Abstract: The present invention provides microband electrode array sensors for detecting the presence and measuring the concentration of analytes in a sample. The microband electrodes of the invention have both a width and thickness of microscopic dimensions. Preferably the width and thickness of the microbrand electrodes are less than the diffusion length of the analyte(s) of interest. In general, both the thickness and width of the electrodes are less than about 25 micrometers. The electrodes are separated by a gap insulating material that is large enough that the diffusion layers of the electrodes do not overlap such that there is no interference and the currents at the electrodes are additive. Microband electrode arrays of this invention exhibit true steady-state amperometric behavior.

Abstract: The present invention provides microband electrode array sensors for detecting the presence and measuring the concentration of analytes in a sample. The microband electrodes of the invention have both a width and a thickness of microscopic dimensions. Preferably the width and thickness of the microband electrodes are less than the diffusion length of the analyte(s) of interest. In general, both the thickness and width of the electrodes are less than about 25 micrometers. The electrodes are separated by a gap insulating material that is large enough that the diffusion layers of the electrodes do not overlap such that there is no interference and the currents at the electrodes are additive. Microband electrode arrays of this invention exhibit true steady-state amperometric behavior.

Abstract: This disclosure describes new methods and devices for sensing redox-active analytes in solution. The invention combines a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor and a chemical electrode sensor. A conducting layer which supports SPR is attached to a voltage source. The voltage source is also connected to a reference electrode, which is in the aqueous solution with the SPR sensor. As the voltage is varied, the analytes undergo oxidation and reduction at the surface of the conducting film. The current is measured, just as it would be in a standard chemical electrode, with current peaks appearing at different potentials indicating different ions in the solution. Unlike a standard chemical electrode, the surface of the conducting film is also used to excite a surface plasmon wave (SPW). The SPW provides new information which is not available from any standard chemical electrode, such as the effective index of refraction at the surface of the conducting film as the analytes are being oxidized and/or reduced.

Abstract: A neural network for processing sensory information. The network comprise one or more layers including interconnecting cells having individual states. Each cell is connected to one or more neighboring cells. Sensory signals and signals from interconnected neighboring cells control a current or a conductance within a cell to influence the cell's state. In some embodiments, the current or conductance of a cell can be controlled by a signal arising externally of the layer. Each cell can comprise an electrical circuit which receives an input signal and causes a current corresponding to the signal to pass through a variable conductance. The conductance is a function of the states of the one or more interconnecting neighboring cells. Proper interconnection of the cells on a layer can produce a neural network which is sensitive to predetermined patterns or the passage of such patterns across a sensor array whose signals are input into the network.