Biosensor

• US 6,309,526 B1
• Filed: 08/26/1999
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Healthcare Holdings Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Fujiwara, Masaki, Tokuno, Yoshinobu, Miyazaki, Shoji
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOGUEROLA, ALEXANDER STEPHAN
• Application Number:
  US09/384,103
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 204/412, 204/403, 427/2.11, 427/2.13
• US Class Current: 204/403.14
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3272 Test elements therefor, i.e. disposable laminated substrates with electrodes, reagent and channels optical biosensors G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/525 Multi-layer analytical elements

Abstract

A biosensor is fabricated by forming a metal film over the surface of a substrate through evaporation, sputtering or by gluing a metal foil, then splitting the metal film into three regions, and forming a reagent layer on an area of measuring electrode and two counter-electrodes for placing a liquid sample on by providing a cover disposed over the splitted metal film. As neither of the electrodes are formed through conventional printing technology, the electrodes can be formed without dispersion. As a result, a precision biosensor having excellent response characteristics is implemented.

Claims

1. A biosensor comprising:

an insulating substrate having a plurality of metal strips spaced apart and formed thereon, said metal strips having a thickness of 5 to 10 nm;

a plurality of covers spaced apart and formed on said strips to form a space between two of said covers so that one of said strips in said space defines a measuring electrode and another of said strips in said space defines a counter-electrode, and

a reagent layer provided over said measuring electrode and said counter-electrode.

2. A method of manufacturing a biosensor comprising the steps of:

(a) covering an insulating substrate with a plurality of metal strips so that said strips are physically separated from each other, said metal strips having a thickness of 5 to 10 nm;

(b) placing two covers separated from each other over said strips to define a measuring electrode and a counter electrode from said strips, and

(c) providing a reagent layer on said measuring electrode and counter-electrode.