ABSTRACT
As there is an extensive need for cheap disposable glucose sensors, the development of microelectrochemical glucose sensors with microelectronic techniques is the main topic in this book. In the medical world, the most important sensors are glucose sensors and sensors for the determination of dissolved oxygen in blood. The most important sensors for the control of vital functions are without doubt glucose sensors for diabetic patients and dissolved oxygen sensors for use in intensive care and during anaesthesia. As discussed already for glucose sensors, a receptor can be used in combination with different detectors, and one detector can be used in combination with several receptors, resulting in a large variety of biosensors. The need for planar sensors is detailed and the major applications of micro-electrochernical sensors are indicated. Thereafter, an alternative microelectronic production technique for planar voltammetric sensors is presented: namely, thick-film technology.
