Apparatus and method for measuring reaction result of samples on biosensor

#The present invention relates to a biosensor device. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for determining whether or not a biosensor comprising two working electrodes and one reference electrode is well manufactured, and for rapidly and accurately quantifying a specific substance contained in a biological sample.

#Generally, a biosensor comprises an electrically insulating base plate, an electrode system including a plurality of electrodes and formed on the electrically insulating base plate using a screen printing method, and an enzyme reaction layer including a hydrophilic polymer, oxidoreductase and an electron acceptor and formed on the electrode system. When a sample liquid containing a substrate is dropped on the enzyme reaction layer of the biosensor, the enzyme reaction layer is dissolved to allow the substrate and enzyme to react with each other. At a result, the substrate is oxidized, and then the electron acceptor is reduced. After such an enzyme reaction finishes, the concentration of the substrate in the sample liquid is determined from an oxidation current obtained by electrochemically oxidizing the reduced electron acceptor.

#As a biosensor for quantifying a specific substance contained in a biological sample using an electrochemical manner, a glucose sensor is known. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a structure of the glucose sensor.

#The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

#FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional biosensor in which a reaction layer is omitted;

#FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the biosensor shown in FIG. 1;

#Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in more detail through preferred embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings in such a manner that it may easily be carried out by a person having ordinary skill in the art.

#FIGS. 3a and 3b are a top view and a back view of a biosensor, which is combined with an apparatus for measuring reaction results of a sample according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively. More specifically, FIGS. 3a and 3b are a top view and a back view of the biosensor in the application entitled “biosensor”, which was filed with the Korean Intellectual Patent Office (Appln. No. 2002-27971) by the present applicant. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the biosensor shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the biosensor shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b.

#Referring to FIG. 3a, the biosensor S combined with the apparatus (so called “biosensor device”) for measuring reaction results of a sample according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. A plurality of lead terminals 31 corresponding to the number of electrodes are formed at one end of an electrically insulating base plate the biosensor S. As shown in FIG. 3b, the lead terminals 31 are connected to electrodes 41, 42 and 43, respectively, formed at the other end of the electrically insulating base plate 20 through respective lead wires 32. As shown in FIG. 3a, a slit 71 is formed at a cover 70 of the biosensor S, and extends from a curved groove 72 formed at one end of the cover 70 toward the electrodes 41, 42 and 43 to at least above the electrodes 41, 42 and 43. The slit 71 acts as an air-vent when a biological sample is introduced by the capillary phenomenon.