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 biosensor for quantifying a substrate in a sample liquid comprising:
 an insulating support;   a working electrode formed from an electrically conductive layer that is made of a noble metal and is provided on a surface of the insulating support;   a reagent layer on the working electrode;   a spacer layer provided on and covering part of the reagent layer, where the spacer layer defines a supply path for bringing the sample liquid into contact with the reagent layer and where the supply path formed by the spacer layer is narrower than the reagent layer; and   a cover provided on the spacer layer, where the cover comprises a counter electrode formed from an electrically conductive layer that is made of a noble metal and is provided on an inner surface of the cover;   wherein a portion of the counter electrode and a portion of the working electrode are in the supply path,   wherein part of the reagent layer is in the supply path, and   wherein the noble metal provided on the insulating support and the cover is formed in turn from an inlet to the inner part of the supply path.   
     
     
         46 . The biosensor of  claim 45 , wherein the noble metal is palladium, platinum, gold, ruthenium, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         47 . The biosensor of  claim 45 , wherein the working electrode and the counter electrode are separated by 0.005 mm to 0.3 mm. 
     
     
         48 . The biosensor as defined in  claim 45 , wherein the thickness of the conductive layer is less than 100 nm. 
     
     
         49 . The biosensor as defined in  claim 48 , wherein the thickness of the conductive layer is 3 to 50 nm. 
     
     
         50 . The biosensor as defined in  claim 45 , wherein the reagent layer includes an enzyme. 
     
     
         51 . The biosensor as defined in  claim 45 , wherein the reagent layer includes an electron transfer agent. 
     
     
         52 . The biosensor as defined in any of  claim 45 , wherein the reagent layer includes a hydrophilic polymer.