Co-facial analytical test strip with stacked unidirectional contact pads

Abstract

An analytical test strip (“ATT”) for use with a test meter includes a first insulating layer, with a first insulating layer upper surface, and a first electrically conductive layer (“ECL”) disposed thereon. The first ECL includes a first electrode portion (“EP”) and an electrical contact pad in electrical communication with the first EP. The ATT also includes a patterned spacer layer disposed above the first ECL that includes (i) a distal portion defining a bodily fluid sample-receiving chamber therein that overlies the first EP and (ii) an insulating proximal portion with a second ECL disposed thereon. The second ECL includes an interlayer contact portion and an electrical contact pad. A third ECL of the ATT includes a second EP and a proximal portion that overlies the interlayer contact portion. The second EP is disposed overlying and exposed to the sample-receiving chamber in an opposing relationship to the first EP.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for determining an analyte in a bodily fluid sample, the method comprising:
 introducing a bodily fluid sample into a sample-receiving chamber of an analytical test strip, the sample receiving chamber having a first electrode portion of a first electrically conductive layer and a second electrode portion of a third electrically conductive layer therein, the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion being in an opposing relationship;   measuring an electrical response of the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion via an electrical contact pad of the first electrically conductive layer and via an electrical contact pad of a second electrically conductive layer of a patterned spacer layer of the analytical test strip, the patterned spacer layer being disposed between the first electrically conductive layer and the third electrically conductive layer and
 wherein the electrical contact pad of the first electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer are configured in a unidirectional stacked relationship, and 
 wherein the second electrode portion is in electrical communication with the electrical contact pad of the second electrically conductive layer; and 
   determining the analyte based on the measured electrical response.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the analytical test strip is an electrochemical-based analytical test strip. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  where the analyte is glucose. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the bodily fluid sample is a whole blood sample. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the analytical test strip includes at least one integrated carrier sheet configured solely as a user handle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the analytical test strip includes a first integrated carrier sheet and a second integrated carrier sheet. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein one of the first integrated carrier sheet and the second integrated carrier sheet is configured such that the electrical contact pad of the first electrically conductive layer and the electrical contact pad of the patterned conductor layer are exposed. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the electrochemical-based analytical test strip is configured for the determination of an analyte in a bodily fluid sample.