Patent ID: 7050272

Claim:
A magnetic read element comprising: a layer of magnetoresistive material having a first side, a second side, and an active side; a first layer of insulating material in contact with the first side of the layer of magnetoresistive material, wherein the first layer of insulating material is a thermal insulator; a second layer of insulating material in contact with the second side of the layer of magnetoresistive material, wherein the second layer of insulating material is a thermal insulator; a first layer of shielding material in contact with the first layer of insulating material; a second layer of shielding material in contact with the second layer of insulating material; and said magnetic read element having an active side that includes the active side of said magnetoresistive material, and further comprises a substantially planar surface disposed to face a recording medium in closely spaced relationship, said active side of said magnetic read element having two orthogonal dimensions comprising a total shield distance and an element width, respectively, wherein the element width is no greater than the total shield distance.