Electrical patterns for biosensor and method of making

Abstract

The present invention provides an inventive biosensor that includes multiple regions in which the electrical pattern is formed from different electrically conductive materials. The present invention also provides an inventive method for mass producing biosensors as just described. In one embodiment of this method, first and second different electrically conductive materials are deposited side by side on a portion of an electrically insulating base material, and a plurality of electrical patterns is formed on the portion of the base material. Each electrical pattern includes a first region formed from the first electrically conductive material electrically connected to a second region formed from the second electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive materials can be deposited as layers on the base material and portions of the layers can be removed to form the electrical patterns, or, the electrical patterns can be formed by transferring the conductive material in the shape of the electrical pattern directly to the base material, such as by a laser direct transfer technique.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A biosensor for determining presence or concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample, comprising:
 a substrate having an electrical pattern formed thereon, the electrical pattern comprising a working electrode, a counter electrode, contact pads, and traces electrically connecting the working and counter electrodes to their respective contact pads;   one or more of a spacing layer and a covering layer overlying the substrate and cooperating with the substrate to define a sample receiving chamber;   the biosensor having a first region in which the electrical pattern is formed of a first electrically conductive material and a second region in which the electrical pattern is formed of a second electrically conductive material, wherein at least one of the traces includes a first section located in the first region electrically connected to a second section located in the second region, the first and second sections being comprised of the first and second electrically conductive materials, respectively.   
     
     
         28 . The biosensor of  claim 27 , wherein the first section and the second section partially overlap. 
     
     
         29 . The biosensor of  claim 27 , wherein the first electrically conductive material comprises a noble metal. 
     
     
         30 . The biosensor of  claim 29 , wherein the noble metal is gold. 
     
     
         31 . The biosensor of  claim 29 , wherein the second electrically conductive material comprises a material substantially more robust than a noble metal. 
     
     
         32 . The biosensor of  claim 31 , wherein the second electrically conductive material is copper or indium-tin oxide. 
     
     
         33 . The biosensor of  claim 31 , wherein the electrodes are located in the first region and the contact pads are located in the second region. 
     
     
         34 . The biosensor of  claim 27 , wherein the electrodes are located in the first region and a reagent layer overlies at least one of the electrodes. 
     
     
         35 . The biosensor of  claim 34 , wherein the reagent layer terminates substantially at the interface between the first and second regions. 
     
     
         36 . The biosensor of  claim 34 , wherein a portion of the first region of the electrical pattern extends beyond the reagent layer in a direction toward the transition between the first and second regions. 
     
     
         37 . The biosensor of  claim 34 , wherein the first region of the electrical pattern is formed from a noble metal. 
     
     
         38 . The biosensor of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one trace comprises at least four traces. 
     
     
         39 . The biosensor of  claim 27 , further comprising a generally thin and flat biosensor body having a length greater than its width, a dosing end, and a meter insertion end, wherein the dosing end is located in the first region and the meter insertion end is located in the second region. 
     
     
         40 . The biosensor of  claim 27 , further comprising a third region in which the electrical pattern is formed of a third electrically conductive material. 
     
     
         41 . The biosensor of  claim 40 , wherein the first, second and third regions are positioned side by side along a lengthwise direction of the biosensor. 
     
     
         42 . The biosensor of  claim 27 , further comprising a second substrate having at least one electrical feature formed thereon, the electrical feature facing the electrical pattern. 
     
     
         43 - 55 . (canceled)