The application of thick film screen printing technology in the field of medical equipment, such as household medical equipment, high-precision medical testing equipment, etc
One effective means of controlling the progression of diabetes is to use a blood glucose meter for regular blood glucose testing to tightly manage medication and diet, maintaining stable blood glucose levels for patients.The accuracy of a blood glucose meter depends on the blood glucose test strips, which are consumables used in conjunction with the glucose meter. It is aslo a core component of the blood glucose monitoring system what can be understood as miniaturized electrochemical biosensors.
Blood glucose test strips are mainly composed of a substrate, electrodes (carbon coating, silver coating), insulating coating, enzyme coating (enzyme, electron mediator, stabilizer), double-sided adhesive, hydrophilic film, and a cover sheet. The main manufacturing processes for blood glucose test strips are thick-film screen printing and lamination.
The substrate of blood glucose test strips is typically made of PET material. The electrode layer, insulating coating, enzyme coating, and other layers of the test strip are printed onto the substrate using silk screen printing technology. To ensure the accuracy of blood glucose measurements, high-precision thick-film screen printing machines are used during the printing process to guarantee precision and consistency in the printing.
In the field of screen printing technology for medical devices, particularly in the area of electrochemical biosensors such as enzyme sensors, immunosensors, and gene sensors, thick-film screen printing is required. The following provides a brief explanation of the printing process for thick-film screen printing technology in glucose test strip sensors.
Thick film screen printing process
Currently, blood glucose test strips have variations, but their structures are generally the same, and the manufacturing process is relatively mature. The thick-film screen printing process involved is also relatively simple.
1.Components of the printed product: electrode layer, insulating layer, enzyme coating.
2.Requirements and functions of the screen: The casting screen frame is used for composite screen printing, with a tension of 30N and an angle of 22.5 degrees. The electrode layer screen has a mesh count of 325, ensuring conductivity for lines and welding points. The insulating layer screen also has a mesh count of 325 and serves to protect the underlying lines and insulate them from the air. The enzyme coating screen also has a mesh count of 325 to achieve the required thickness of the enzyme coating according to the product specifications.
3.Printing environment: Cleanroom with an indoor temperature between 22-26 degrees Celsius and a relative humidity of around 65%.
4.Printing process: The electrode layer is printed first, followed by the insulating layer, and finally the enzyme coating. After each layer is printed, it is dried before proceeding to the next layer.
5. Printing requirements: A high-precision silk screen printing machine is used, equipped with a CCD automatic alignment printing platform. The printing fixture board conforms to the product specifications with a mesh spacing of 1.2mm. The printing air pressure is set at 1.5kg (the printing air pressure should be adjustable and controllable).
