Methods and apparatus for characterization of single polymers
First Claim
1. A method for determining velocity of an elongated polymer, the method comprising:
- a) defining at least one detectable region on the polymer;
b) causing relative movement of the elongated polymer through a plurality of linearly sequential detection zones, each separated a predetermined distance, to cause interactions between the detectable region and the detection zones, thereby producing a plurality of signal amplitude profiles, each signal amplitude profile being produced at a different detection zone and comprising data acquired before, during and after each interaction;
c) measuring each of the signal amplitude profiles in a time-correlated manner; and
d) analyzing the time-correlated measurements to determine the velocity of the polymer.
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Abstract
A method for determining the length and velocity of single elongated macromolecules is disclosed. In particular, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for determining the velocity of elongated polymeric molecules moving relative to one or more detection stations, as well as to methods and apparatus for determining the length of such molecules and the distance between landmarks that may be present on such molecules. The invention makes use of time correlated measurements of signal amplitude profiles that result from interactions between each detection station and portions of each macromolecule.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for determining velocity of an elongated polymer, the method comprising:
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a) defining at least one detectable region on the polymer;
b) causing relative movement of the elongated polymer through a plurality of linearly sequential detection zones, each separated a predetermined distance, to cause interactions between the detectable region and the detection zones, thereby producing a plurality of signal amplitude profiles, each signal amplitude profile being produced at a different detection zone and comprising data acquired before, during and after each interaction;
c) measuring each of the signal amplitude profiles in a time-correlated manner; and
d) analyzing the time-correlated measurements to determine the velocity of the polymer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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13. A method for determining the length of an elongated polymer, the method comprising:
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a) defining a detectable region along the entire length of the polymer;
b) causing relative movement of the elongated polymer through first and second detection zones, the zones being linearly spaced apart by a predetermined distance;
c) measuring a time interval between detection of the elongated polymer at the first detection zone and detection of the elongated polymer at the second detection zone;
d) dividing the predetermined distance between the first and second detection zones by the time interval of step c) to determine the velocity of the polymer;
e) measuring, at one of the detection zones, a time interval during which the polymer is detected; and
f) multiplying the velocity of step d) by the time interval of step e) to determine the length of the elongated polymer.
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14. A method for determining the distance between first and second landmarks on an elongated polymer, the method comprising:
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a) providing first and second landmarks on an elongated polymer;
b) causing relative movement of the elongated polymer through first and second detection zones, the zones being linearly spaced apart by a predetermined distance, to cause detection of the first and second landmarks at the first detection zone and detection of the first and second landmarks at the second detection zone;
c) measuring the time interval between detection of one landmark at the first detection zone and detection of that same landmark at the second detection zone;
d) dividing the predetermined distance between the first and second detection zones by the time interval of step c) to determine the velocity of the polymer;
e) measuring the time interval between detection of the first landmark at one detection zone and detection of the second landmark at that same detection zone; and
f) multiplying the velocity of step d) by the time interval of step e) to determine the distance between the first and second landmarks.
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Specification