Lipid bilayer sensor system
First Claim
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1. A sensor system for measuring an electrical signal across a lipid bilayer, the sensor system comprising a cell and a portable electrical reader unit which are connectable together;
- wherein the cell defines two chambers separated by a septum, the septum comprising a membrane having an aperture capable of supporting a lipid bilayer and arranged between the chambers, wherein the chambers each have a volume in the range from 0.1 μ
L to 250 μ
L, and a depth of at most 3 mm between the septum and a respective closure sheet for each chamber,such that surface tension of a liquid in the chamber contains the liquid across an area of the chamber parallel to the septum, andsuch that an interface of the liquid with air in the chamber extends across the depth of the chamber;
wherein the cell has electrodes formed in each chamber for receiving an electrical signal developed between the chambers,wherein the electrical reader unit has a reader circuit operative to measure an electrical signal developed between the chambers of the cell, andwherein the cell and the electrical reader unit are arranged to be connected together to provide electrical connection between the electrodes of the cell and the reader circuit of the electrical reader unit.
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Abstract
A sensor system (1) for measuring an electrical signal across a lipid bilayer is formed by a cell (2) and an electrical reader unit (3) which are connectable together. The cell (2) is capable of supporting a lipid bilayer across an aperture (11) in a membrane (10) and has a construction which is cheap to manufacture. The reader unit (3) is a portable device which monitors an electrical signal generated in the connected cell (2) to allow analysis of that electrical signal. The sensor system (1) is intended for use outside of a laboratory setting.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A sensor system for measuring an electrical signal across a lipid bilayer, the sensor system comprising a cell and a portable electrical reader unit which are connectable together;
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wherein the cell defines two chambers separated by a septum, the septum comprising a membrane having an aperture capable of supporting a lipid bilayer and arranged between the chambers, wherein the chambers each have a volume in the range from 0.1 μ
L to 250 μ
L, and a depth of at most 3 mm between the septum and a respective closure sheet for each chamber,such that surface tension of a liquid in the chamber contains the liquid across an area of the chamber parallel to the septum, and such that an interface of the liquid with air in the chamber extends across the depth of the chamber; wherein the cell has electrodes formed in each chamber for receiving an electrical signal developed between the chambers, wherein the electrical reader unit has a reader circuit operative to measure an electrical signal developed between the chambers of the cell, and wherein the cell and the electrical reader unit are arranged to be connected together to provide electrical connection between the electrodes of the cell and the reader circuit of the electrical reader unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification