Implantable lactate microsensor for muscle function monitoring

This paper presents the design and fabrication of a lactate sensor-based microsystem for on-line monitoring of muscle funtionality in the elderly with serious muscle paghologies. The microsystem is based on amperometric three electrodes silicon-based lactate sensors integrated in hypodermic needles. The sensor consists of two platinum electrodes, respectively the working electrode - where the enzyme lactate oxidase is immobilised - and the counter electrode, and of an Ag/AgCl electrode as reference. Silicon processing and micromachining techniques have been applied to the fabrication of the microsystem. Different configurations of electrodes have been designed and particular attention have been dedicated to microsystem packaging procedures