Patent ID: 7854016

Claim:
A process, comprising: manufacturing a probe structured to interact with a storage medium of a probe-storage system, the manufacturing including: forming a mold region delimiting an opening having, in cross-section, a width decreasing from a base portion; forming a monolithic suspended structure of conductive material comprising a first interaction tip extending within the opening and countershaped with respect to the opening, wherein forming the monolithic suspended structure comprises: depositing a monolithic layer of electrically conductive material on top of said mold region, and defining, from the monolithic layer of electrically conductive material, the monolithic suspended structure which includes: a first supporting arm and said first interaction tip projecting monolithically from said first supporting arm, a second supporting arm extending laterally with respect to the first supporting arm, and a central arm spaced apart and electrically insulated from said first and second supporting arms; and forming a stiffening structure of insulating material on top of, and connecting mechanically, said first and second supporting arms and said central arm.