TWI775298B - Recyclable and remanufacturable disposable test strip and remanufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A recyclable and remanufacturable disposable test strip includes a strip main body, a shrink film and a protective shell. The strip main body has a detection area for contact with a sample to be tested and a circuit area that is not for contract with the sample to be tested. The detection area has a detection circuit electrically connected to the circuit area. The detection circuit is for electrochemical reaction with the sample to be tested. The shrink film covers the circuit area but exposes the detection circuit. The protective shell covers the shrink film but the detection circuit is exposed therefrom. The material of the protective shell is different from that of the shrink film. The present invention also discloses a remanufacturing method for said disposable test strip.

Description

Disposable test piece that can be recycled and reproduced and its reproducing method

The present invention relates to an electrochemical sensing technology, in particular to a recyclable and reproducible test piece and a reproducing method thereof.

Electrochemical sensors have been maturely used in the detection of various fluids, and the existing electrochemical sensors have different equipments due to different needs. For sampling requirements, some electrochemical sensors are used together with test strips. These strips are used to contact the samples to be tested. In order to avoid contamination between samples and the irreversible characteristics of chemical reagents, these test strips are often regarded as Consumables are discarded after a single use.

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a disposable test piece that can be recycled and remade.

In order to achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides a disposable test piece that can be recycled and remade, which includes a test piece body, a shrink film and a protective shell, and the test piece body has a test piece for contacting the sample to be tested. area and a circuit area not for contact with the sample to be detected, the detection area has a detection circuit, the detection circuit is electrically connected with the circuit area, and the detection circuit is for electrochemical reaction with the sample to be detected; shrinkage The film covers the circuit area but exposes the detection circuit, the protective case covers the shrink film but exposes the detection circuit, and the material of the protective case is different from the shrink film.

In order to achieve the above and other purposes, the present invention also provides a method for reproducing a disposable test piece, which comprises the following steps: removing the protective casing of the disposable test piece to be remade; removing the shrink film of the disposable test piece to be remade; replacing the substrate of the disposable test piece to be remade with a new one, and replacing the power supply unit of the disposable test piece to be remade with a new power supply unit; wrapping a new shrink film over the circuit area but exposing the detection circuit on the new substrate; and A new protective case is made to cover the new shrink film but expose the detection circuit on the new substrate, and the material of the new protective case is different from that of the new shrink film.

Other functions and features of the present invention will be described in detail below with the accompanying drawings.

Please refer to Figures 1 to 3, which are one embodiment of the disposable test strip of the present invention, wherein the disposable test strip can be used for the detection of various fluids to detect whether the sample to be tested contains the target analysis The concentration of analyte, target analyte and/or other values required to be detected, the sample to be detected can be but not limited to blood, urine, water samples or other non-aqueous fluid samples, the target analyte can be But not limited to compounds such as glycosylated hemoglobin, blood sugar, heavy metals, nitrates, nitrites, allergens, formaldehyde, dissolved oxygen, etc. The values to be detected may be, but are not limited to, physical parameters such as pH, conductivity, etc. In a possible implementation, the disposable test piece can be used in conjunction with a detector. When performing detection, the disposable test piece can be inserted into the detector or mechanically connected in other ways, and the detector can send a detection signal for detection. In other possible embodiments, the disposable test strip can be used with a receiving element that is not mechanically connected to the disposable test strip, the mechanical connection being the physical direct contact between the two elements, the receiving element It can be, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, tablet computer, computer or other device that can form a wireless connection with the disposable test strip and can display, process and/or relay and transmit detection parameter signals.

The disposable test piece includes a test piece body 10, a shrink film 20, a protective shell 30 and a power activation means. The sample contacts the circuit area 12 , an electrochemical processing unit 13 , a wireless transmission unit 14 , a power supply unit 15 , a substrate 16 and an assembled circuit board 17 .

The detection area 11 has a detection circuit 111, and the detection circuit 111 is electrically connected to the circuit area 12 for electrochemical reaction with the sample to be detected; depending on the target analyte or the value to be detected, the detection circuit 111 may include but not limited to Working electrode, reference electrode, auxiliary electrode and/or detection electrode; and, depending on the target analyte or the value to be detected, at least a part of the detection circuit 111 may also include but is not limited to being attached to a conductor to help detect the target analyte or chemical reagents, enzymes, catalysts and/or enzymes of the value to be detected.

The electrochemical processing unit 13 , the wireless transmission unit 14 and the power supply unit 15 are arranged in the circuit area 12 and covered by the shrink film 20 , but the protective case 30 does not directly contact the electrochemical processing unit 13 , the wireless transmission unit 14 and the power supply unit 15 to avoid Form sticking. The electrochemical processing unit 13 may be, for example, but not limited to, a microprocessor, the wireless transmission unit 14 may be, but not limited to, a bluetooth transmission chip, and the power supply unit 15 may be a capacitor, a fuel cell, or other rechargeable or non-rechargeable miniature batteries. To supply power to the electrochemical processing unit 13 and the wireless transmission unit 14 .

Among them, the detection area 11 and the detection circuit 111 are arranged on the substrate 16, and the electrochemical processing unit 13, the wireless transmission unit 14, the power supply unit 15 and the circuit area 12 are arranged on the assembly circuit board 17 (PCB Assembly). Before the assembled circuit board 17 is stacked with the substrate 16 , the setting of the circuit area 12 and the assembly of the electrochemical processing unit 13 , the wireless transmission unit 14 and the power supply unit 15 have been completed, and when the assembled circuit board 17 is stacked with the substrate 16 After being assembled, the detection circuit 111 can be electrically connected to the circuit area 12. For example, corresponding pins/pads can be provided between the assembled circuit board 17 and the substrate 16, or the electrical connection can be assisted by conductive paste. In order to reduce the volume of the test piece body 10 , at least one hollow area 161 for accommodating the electrochemical processing unit 13 , the wireless transmission unit 14 and the power supply unit 15 can be pre-established on the substrate 16 , so that when the circuit board 17 and the substrate 16 are stacked on the assembled circuit board 16 After being combined, the electrochemical processing unit 13 , the wireless transmission unit 14 and the power supply unit 15 can be embedded in the substrate 16 .

The power activation means is used for the user to selectively activate the power supply capability of the power supply unit 15 to supply power to the electrochemical processing unit 13 and the wireless transmission unit 14 , that is, the power supply unit 15 can only supply power when the power supply capability of the power supply unit 15 is activated. The chemical processing unit 13 and the wireless transmission unit 14; on the contrary, when the power supply capability of the power supply unit 15 is not activated, the power supply unit 15 cannot supply power to the electrochemical processing unit 13 and the wireless transmission unit 14, so as to retain the power. The power activation means is, for example, a power blocking film 40 that can block the power supply unit 15 and other circuits. At this time, the test strip body 10 further includes a reed 18 that is electrically connected to the circuit area 12. The power blocking film 40 is movably It is disposed between the substrate 16 and the assembled circuit board 17 and can be pulled away from a blocking position; when the power blocking film 40 is located at the blocking position, the power blocking film 40 is spaced between the spring 18 and the power supply unit 15 As a result, the power supply unit 15 cannot supply power to the electrochemical processing unit 13 and the wireless transmission unit 14; when the power blocking film 40 is pulled away from the blocking position, the reed 18 and the power supply unit 15 are no longer blocked and can be An electrical connection is formed so that the power supply unit 15 can activate the ability to supply power to the electrochemical processing unit 13 and the wireless transmission unit 14, and at the same time, the electrochemical processing unit 13 is also awakened, and the detection of the sample can be started. It should be noted that, in other possible implementations, the power activation means can also be changed to but not limited to switches and knobs; in other possible implementations, the power activation means is an action of placing the power supply unit into the test strip body.

In an exemplary, non-limiting embodiment, the aforementioned disposable test strip can be applied to an electrochemical sensing method, which includes the following steps in sequence: Use the power activation means to activate the power supply unit 15 to supply power to the electrochemical processing unit 13 and the wireless transmission unit 14, thereby awakening the electrochemical processing unit 13 and the wireless transmission unit 14; Utilize the electrochemical processing unit 13 to issue a control signal to the detection circuit 111 for performing detection; After the detection circuit 111 receives the control signal, the detection circuit 111 is used to carry out an electrochemical reaction with the sample to be detected, and a feedback signal is returned to the electrochemical processing unit 13; Using the electrochemical processing unit 13 to convert the feedback signal into a detection parameter signal; Utilize the electrochemical processing unit 13 to send the detection parameter signal to the essential oil wireless transmission unit 14 to the receiving unit that is mechanically connected to the disposable test piece; and The detection parameter signal is displayed on a display of the receiving unit.

After the aforementioned detection is performed, the chemical reagents, enzymes, catalysts and/or enzymes on the detection circuit 111 have been used or exhausted, and the power of the power supply unit 15 has also been consumed, but the electrochemical processing unit 13 on the assembled circuit board 17 has been and the wireless transmission unit 14 is still in a ready state. Therefore, for the user who performs the test, although the disposable test strip is a one-time or limited number of test strips, it can still be used as follows The reproduction method performs reproduction, and the reproduction method includes the following steps: Remove the protective case 30 of the disposable test piece that has been used and to be remade as shown in Figure 4, and become the state shown in Figure 5; The wireless transmission unit 14 is protected by the shrink film 20, and there is no sticking problem with the protective shell 30. Therefore, in the process of removing the protective shell 30, the circuit area 12, the electrochemical processing unit 13 and the wireless transmission unit 14 can all be Keep intact and not easy to damage; Next, the shrink film 20 of the disposable test piece to be remade as shown in FIG. 5 is removed to obtain the bare test piece body 10 as shown in FIG. 6; wherein, the material properties of the shrink film 20 are inherently It is not easy to form adhesion with the circuit area 12, the electrochemical processing unit 13 and the wireless transmission unit 14, so during the removal process, the circuit area 12, the electrochemical processing unit 13 and the wireless transmission unit 14 can also be kept intact and not easily damaged. ; Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the substrate 16 of the disposable test piece to be remade is replaced with a new substrate 16a, and the power supply unit 15 of the disposable test piece to be remade is also replaced with a new power supply unit 15a and The power supply blocking film 40 is installed again so that the power supply unit 15a is preset to the state where the power supply is stopped, and the new substrate 16a is superimposed on the assembled circuit board 17 of the disposable test piece to be reproduced, so that the detection on the new substrate 16a is carried out. The circuit 111a is electrically connected to the circuit area 12 on the assembled circuit board 17 of the disposable test piece to be reproduced, that is, the reproduced bare test piece body 10a as shown in FIG. 8 is obtained; Next, as shown in FIG. 9, a new shrink film 20a is used to cover the circuit area 12 but the detection circuit 111a on the new substrate 16a is exposed by a shrink film machine (not shown). A film with good shrinkage and a certain shrinkage stress will shrink under the action of light and/or temperature; in a possible embodiment, the film does not generate holes during the shrinkage process, but can well cover the circuit area and the above. components, and can play the effect of waterproof and anti-groove; in a possible implementation, the shrink film used is made of materials such as OPS, PE, PVC, POF, PET, etc.; Finally, as shown in FIG. 10, a new protective case 30a is made to cover the new shrink film 20a but the detection circuit 111a on the new substrate 16a is exposed, and finally a remanufactured disposable test piece is obtained. Figure 1 shows no substantial difference and can be used again for detection. In a possible embodiment, the protective shell is formed, for example, by injection in the film. In other possible implementations, the protective shell can also be pre-formed into two parts, the upper shell and the lower shell, and then the two parts are butted together to cover the test piece body. In a possible embodiment, the protective shell used is made of, for example, ABS, PE, PC, PP, PMMA, PVC, POM, PEEK, etc., and the material thereof is different from the shrink film. In the foregoing embodiment, a layer of shrink film is added to the disposable test piece, which can not only provide basic watertightness to the circuit area, but also prevent the protective case from sticking to the circuit area, and prevent the circuit area from being combined when the protective case is subsequently peeled off. It is damaged by peeling off, so that the purpose of recycling and reproducing the disposable test piece is realized, and the reproducing yield rate is ensured. In some embodiments, the protective case may also not stick to the circuit area, in which case the shrink film may be omitted.

10: Test piece body 10a: Test piece body 11: Detection area 111: Detection circuit 111a: Detection circuit 12: Circuit area 13: Electrochemical processing unit 14: Wireless transmission unit 15: Power supply unit 15a: Power supply unit 16: Substrate 16a: Substrate 161: Cutout area 17: Assemble the circuit board 18: Reed 20: Shrink film 20a: Shrink film 30: protective case 30a: protective case 40: Power interruption film

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disposable test piece according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a disposable test piece according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the test piece body of the disposable test piece according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4 to 10 are schematic diagrams of the reproducing process of the disposable test piece according to one embodiment of the present invention.

10: Test piece body 11: Detection area 111: Detection circuit 16: Substrate 17: Assemble the circuit board 20: Shrink film 30: protective case

Claims (6)

A recyclable and remanufactured disposable test piece, comprising: a test piece body, with a detection area for contacting with the sample to be detected and a circuit area not for contact with the sample to be detected, the detection area has a detection circuit, the detection circuit is electrically connected to the circuit area, and the detection circuit is used for electrochemical reaction with the sample to be detected; a shrink film covers the circuit area but exposes the detection circuit; and a protection shell, covering the shrink film but exposing the detection circuit, the material of the protective shell is different from the shrink film; wherein the test piece body further has an electrochemical processing unit arranged in the circuit area and covered by the shrink film, A wireless transmission unit and a power supply unit, the protective case does not directly contact the electrochemical processing unit, the wireless transmission unit and the power supply unit, the detection circuit is electrically connected with the electrochemical processing unit, and the electrochemical processing unit is used for Sending a control signal to the detection circuit for performing detection, the detection circuit is used for electrochemically reacting with the sample to be detected after receiving the control signal and feeding back a feedback signal to the electrochemical processing unit, the The electrochemical processing unit is further used for converting the feedback signal into a detection parameter signal, and for sending the detection parameter signal to a receiving unit not mechanically connected with the disposable test piece through the wireless transmission unit. to supply power to the electrochemical processing unit and the wireless transmission unit; wherein the test piece body includes a substrate and an assembled circuit board, the detection circuit is arranged on the substrate, the electrochemical processing unit, the wireless transmission unit and the power supply The unit is arranged on the assembled circuit board, and the assembled circuit board is overlapped with the base plate. The recyclable disposable test strip as claimed in claim 1 further includes a power activation means for a user to selectively activate the capability of the power supply unit to supply power to the electrochemical processing unit and the wireless transmission unit. The recyclable disposable test piece according to claim 1, wherein the substrate has at least one hollow area, and the electrochemical processing unit, the wireless transmission unit and the power supply unit are accommodated in the at least one hollow area. The disposable test piece that can be recycled and remade according to claim 1, further includes a power interruption film, the test piece body further includes a reed electrically connected to the circuit area, and the power interruption film is movably It is arranged between the substrate and the assembled circuit board and can be pulled away from a blocking position. When the power blocking film is located at the blocking position, the power blocking film is spaced apart from the reed and the power supply unit. From time to time, the power supply unit cannot supply power to the electrochemical processing unit and the wireless transmission unit. When the power supply blocking film is pulled away from the blocking position, the reed is electrically connected to the power supply unit so that the The ability of the power supply unit to supply power to the electrochemical processing unit and the wireless transmission unit is activated. A method for reproducing a disposable test piece as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising the steps of: removing the protective casing of the disposable test piece to be reproduced; The shrink film of the disposable test piece is removed; the substrate of the disposable test piece to be remade is replaced with a new one, and the power supply unit of the disposable test piece to be remade is replaced with A new power supply unit, and a new substrate is superimposed on the assembled circuit board of the disposable test piece to be reproduced so that the detection circuit on the new substrate and the disposable test piece to be reproduced are superimposed. forming an electrical connection with the circuit area on the assembled circuit board of the chip; making a new shrink film to cover the circuit area but exposing the detection circuit on the new substrate; and making a new protective case to cover the circuit area The new shrink film is covered but the detection circuit on the new substrate is exposed, and the material of the new protective case is different from that of the new shrink film. A recyclable and remanufactured disposable test piece, comprising: A test piece body, which has a detection area for contact with the sample to be detected and a circuit area for contact with the sample to be detected, the detection area has a detection circuit, and the detection circuit is electrically connected to the circuit area , and the detection circuit is used for electrochemical reaction with the sample to be detected; the test piece body further has an electrochemical processing unit, a wireless transmission unit and a power supply unit arranged in the circuit area, the detection circuit and The electrochemical processing unit is electrically connected, and the electrochemical processing unit is used for sending a control signal for performing detection to the detection circuit, and the detection circuit is used for electrochemically electrifying the sample to be detected after receiving the control signal chemical reaction and feedback a feedback signal to the electrochemical processing unit, the electrochemical processing unit is further used for converting the feedback signal into a detection parameter signal, and used for sending the detection parameter signal to an unrelated The disposable test piece is mechanically connected to the receiving unit, the power supply unit is used for supplying power to the electrochemical processing unit and the wireless transmission unit; the test piece body includes a base plate and an assembled circuit board, and the detection circuit is arranged on the a base plate, the electrochemical processing unit, the wireless transmission unit and the power supply unit are arranged on the assembled circuit board, and the assembled circuit board and the base plate are superimposed; and a protective shell covers the circuit area but exposes the detection circuit.

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