Biosensor, thin film electrode forming method, quantification apparatus, and quantification method
View Patent ↗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. A method of quantifying an analyte in a liquid sample, comprising the steps of:
providing a sensor comprising:
a working electrode;
a terminal associated with the working electrode;
a counter electrode;
a terminal associated with the counter electrode;
a detection electrode; and
a terminal associated with the detection electrode;
identifying the sensor type by applying a first voltage between two points on the same electrode; and
quantifying the analyte in the liquid sample by applying a second voltage between the working electrode and the counter electrode;
wherein the sensor remains in the same position in the identifying and quantifying steps.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the electrodes and the terminals comprises a noble metal selected from the group consisting of palladium, platinum, gold, ruthenium, and a combination thereof.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor further comprises:
an insulating support on which the electrodes and the terminals are formed;
a reagent layer formed on the electrodes;
a spacer layer provided on the reagent layer where the spacer layer defines a supply path for bringing the sample liquid into contact with the reagent layer; and
a cover provided on the spacer layer.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the electrodes and the terminals has a thickness from 3 nm to 1000 nm.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the electrodes is separated by 0.005 mm to 0.3 mm.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the working electrode is surrounded by the counter electrode.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor further comprises:
a first insulating support,
a second insulating support, and
a supply path comprising an inlet for introducing the liquid sample;
wherein the electrodes and the supply path comprising the inlet are situated between the first insulating support and the second insulating support.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the sensor further comprises:
a reagent layer for quantifying the analyte in the liquid sample,
wherein the reagent layer is positioned on at least a portion of the electrodes, and
wherein the supply path brings the liquid sample into contact with the reagent layer.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor further comprises:
an insulating support,
a cover, and
a spacer layer comprising an inlet situated between the insulating support and the cover;
wherein the spacer layer defines a supply path for introducing the liquid sample.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the sensor further comprises:
a reagent layer for quantifying the analyte in the liquid sample,
wherein the reagent layer is positioned on at least a portion of the electrodes, and
wherein the supply path brings the liquid sample into contact with the reagent layer.