A biosensor is provided that comprises a plate element with a pre-determined reaction zone and a recess positioned adjacent to the reaction zone. The biosensor also comprises a reagent that is positioned on the reaction zone. In preferred embodiments, the recess circumscribes at least a portion of the reaction zone.
1. A method of forming an electrode set, comprising:
providing a plate element
forming recesses in the plate element;
positioning electrodes on the plate element, the electrodes cooperating to define an interdigitated electrode array, and
positioning a reagent on at least a portion of the electrodes, wherein at least one recess circumscribes at least a portion of the electrode array and wherein at least one recess is positioned within the electrode array.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the recesses has a width that is less than 1000 μm.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one recess has a width of 1 μm to 250 μm.
4. A method of forming a biosensor, the method comprising:
providing a top plate element and a bottom plate element, the bottom plate element having a first surface and a pre-determined reaction zone on the first surface,
forming a recess in the first surface adjacent to and circumscribing at least a portion of the reaction zone;
coating a reagent on at least a portion of the reaction zone; and extending the top plate element across the reagent so that the top plate element cooperates with the bottom plate element to define a gap, the gap having a sample opening and being sized to transport a liquid sample from the opening to the reagent, wherein at least a portion of the recess is positioned in the gap between the sample opening and the reagent.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the recesses are formed by laser ablation.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the recesses are formed by laser ablation.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein discrete recesses are formed in the plate element.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of forming electrodes on the reaction zone and the reagent engages at least a portion of the electrodes.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the recesses is formed to be linear in shape.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the recesses cooperate with one another to circumscribe at least a portion of the reaction zone.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one recess is formed to have a width that is less than 1000 μm.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one recess is formed to have a width of 1 μm to 250 μm.
13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the electrodes cooperate to define an electrode array with a pre-determined pattern.
14. The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the recesses is fanned to be curved in shape.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the recesses cooperate with one another to circumscribe at least a portion of the reaction zone.
16. The method of claim 4 , wherein the recess is formed to have a width that is less than 1000 μm.
17. The method of claim 4 , wherein the recess is formed to have a width of 1 μm to 250 μm.
18. The method of claim 4 , wherein the recess has is formed to have height of 0.5 μm to 500 μm.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the at least one wall is formed to have a height of 8 μm to 25 μm.
20. The method of claim 4 , wherein the recess is formed to be rectangular in shape.
21. A method of Coming a biosensor, the method comprising:
providing a top plate element and a bottom plate element, the bottom plate element including a first surface;
forming a recess in the first surface;
positioning a reagent on the first surface adjacent to the recess; and
coupling the a top plate element to the bottom plate element so that the top plate element extends across the reagent and cooperates with the bottom plate element to define a gap, the gap having a sample opening and sized to transport a liquid sample from the opening to the reagent, wherein at least a portion of the recess is positioned in the gap between the sample opening and the reagent and the recess circumscribes at least a portion of the reagent.
22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising the step of forming an electrode array having a pre-determined electrode pattern positioned between the top and bottom plate elements, wherein the reagent engages at least a portion of the electrode array.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the biosensor includes two spaced-apart recesses.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the recesses circumscribe at least a portion of the electrode array.
25. The method of claim 23 , wherein the recesses are positioned within the electrode pattern of the array.
26. A method of forming a biosensor, the method comprises the steps of:
providing a plate element;
ablating at least one recess in. the plate element;
applying a reagent onto the plate element to define a reaction zone, wherein the at least one recess circumscribes at least a portion of the reaction zone; and positioning a top plate element over the bottom plate element so that the top plate element extends across the reagent cooperates with the bottom plate element to create a gap having a liquid sample opening and at least a portion of at least one recess is positioned in the gap between the sample opening and the reaction zone.
27. The method of claim 26 , further comprising the step of forming an electrode set in the reaction zone.
28. The method of claim 26 , wherein the recesses are formed by laser ablation.
29. A method of forming a biosensor, the method comprising:
providing a plate element formed to include a first surface and a pre-determined reaction zone on the first surface,
forming discrete recesses in the first surface adjacent to and circumscribing at least a portion of the reaction zone;
positioning a reagent on at least a portion of the reaction zone; and
positioning electrodes on the reaction zone such that the electrodes cooperate to define an electrode array with a pre-determined pattern, wherein the reagent engages at least a portion of the electrodes and the discrete recesses are positioned within the pattern.