Chemical probe and enzyme sensor having anodized aluminum oxide membrane

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A biochemical probe for determining the freshness of fish or meat, or inspecting the nature of other animal tissues, employs a hypoxanthine enzyme sensor located at a sharp end of the probe. The sensor comprises a reference electrode, a pair of sensor electrodes and a, membrane that extends over these electrodes to form an outer face of the sensor, this face being a continuation of the surface of the shaft of the probe. The invention is characterized in that the membrane is a thin layer of anodized aluminum oxide which is highly porous and has a large number of small cells extending from the outer face into communication with the electrodes. The cells contain an electrolyte, and those of …