A microsensor array for biochemical sensing

A microsensor array to measure chemical properties of biological liquids is presented. A hybrid integration technique is used to mount four sensor chips on a micro flow channel: a pressure, temperature, pH, combined pO2 and pCO2 sensor chip. This results in a microsensor array which is developed to meet the technical requirements for space applications. The integration method allows to integrate other types of sensor chips. This multi-purpose and multi-user approach makes the microsensor array suitable for various biochemical applications

Spatially Controlled Membrane Depositions for Silicon-Based Sensors

The membrane deposition technology on silicon-based transducers constitutes the most delicate part of the miniaturized (bio)chemical sensor fabrication. Membrane adhesion to the transducer, reproducibility of the deposition process and its spatial control are the three most important parameters which determine the sensor performance and lifetime.The fabrication of two sensors is described: 1) a combined pO2, pCO2, pH sensor for which a polyacrylamide gel and a polysiloxane gas-permeable membrane were deposited and patterned at the on-wafer level and 2) a glucose amperometric enzyme electrode where the glucose oxidase was immobilized electrochemically either in a polypyrrole matrix or co-deposited with bovine serum albumin by electrochemically aided adsorption. The optimization of the deposition procedures allowed reproducible devices with reasonable lifetimes to be obtained

Development of a Space Bioreactor using Microtechnology

A miniature bio-reactor for the cultivation of cells aboard Spacelab is presented. Yeast cells are grown in a 3 milliliter reactor chamber. A supply of fresh nutrient medium is provided by a piezo-electric silicon micro-pump. In the reactor, pH, temperature, and redox potential are monitored and the pH is regulated at a constant value. The complete instrument is fitted in a standard experiment container of 63 x 63 x 85 mm. The bioreactor was used on the IML-2 mission in July 1994 and is being refurbished for a reflight in the spring of 1996