Patent ID: 7027270

Claim:
A magnetic data storage and retrieval system including a magnetic reader and a magnetic storage media having a generally planar surface, the magnetic storage media having information stored thereon, the magnetic reader having an air bearing surface generally parallel to the surface of the magnetic media, the magnetic reader further comprising: a bottom shield with a width generally parallel to the air bearing surface; a nonmagnetic metallic pedestal positioned on a first portion of the bottom shield, the nonmagnetic metallic pedestal having a width generally parallel to the air bearing surface that is less than the width of the bottom shield such that the nonmagnetic metallic pedestal is not on a second portion of the bottom shield; a bottom reader gap layer positioned over the nonmagnetic metallic pedestal and on the bottom shield; a biasing element positioned on the bottom reader gap layer; a magnetoresistive stack positioned on the bottom reader gap layer; current leads positioned adjacent the magnetoresistive stack; a top reader gap layer positioned on the magnetoresistive stack; and a top shield.