30. Accordingly, the cathodic zone 13 is arranged in an upper region of the microfluidic channel 10 and the anodic zone 14 is arranged in a lower region of the microfluidic channel 10. The configuration of Figure 3b allows the generation of electrochemical energy equal to that of Figures 1b and 3a .

Figure 1c is a schematic representation of a top view of another fuel cell. In this case, the difference with respect to the fuel cell shown in Figure 1b is that this embodiment comprises a third receiving absorbent subregion 11c separated from the first and the second receiving absorbent subregion 11a, 11b. In this third receiving absorbent subregion 11c an electrolyte fluid can be deposited, and can be arranged in relation to the first and second receiving absorbent subregion 11a, 11b, provided that the electrolyte fluid maintains, at least partially, the catholyte fluid 31 and the anolyte fluid 30 separated as they flow through the microfluidic channel 10 by capillarity.

In the embodiment of Figure 1c, the mixture of catholyte fluid 31 and anolyte fluid 30 may be delayed with respect to the mixtures carried out in Figures 1b, 3a and 3b. Thus, Figure 3c shows how an electrolyte fluid 33 flows between the catholyte fluid and the anolyte fluid 30 to delay the mixing of the catholyte fluid and the anolyte fluid 30. Area 34 refers to the mixing of the catholic fluid 31 with the fluid electrolyte 33. Area 35 refers to the mixing of the anolyte fluid 30 with the electrolyte fluid 33. It is clearly seen as with the "intermediate" flow of the electrolyte fluid 33, the diffusion zone 32 representing the mixture of the catholyte fluids 31 and anolyte 30 appears later than in other embodiments that do not have said "intermediate" flow of an electrolyte fluid 33.

In any of the embodiments described above, the microfluidic channel 10 as well as any of the absorbent regions 11, 12, may be made of a paper-based material, such as filter paper, tissue paper, cellulose paper, paper to write, etc. Alternatively, they may be made of other suitable materials, such as nitrocellulose acetate, textiles, polymeric layers, etc. The paper-based materials have a low cost, whereby the microfluidic channel 10 and the receiving and collecting absorbent regions 11, 12 respectively, are preferably made of a material

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of this type. In addition, paper is a completely biodegradable material. Therefore, the paper contributes to obtaining a cheap and biodegradable fuel cell.

In addition, the microfluidic channel 10, as well as any of the receiving or collecting regions that use paper as the main material, can be obtained by two different methods, or a combination thereof. The first method involves cutting the paper in the desired shape such that the resulting structure corresponds to the microfluidic channel 10. The cutting can be performed by mechanical action, for example, using scissors, knives or automatic equipment such as a plotter of cutting, or using a laser, etc. The second method involves defining hydrophobic areas within the total surface of the porous material, preferably paper. The definition of hydrophobic areas can be carried out by impregnating the porous matrix with photoresist, wax, Teflon, hydrophobic chemicals, etc. or applying a chemical treatment that modifies the moisturizing properties.

Figure 1d is a schematic representation of a sheet of 3D paper with a microfluidic channel 10. The microfluidic channel 10 has been obtained by defining hydrophobic areas 16, which in turn define a hydrophilic zone 17 of the paper constituting the desired microfluidic channel 10 The hydrophobic areas 16 can be obtained, for example, by applying any of the techniques mentioned above.

Preferably, a cut is made to obtain the microfluidic channel 10 and the receiving and collecting absorbent regions, 11 and 12 respectively, because cutting a priori is cheaper than any other type of method, such as the techniques discussed above based on the definition of hydrophobic areas.

Figure 2a is a schematic representation of a top view of a lateral flow test strip according to one embodiment. This test strip comprises the fuel cell described above and schematized in Figure 1a. This test strip also comprises a microfluidic analysis channel 20 connected to a receiving absorbent region 11 at one end of the channel 20. Thus, in this embodiment, the receiving absorbent region of the microfluidic analysis channel 20 is the same as the region absorber receiving the fuel cell, and the collecting absorbent region of the microfluidic analysis channel is equal to the collecting absorbent region of the fuel cell. The features described in relation to Figure 1a with respect to the receiving absorbent region 11 and the microfluidic channel 10 are also applicable to this embodiment of the test strip of this invention. Therefore, this special configuration can also allow a continuous flow of fluid from the receiving absorbent region 11 to the

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collector absorbent region 12, where the fluid is absorbed facilitating the continuation of the capillary flow when the microfluidic analysis channel is saturated.

Alternatively to the embodiment described above, the test strip may comprise a receiving absorbent region and a collecting absorbent region, connected to opposite ends of the microfluidic analysis channel 20, these absorbent regions being separated from the receiving absorbent regions 11 and collecting 12 coupled to the microfluidic channel 10 that is part of the fuel cell included in the test strip.

In an embodiment as can be seen in Figure 2a, the test strip comprises a detection zone 21 with at least one electrochemical sensor coupled to the microfluidic analysis channel 20, so that said electrochemical sensor can interact with the sample to be tested, preferably a biological sample, when it flows by capillary through the microfluidic analysis channel 20. Such interaction, in combination with appropriate electrical input signals, produces corresponding electrical output signals representing the analysis results. The electrochemical sensors can be made of carbon electrodes, said material contributing to the biodegradability of the test strip.

This test strip may also comprise an electronic circuit 23, a display system 24, preferably a screen, and a plurality of conductive tracks 22, 25 and 26 connecting the electronic circuit 23 with an anodic zone 14 and a cathodic zone 13 of the fuel cell, with the detection zone 21 and with the display system 24. The electronic circuit 23 can be a silicon-based microelectronic circuit. Additionally, the display system 24 may be a screen printed on paper, such as on suitable polymers. Additionally, the conductive tracks 22, 25 and 26 may be made of carbon. These characteristics make the test strip highly biodegradable. As an alternative to carbon, the conductive tracks 22, 25 and 26 may be made of conductive polymers, metals such as copper or gold, or any combination thereof.

The conductive tracks 22 connect the electronic circuit 23 with an anodic zone 14 and a cathodic zone 13 of the fuel cell allowing the electronic circuit 23 to receive electricity from the fuel cell. The conductive tracks 25 connecting the electronic circuit 23 with the electrochemical sensors included in the detection zone 21 allow the electronic circuit 23 to provide suitable electrical input signals to the electrochemical sensors. The electronic circuit 23 can obtain these input signals

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electrical, necessary for electrochemical sensors to interact properly with the sample to be analyzed, from the electricity generated by the fuel cell according to a logic implemented. This interaction between electrochemical sensors with the sample, preferably biological, and the appropriate electrical input signals can produce electrical output signals that represent the results of the analysis. Sensors within the detection zone 21 can send these electrical output signals to the electronic circuit 23 through their corresponding conductive tracks 25. The electronic circuit 23 can convert, in accordance with an implemented logic, these electrical output signals to electrical signals which can be displayed and sent to the display system 24 through its corresponding conductive track 26.

The test strip may further comprise a pretreatment region, not shown in Figure 2a, which can be coupled to the microfluidic channel 10 of the fuel cell at a point between the receiving absorbent region 11 and the cathodic or anodic zone 13. Additionally, this pretreatment region can also be incorporated into the microfluidic analysis channel 20, at a point between the receiving absorbent region 11 of the sample and the detection zone 21. This pretreatment region may have a configuration suitable for carrying out different types of pretreatments such as filtering, separation, screening of fluid (s) that can flow through the microfluidic channel 10 of the fuel cell and / or the microfluidic analysis channel 20. Principles can be used to design and / or build this region known pretreatment treatments, such as those described in patent applications WO 2009121041 A2 (A. Siegel et al) and WO 2011087813 A2 (P Yag er et al).

Figure 2b is a schematic representation of a top view of a lateral flow test strip in accordance with the other embodiments of the invention. This test strip is very similar to the strip shown in Figure 2a, with the difference that the strip of Figure 2b includes a fuel cell of the type described in Figure 1b, while the strip of Figure 2a comprises a cell of fuel as shown by Figure 1a.

Figure 2c is a schematic representation of a top view of a lateral flow test strip in accordance with the other embodiments of the invention. This test strip is very similar to the strip shown in Figure 2b, with the difference that the strip of Figure 2c includes a fuel cell of the type described in Figure 1c, while the strip of Figure 2b comprises a cell of fuel as shown in Figure 1b.

An important aspect of the strips illustrated by Figures 2a, 2b and 2c is that the same fluid can be used as a fluid capable of generating electricity by the cell of

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fuel, and as the sample to be analyzed in the detection zone21. This fluid can be a biological sample, such as, for example, urine, blood, blood plasma, saliva, semen, sweat, etc. In this way, the strip can be a completely independent test strip, and therefore, operate without any connection to an external electrochemical sensor, a display system or an electronic circuit.

In some embodiments of the test strip described in this patent application, the detection zone 21 has the function of measuring or detecting specific compounds in the sample to be analyzed, preferably biological. This detection can be based on different techniques such as electrochemistry, optics, etc. Additional stages of pretreatment of the sample, and the regions necessary for these stages to take place in the test strip can be included before the sample reaches the detection zone 21.

An electrochemical sensor can be manufactured for example by deposition of one or more electrodes, which can be made of carbon in a porous matrix that can be made of paper-based materials. One of these electrodes can be defined as a reference electrode, at least one of these electrodes as a counter electrode, and at least one more of these electrodes as a working electrode. Electrode deposition can be achieved from various techniques such as spraying, evaporation, spray coatings or printing techniques such as inkjet printing, gravure printing, offset printing, flexographic printing or screen printing. The electrodes can be functionalized to increase detection performance. The functionalized electrodes can be formed by deposition of an active material, by chemical treatment, etc.

In order to design and construct the detection zone 21, principles known by one skilled in the art can be used, for example, those disclosed in "Patterned paper substrates and as alternative materials for low-cost microfluidic diagnosed", David R. Ballerini, Xu Li and Shen Wei; Microfluidics and Nano Fluidics; 2012, DOI: 10.1007 / s10404-012-0999-2.

The electronic circuit 23 may correspond to an electronic circuit that can perform several functions related to the test results to be obtained. The circuit may comprise a combination of discrete electronic components and / or integrated circuits. Some embodiments may use, for example, a specific application integrated circuit (ASIC) to improve performance and reduce size.

The circuit can comprise several blocks such as energy management, instrumentation, communications, data logging, etc. The energy management block can take the

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energy generated by the fuel cell and increase the voltage to power the instrumentation block. The instrumentation block can supply power to the sensors included in the detection zone 21 to be able to perform the measurements, monitor the signals of the sensors and compare them with reference values. The results of the measurements can be sent to the display system 24.

The electronic circuit 23 may also include a data record for storing the information obtained from the sensors in the detection zone 21. In addition, the electronic circuit 23 may comprise a communication module for sending the results of the radiofrequency measurements, for example to an external receiver.

To design and build the electronic circuit 23, preferably when this is a microelectronic circuit, principles known to one skilled in the art can be used, for example, those disclosed by J. Alley Bran, Larry R. Faulkner, "Electrochemical Methods: Fundamental You and Applications '', John Wiley & Sons, 2001, ISBN 0-471-04372-9; Jordi Colomer-Farrarons, Pere Lluís Miribel-Catalá, “A self-powered CMOS Front-End Architecture for Subcutaneous Event-Detection Devices: Three-Electrodes amperometric biosensor Approach”, Springer Science + Business Media BV, 2011, ISBN 978-94- 007-0685-9.

The display system 24 may allow the test strip, present in the invention, to show a visual indication of the measurement results. This signal can be displayed using a screen, for example, electrochromic, light emitting diode, LCD, etc. Some of these screens are described in “CG Granqvist, electrochromic devices, Journal of the European Ceramic Society, Volume 25, Issue 12, 2005, pages 2907-2912”; “Fundamentals of Liquid Crystal Devices,” Author (s): Deng-Ke Yang, Shin-Tson Wu, Published online: October 19, 2006, DOI: 10.1002 / 0470032030.

In a particular embodiment, the visualization of the results may be due to a color change produced by an electrochemical compound absorbed by a porous matrix (eg, Prussian blue, etc.) comprised in the test strip.

The configurations described above can be simplified if the two microfluidic channels, microfluidic analysis channel 20 and microfluidic channel 10, are combined into one, called microfluidic analysis channel 15. The microfluidic analysis channel 15 can comprise a material that includes a polymer hydrophilic, textile fiber, fiberglass, cellulose and nitrocellulose; it is especially preferable that said material is biodegradable.

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Figure 4a shows a schematic representation of this simplified configuration. As can be seen in Figure 4a, the analysis device comprises a single microfluidic analysis channel 15 where the cathodic zone 13 comprises at least one cathode and the anodic zone 14 comprises at least one anode, coupled to said microfluidic analysis channel. 15. This microfluidic analysis channel 15 fulfills the function of an analysis channel (equivalent to the microfluidic channel 20 described above) with a detection zone 21 and a visualization system 24. The electronic circuit 23 may be an electronic microcircuit based on silicon or a printed electronic circuit. Additionally, the display system 24 may be a screen printed on paper, for example, based on suitable polymers, an OLED screen, or an electrochromic screen. Additionally, the conductive tracks 22, 25 and 26 may be made of carbon. As an alternative to carbon, conductive tracks 22, 25 and 26 may be made of conductive polymers, metals such as copper or gold, or any combination thereof.

This particular embodiment has several advantages over those previously described: it allows reducing the volume of the sample necessary both to generate energy and to perform the analysis; simplifies the design of the analysis device and the amount of material necessary for its manufacture; and simplifies the manufacturing processes that lead to a more profitable analysis device.

In another embodiment, see Figure 4b, the proposed analysis device consists of two separate connectable components; A component 28a includes a microfluidic analysis channel 15 with a detection zone 21 and a fuel cell in said microfluidic channel 15 comprising a receiving absorbent region 11, a collecting absorbent region 12, a cathodic zone 13 and an anodic zone 14, and another component 28b that includes an electronic circuit 23 and a display system 24. When the analysis is to be carried out, the two separate components, 28a and 28b, are connected to each other by connecting regions or zones 27. This particular embodiment presents The following advantages:

- The electronic circuit 23 and the display system 24 can be reused several times, being more ecological and cost effective than the single use embodiments.

- The integration of the fuel cell or cell in the detection zone 21 into a separate component allows the fuel cell to be adjusted to generate energy for a single analysis. In this way, there is always energy available to perform the test. There is no need to connect the electronic components to an external power source or to an additional battery.

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The sensor included in the detection zone 21 may comprise any electrochemical, optical, piezoelectric, magnetic, surface plasmon resonance, sonic acoustic wave or mass spectroscopy type sensor.

Figures 5a and 5b show other embodiments of the analysis device. In this case, the detection zone 21 is formed by two separate components, a first component operating as a detector 21a and a second component operating as a transducer 21b. Both components may be included in the analysis device or alternatively, the first component operating as a detector 21a may be included in a consumable component 28a while the second component operating as a transducer 21b may be included in said reusable component or independent unit 28b . In the latter case, the detection zone 21 is physically divided into two components until the measurement has been made, and all the connections shown in Figure 5b have been made.

In any of the embodiments of Figures 4a, 4b, 5a and 5b, described above, the absorbent regions, 11 and 12, may comprise one or more subregions, as described in Figures 1b, 1c, 2b and 2c . The receiving and collecting absorbent regions may be made of a material selected from a paper-based material, a fiber-based material and a nitrocellulose-based material.

Particular embodiments are described below.

Figures 6a and 6b illustrate an example of the proposed analysis device operating as an autonomous glucometer. The autonomous glucometer consists of two components: an electronic reader 28b and a disposable test strip 28a as shown in Figure 6a. The electronic reader 28b includes the electronic circuit 23 and the display system 24. On the other hand, the disposable test strip 28a includes the electrochemical sensors and the power supply. The test strip 28a has a receiving absorbent region 11 for the sample, a microfluidic analysis channel 15 and a collecting absorbent region 12. The microfluidic analysis channel 15 comprises a detection zone 21 for measuring the glucose concentration of the sample using electrochemical sensors The microfluidic analysis channel 15 also includes a power supply with a cathodic zone 13 and an anodic zone 14 that is capable of generating electrical energy by adding the sample. The sensors and the cathodic and anodic zones, 13, 14, are connected, using conductive tracks, 22, 25, to a connection zone 27a in the disposable strip. In order to carry out a measurement, the disposable test strip is inserted into the electronic reader 28b as shown in Figure 6b, so that the area

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of connection 27a on the disposable strip 28a is in electrical contact with the connectors 27b of the connection area of the electronic reader 28b. When a sample is added to the test strip, the power supply provides electrical power to the electronic circuit 23 to perform the measurement, read the signals from the sensors in the detection zone 21 and display the results on the screen.

Figures 7a and 7b illustrate an example of the proposed analysis device operating as an autonomous lateral flow reader. The autonomous lateral flow reader consists of two components: an electronic reader 28b and a disposable lateral flow test strip 28a as shown in Figure 7a. The electronic reader 28b includes a reader of the detection zone 21b, the electronic circuit 23 and the display system 24. On the other hand, the disposable lateral flow test strip 28a includes a detection zone 21a in the test strip and The power supply. The disposable test strip includes a lateral flow immunoassay obtained from known manufacturing techniques. The lateral flow immunoassay comprises a receiving absorbent region 11 for the sample that includes dry reagents necessary for the assay, a microfluidic analysis channel 15, and a collecting absorbent region 12. The microfluidic analysis channel 15 comprises a detection zone 21a of the test strip consisting of a reagent capture zone that defines the test and the control lines. The microfluidic analysis channel 15 also includes a power supply with a cathodic zone 13 and an anodic zone 14 that is capable of generating electrical energy by adding the sample. The cathodic and anodic zones, 13, 14, are connected, using conductive tracks, 22, to a connection zone 27a in the disposable strip 28a. The immunoassay, the power supply, the conductive tracks and the connectors are included inside a plastic housing to facilitate its manageability. In order to carry out a measurement, the disposable test strip is inserted into the electronic reader 28b as shown in Figure 7b, so that the connection area 27a in the disposable strip 28a is in electrical contact with the connectors 27b of the connection area of the electronic reader 28b. When a sample is added to the test strip, the power supply provides electrical power to the electronic circuit 23 in order to perform the measurement, read the lines in the detection zone 21a of the strip using transducers in the detection zone 21b of the reader and display the results by the display system 24.

With reference to Figure 8, another embodiment of the proposed analysis device is shown therein. In this case, a wireless communication module 29 is included

(Bluetooth, NFC, infrared, etc.) to communicate the result of the analysis carried out by the analysis device to an external receiver.

The scope of the present invention is defined in the following set of claims.

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Claims (13)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 1. An analysis device for a liquid sample, comprising: a microfluidic analysis channel (15) made of an absorbent material with a suitable porosity allowing a capillary flow of at least one liquid sample, suitable for generating electricity; at least one receiving absorbent region (11) coupled to said microfluidic analysis channel (15); at least one collecting absorbent region (12) coupled to said microfluidic analysis channel (15); a cathodic zone (13) formed by at least one cathode coupled to said microfluidic analysis channel (15); an anodic zone (14) formed by at least one anode coupled to said microfluidic analysis channel (15); Y at least one detection zone (21) with at least one sensor connected to said microfluidic analysis channel (15), wherein each receiving absorbent region (11) and each collecting absorbent region (12) are connected to the microfluidic analysis channel (15), so that when a liquid sample is deposited in the receiving absorbent region (11), the sample flows through capillary action through the microfluidic analysis channel (15) to reach the absorbent collecting region (12) where it is absorbed, and wherein the sensor interacts with the liquid sample to be tested, when said sample flows by capillary through the microfluidic analysis channel (15). 2. The analysis device of claim 1, further comprising a first conductive track (22) connecting the anodic zone (14) and the cathodic zone (13) of the analysis device with at least one electronic circuit (23) connected by a second conductive track (26) to at least one element selected from the group consisting of an electrochemical, optical, piezoelectric, magnetic sensor, surface plasmon resonance, sonic acoustic wave or mass spectroscopy included in the detection zone ( 21), and said electronic circuit (23) is also connected to at least one display system (24) to display the results of the analysis. 5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 3. The analysis device of claim 2, wherein said electronic circuit (23) and display system (24) are integrated in an independent unit (28b) connectable by said first (22) and second conductive track (26) to the analysis device (28a). 4. The analysis device of claim 1, wherein said sensor coupled to the microfluidic analysis channel (15) is an electrochemical, optical, piezoelectric, magnetic, surface plasmon resonance, sonic acoustic wave or spectroscopy spectroscopy sensor. masses. 5. The analysis device of claim 4, wherein said sensor comprises two separate components, a first component (21a) operating as a detector and a second component (21b) operating as a transducer. 6. The analysis device of claim 2, wherein said electronic circuit (23) and display system (24) are integrated in a separate unit (28b), which is connectable by said first (22) and second conductive track ( 26) to the analysis device (28a) including a sensor, wherein the sensor comprises two separate components, a first component (21a) operating as a detector and a second component (21b) operating as a transducer, wherein said second component ( 21b) is integrated in the independent unit (28b) and said first component (21a) is integrated in the analysis device (28a). 7. The analysis device of claim 1, wherein the microfluidic analysis channel material (15) is selected from a group consisting of paper, hydrophilic polymer, textile fiber, glass fiber, cellulose and nitrocellulose. 8. The analysis device of claim 1, wherein each of the receiving (11) and collecting (12) absorption regions are made of a material selected from a paper-based material, a fiber-based material and a nitrocellulose based material. 9. The analysis device of claim 4, wherein the sensor is an electrochemical sensor comprising carbon electrodes. 10. The analysis device of claim 2, wherein the electronic circuit (23) is a silicon-based microelectronic circuit or a printed electronic circuit. 11. The analysis device of claim 2, wherein the display system (24) for displaying the results of the analysis comprises a screen printed on paper, an LCD, an OLED or an electrochromic screen. 12. The analysis device of claim 2, wherein the conductive tracks (22, 26) are made of carbon. 13. The analysis device of claim 1 further comprises a wireless communication module (29) for communicating a result of an analysis performed by the 5 analysis device to an external receiver.