Fuel cell and analysis device that comprise it

Abstract

A fuel cell comprising: at least one microfluidic channel that allows the capillary flow of at least one suitable fluid for generating electricity, at least one receiving absorbent region coupled to each microfluidic channel, at least one collecting absorbent region coupled to each microfluidic channel, a cathodic zone coupled to each microfluidic channel, and an anodic zone coupled to each microfluidic channel, where each receiving absorbent region and each collecting absorbent region are coupled to one of the microfluidic channels such that when a fluid suitable for generating electricity is deposited in the receiving absorbent region, it flows by capillary action through the microfluidic channel to reach the collecting absorbent region where it is absorbed. As well as an analysis device comprising one or more of these fuel cells.

1 . A fuel cell comprising:
 a) at least one microfluidic channel that allows capillary flow of at least one suitable fluid for generating electricity,   b) at least one receiving absorbent region coupled to each microfluidic channel,   c) at least one collecting absorbent region coupled to each microfluidic channel,   d) a cathodic zone formed by at least a cathode coupled to each microfluidic channel, and   e) an anode zone formed by at least an anode coupled to each microfluidic channel,   where each receiving absorbent region and each collecting absorbent region are coupled to one of the microfluidic channels such that when the fluid suitable for generating electricity is deposited on the receiving absorbent region, it flows by capillary action through the microfluidic channel to reach the collecting absorbent region where it is absorbed.   
     
     
         2 . The fuel cell according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the microfluidic channels is made of paper. 
     
     
         3 . The fuel cell according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the regions receiving and collecting absorbers are made of paper. 
     
     
         4 . The fuel cell according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one electrode selected from the group consisting of any one of the anodes and any one of the cathodes coupled to each microfluidic channel comprise at least one enzyme catalyst. 
     
     
         5 . The fuel cell according to  claim 1 , wherein each microfluidic channel has coupled a cathodic zone comprising at least one cathode and it has a porous structure to receive and interact with oxygen from the atmosphere. 
     
     
         6 . The fuel cell according to  claim 1 , comprising a single microfluidic channel. 
     
     
         7 . The fuel cell according to  claim 1 , comprising a maximum of three separated receiving absorbent regions, each coupled to the microfluidic channel that allows the capillary flow of at least one suitable fluid for generating electricity. 
     
     
         8 . An analysis device comprising:
 i) at least one fuel cell such as described in  claim 1 ,   ii) at least one analysis microfluidic channel that allows the capillary flow of a liquid sample,   iii) at least one receiving absorbent region coupled to each analysis microfluidic channel, and   iv) at least one collecting absorbent region coupled to each analysis microfluidic channel   where each receiving absorbent region and each collecting absorbent region are connected to an analysis microfluidic channel so that when a liquid sample is deposited in the receiving absorbent region, it flows by capillary action through the analysis microfluidic channel to reach the collecting absorbent region where it is absorbed.   
     
     
         9 . The analysis device according to  claim 8 , comprising at least one conductive track connecting any one of the fuel cells within the analysis device with at least one element selected from the group consisting of at least one electrochemical sensor, at least one display system to visualize the results of the analysis and at least one electronic circuit. 
     
     
         10 . The analysis device according to  claim 1 , comprising at least one electrochemical sensor coupled to each analysis microfluidic channel and at least one conductive track connecting at least one of electrochemical sensors with at least one of the fuel cells comprised in the analysis device. 
     
     
         11 . The analysis device according to  claim 8 , comprising at least one display system and at least one conductive track connecting at least one of the display systems with at least one of fuel cells comprised in the analysis device. 
     
     
         12 . The analysis device according to  claim 8 , comprising at least one electronic circuit and at least one conductive track connecting at least one of the electronic circuits with at least one of the fuel cells comprised in the analysis device. 
     
     
         13 . The analysis device according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 v) at least one electrochemical sensor connected to each analysis microfluidic channel,   vi) at least one display system to visualize the results of the analysis,   vii) at least one electronic circuit, and   viii) a plurality of conductive tracks connecting each one of them at least two of the elements included in the analysis device and selected from the group consisting of at least one of the electronic circuit, at least one of the fuel cells, at least one of the electrochemical sensors and at least one of the display systems to visualize the results.   
     
     
         14 . The analysis device according to  claim 8 , wherein the receiving and collecting absorbent regions coupled to each of the analysis microfluidic channel are made of paper. 
     
     
         15 . The analysis device according to  claim 8 , wherein the receiving absorbent regions coupled to each analysis microfluidic channel are comprised, independently, in one of the receiving absorbent regions comprised in one of the fuel cells. 
     
     
         16 . The analysis device according to  claim 8 , wherein the collecting absorbent regions coupled to each analysis microfluidic channel are comprised, independently, in one of the collecting absorbent regions comprised by one of the fuel cells. 
     
     
         17 . The analysis device according to  claim 8 , wherein each analysis microfluidic channel is made of paper. 
     
     
         18 . The analysis device according to  claim 8 , wherein each electrochemical sensor comprising carbon electrodes. 
     
     
         19 . The analysis device according to  claim 8 , wherein each electronic circuit is a silicon-based microelectronic circuit. 
     
     
         20 . The analysis device according to  claim 8 , wherein each system to visualize the results of the analysis is a screen printed on paper. 
     
     
         21 . The analysis device according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one conductive track is made of carbon.