Patent ID: 8749925

Claim:
A read element of a magnetic recording head, the read element comprising: a first shield; a magnetoresistance (MR) sensor formed on and in contact with the first shield, wherein the MR sensor has a top surface; an insulation layer formed on and in contact with the first shield within side regions of the MR sensor; hard bias magnets formed on and in contact with the insulation layer within the side regions of the MR sensor to a height that is completely below the top surface of the MR sensor; a sacrificial layer formed on and in contact with the hard bias magnets within the side regions of the MR sensor to a height that is completely above the top surface of the MR sensor; and a second shield formed on and in contact with the MR sensor and the sacrificial layer, wherein the sacrificial layer is sandwiched between and in contact with the hard bias magnets and the second shield within the side regions of the MR sensor.