BIOSENSOR

• US 20100258438A1
• Filed: 06/25/2010
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PHC Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation), Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: TOKUNAGA, Hiroyuki, Yamanishi, Eriko, Miyazaki, Shoji
• Granted Patent: US 8,475,638 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/403.10
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/001 Enzyme electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3272 Test elements therefor, i.e. disposable laminated substrates with electrodes, reagent and channels optical biosensors G01N33/52

Abstract

In a biosensor that detects introduction of a sample liquid into a specimen supply path using a detecting electrode, a means of improving accuracy of detection is provided. The biosensor has: an electrode system including measuring electrode, counter electrode, and detecting electrode on first electrically insulating support; specimen supply path for introducing the sample liquid; and reagent layer used for quantifying a substrate contained in the sample liquid. The means is characterized in that detecting electrode is spaced from measuring electrode by a distance sufficient for the sample liquid to sufficiently cover measuring electrode before the sample liquid reaches detecting electrode.

Claims

1. A biosensor for quantifying a substrate contained in a sample liquid comprising:

a first electrically insulating support and a second electrically insulating support;

an electrode system having at least a measuring electrode, a counter electrode, and a detecting electrode,

a specimen supply path for introducing the sample liquid over said electrode system; and

an air hole formed on said specimen supply path and being in communication with said specimen supply path,

wherein said air hole is formed directly over said detecting electrode.

2. The biosensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said air hole is formed only over the detecting electrode.

3. The biosensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said detecting electrode is shaped to project in a direction of an inlet of said specimen supply path in a central position within said specimen supply path.

4. The biosensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said detecting electrode positioned within said specimen supply path has one of a V-shape, a U-shape, and a convex shape.

5. The biosensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said specimen supply path has a width ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 mm.

6. The biosensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said specimen supply path has a height ranging from 0.05 to 0.3 mm.

7. The biosensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electrode system is divided by providing a slit in an electrically conductive layer formed on one of all and part of an inner surface of at least one of said first electrically insulating support and said second electrically insulating support.

8. The biosensor as set forth in claim 7, wherein said slit is formed by machining the electrically conductive layer using a laser.

9. The biosensor as set forth in claim 3, wherein said detecting electrode positioned within said specimen supply path has one of a V-shape, a U-shape, and a convex shape.

10. The biosensor as set forth in claim 3, wherein said electrode system is divided by providing a slit in an electrically conductive layer formed on one of all and part of an inner surface of at least one of said first electrically insulating support and said second electrically insulating support.

11. The biosensor as set forth in claim 4, wherein said electrode system is divided by providing a slit in an electrically conductive layer formed on one of all and part of an inner surface of at least one of said first electrically insulating support and said second electrically insulating support.

12. The biosensor as set forth in claim 3, wherein an air hole in communication with said specimen supply path is formed.

13. The biosensor as set forth in claim 5, wherein an air hole in communication with said specimen supply path is formed.

14. The biosensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein a portion of the counter electrode extends between the measuring electrode and the central portion of the detecting electrode.

15. The biosensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the detecting electrode is shaped such that the central portion is positioned adjacent to each edge portion such that each edge portion of the detecting electrode is positioned nearer to the path boundary of the specimen supply path and farther from the measuring electrode than the central portion of the detecting electrode.

16. A biosensor according to claim 1, wherein a back edge of said counter electrode is closer to said measuring electrode at said center axis than said back edge of said counter electrode away from said center axis.

17. A biosensor for quantifying a substrate contained in a sample liquid comprising:

a first electrically insulating support and a second electrically insulating support;

an electrode system having at least a measuring electrode, a counter electrode, and a detecting electrode,

a specimen supply path for introducing the sample liquid over said electrode system; and

an air hole formed on said specimen supply path and being in communication with said specimen supply path,

wherein said air hole is formed over said detecting electrode downstream from a tip of said detecting electrode in a direction in which said sample liquid is introduced into said biosensor.

18. The biosensor as set forth in claim 17, wherein said air hole is formed only over the detecting electrode.