Biosensor, thin film electrode forming method, quantification apparatus, and quantification method

Abstract

A biosensor is disclosed comprising a support; a conductive layer composed of an electrical conductive material such as a noble metal, for example gold or palladium, and carbon; slits parallel to and perpendicular to the side of the support; working, counter, and detecting electrodes; a spacer which covers the working, counter, and detecting electrodes on the support; a rectangular cutout in the spacer forming a specimen supply path; an inlet to the specimen supply path; a reagent layer formed by applying a reagent containing an enzyme to the working, counter, and detecting electrodes, which are exposed through the cutout in the spacer; and a cover over the spacer. The biosensor can be formed by a simple method, and provides a uniform reagent layer on the electrodes regardless of the reagent composition.

1 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . A method of manufacturing a biosensor comprising the steps of:
 roughening the surface of an insulating support by exposing the surface of the insulating support to an ionized gas in a vacuum chamber, wherein the gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, argon, neon, helium, krypton and xenon;   forming a thin film electrode layer on the roughened surface of the insulating support, wherein the thin film electrode layer has a roughened surface that reflects the roughened surface of the underlying insulating support and wherein the thin film electrode layer comprises gold, palladium, ruthenium, and/or carbon;   dividing the thin film electrode layer into sections using a laser; and   forming a reagent layer comprising an enzyme and an electron carrier on at least a portion of the thin film electrode layer.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the thin film electrode layer has a thickness from 3 nm to 100 nm. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the roughening step comprises colliding the ionized gas against the surface of the insulating support. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the reagent layer comprises a hydrophilic polymer. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the insulating support comprises a resin material. 
     
     
         50 . A method of manufacturing a biosensor comprising the steps of:
 forming a thin film electrode layer on a roughened surface of an insulating support, wherein the thin film electrode layer has a roughened surface that reflects the roughened surface of the underlying insulating support and wherein the thin film electrode layer comprises gold, palladium, ruthenium, and/or carbon;   dividing the thin film electrode layer into sections using a laser; and   forming a reagent layer comprising an enzyme and an electron carrier on at least a portion of the thin film electrode layer.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the thin film electrode layer has a thickness from 3 nm to 100 nm. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the reagent layer comprises a hydrophilic polymer. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the insulating support comprises a resin material. 
     
     
         54 . A biosensor for quantifying a substrate included in a sample liquid comprising:
 a thin film electrode layer formed on a roughened surface of an insulating support, wherein the thin film electrode layer has a roughened surface that reflects the roughened surface of the underlying insulating support and wherein the thin film electrode layer comprises gold, palladium, ruthenium, and/or carbon; and   
       wherein the thin film electrode layer is divided into sections by a laser; and 
       a reagent layer comprising an enzyme and an electron carrier on at least a portion of the thin film electrode layer. 
     
     
         55 . The sensor of  claim 54 , wherein the thin film electrode layer has a thickness from 3 nm to 100 nm. 
     
     
         56 . The sensor of  claim 54 , wherein the thin film electrode layer has a thickness from 3 nm to 50 nm. 
     
     
         57 . The sensor of  claim 54 , wherein the reagent layer comprises a hydrophilic polymer. 
     
     
         58 . The sensor of  claim 54 , wherein the insulating support comprises a resin material.