Biosensor

1. A biosensor for determining a concentration of glucose in a sample, the biosensor comprising:

a first substrate and a second substrate disposed over the first substrate, wherein the first and second substrates define a sensor comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being configured for insertion into a sensor reader, wherein the proximal end comprises a narrow portion as compared to the distal end, and wherein the first substrate comprises a length extending from the proximal end to the distal end and the second substrate comprises a length extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the length of the second substrate is greater than the length of the first substrate;

a spacer layer disposed between the first and second substrates and defining an aperture along a first side edge of the sensor configured to receive a sample fluid;

a working electrode disposed on the narrow portion of the proximal end of the first substrate and extending to the distal end of the first substrate;

a mediator and a glucose dehydrogenase disposed on the working electrode; and

a counter/reference electrode disposed on the narrow portion of the proximal end of the second substrate and extending to the distal end of the second substrate.

2. The biosensor of claim 1 , wherein the spacer layer comprises a length extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the length of the spacer layer is shorter than the length of the first substrate and the length of the second substrate.

3. The biosensor of claim 1 , wherein the first substrate, second substrate and spacer layer define a space for housing a sample, the space for housing a sample being in communication with the aperture and having a volume that is no more than 1.0 μL.

4. The biosensor of claim 3 , wherein the space for housing a sample has a volume that is no more than 0.5 μL.

5. The biosensor of claim 1 , wherein the spacer layer defines an aperture along a second side edge of the biosensor configured to receive a sample fluid.

6. The biosensor of claim 5 , wherein the aperture along the first side edge is in communication with the aperture along the second side edge.

7. The biosensor of claim 1 , wherein the working electrode is constructed of a palladium material.

8. The biosensor of claim 1 , wherein the counter/reference electrode is constructed of a gold material.

9. The biosensor of claim 1 , wherein the mediator is potassium ferricyanide or parabenzoquinone.

10. A method of determining a concentration of glucose in a subject, the method comprising:

contacting body fluid of the subject with a biosensor to generate an electrical signal, the biosensor comprising:

a first substrate and a second substrate disposed over the first substrate, wherein the first and second substrates define a sensor comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being configured for insertion into a sensor reader, wherein the proximal end comprises a narrow portion as compared to the distal end, and wherein the first substrate comprises a length extending from the proximal end to the distal end and the second substrate comprises a length extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the length of the second substrate is greater than the length of the first substrate;

a spacer layer disposed between the first and second substrates and defining an aperture along a first side edge of the sensor configured to receive a sample fluid;

a working electrode disposed on the narrow portion of the proximal end of the first substrate and extending to the distal end of the first substrate;

a mediator and a glucose dehydrogenase disposed on the working electrode; and

a counter/reference electrode disposed on the narrow portion of the proximal end of the second substrate and extending to the distal end of the second substrate; and

determining the concentration of glucose in the body fluid using the generated electrical signal.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining the concentration of glucose comprises determining the concentration of glucose by amperometry using the generated electrical signal.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the spacer layer comprises a length extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the length of the spacer layer is shorter than the length of the first substrate and the length of the second substrate.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first substrate, second substrate and spacer layer define a space for housing a sample, the space for housing a sample being in communication with the aperture and having a volume that is no more than 1.0 μL.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the space for housing a sample has a volume that is no more than 0.5 μL.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the spacer layer defines an aperture along a second side edge of the biosensor configured to receive a sample fluid.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the aperture along the first side edge is in communication with the aperture along the second side edge.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the working electrode is constructed of a palladium material.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the counter/reference electrode is constructed of a gold material.

19. The method of claim 10 , wherein the mediator is potassium ferricyanide or parabenzoquinone.

20. A biosensor device comprising:

a device body having a connector part and a control part, the connector part having input terminals;

a biosensor comprising:

a first substrate and a second substrate disposed over the first substrate, wherein the first and second substrates define a sensor comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being configured for insertion into a sensor reader, wherein the proximal end comprises a narrow portion as compared to the distal end, and wherein the first substrate comprises a length extending from the proximal end to the distal end and the second substrate comprises a length extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the length of the second substrate is greater than the length of the first substrate;

a spacer layer disposed between the first and second substrates and defining an aperture along a first side edge of the sensor configured to receive a sample fluid;

a working electrode disposed on the narrow portion of the proximal end of the first substrate and extending to the distal end of the first substrate;

a mediator and a glucose dehydrogenase disposed on the working electrode; and

a counter/reference electrode disposed on the narrow portion of the proximal end of the second substrate and extending to the distal end of the second substrate,

wherein the input terminals of the connector part are electrically connected to the working electrode when the biosensor is inserted into the connector part of the device body.

21. The biosensor device of claim 20 , wherein the spacer layer comprises a length extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the length of the spacer layer is shorter than the length of the first substrate and the length of the second substrate.

22. The biosensor device of claim 20 , wherein the first substrate, second substrate and spacer layer define a space for housing a sample, the space for housing a sample being in communication with the aperture and having a volume that is no more than 1.0 μL.

23. The biosensor device of claim 22 , wherein the space for housing a sample has a volume that is no more than 0.5 μL.

24. The biosensor device of claim 20 , wherein the spacer layer defines an aperture along a second side edge of the biosensor configured to receive a sample fluid.

25. The biosensor device of claim 24 , wherein the aperture along the first side edge is in communication with the aperture along the second side edge.

26. The biosensor device of claim 20 , wherein the working electrode is constructed of a palladium material.

27. The biosensor device of claim 20 , wherein the counter/reference electrode is constructed of a gold material.

28. The biosensor device of claim 20 , wherein the mediator is potassium ferricyanide or parabenzoquinone.

29. A biosensor comprising:

an insulating material having a first surface and a second surface;

a first portion of an electrode disposed on the first surface of the insulating material;

a second portion of the electrode disposed on the second surface of the insulating material,

a through-hole located in the insulating material and in contact with the first portion of the electrode on the first surface of the insulating material and the second portion of the electrode on the second surface of the insulating material;

wherein the through-hole is filled with a conductive material thereby providing electrical communication between the first portion of the electrode on the first surface of the insulating material and the second portion of the electrode on the second surface of the insulating material.

30. The biosensor of claim 29 , wherein the through-hole is filled with carbon paste.

31. The biosensor of claim 29 , further comprising a second electrode.

32. The biosensor of claim 29 , wherein the electrode is a counter electrode.

33. The biosensor of claim 32 , wherein the counter electrode comprises platinum, gold, carbon, or palladium.

34. The biosensor of claim 29 , wherein the electrode is a working electrode.

35. The biosensor of claim 34 , wherein the working electrode comprises platinum, gold, carbon, or palladium.

36. The biosensor of claim 34 , wherein the working electrode comprises an analyte-responsive enzyme selected from the group consisting of glucose oxidase or glucose dehydrogenase.

37. The biosensor of claim 29 , wherein the biosensor comprises a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being configured for attachment to a device that measures the analyte, wherein the proximal end comprises a narrow portion as compared to the distal end.