US Patent 7410616 Device for the controlled exposure of reservoir-based sensors

Devices are provided for the controlled exposure of a sensor or sensor component. The device may include a substrate; at least one reservoir provided in the substrate; at least one sensor or sensor component located in the at least one reservoir; at least one reservoir cap closing an opening in the at least one reservoir to isolate the sensor or sensor component from a selected environmental component outside of the at least one reservoir; at least one intermediate barrier layer disposed in the at least one reservoir between the reservoir cap and the sensor or sensor component; and means for disintegrating the reservoir cap to expose the sensor or sensor component to the selected environmental component.