Method and microelectronic device for multi-site molecule detection
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for identifying molecular structures within a sample substance, comprising:
- an integrated circuit array sensor for outputting signals representative of the interaction of probe molecular structures on the surface of said sensor and target molecular structures within a sample substance (hereinafter “
target”
);
a controller unit for interfacing with said integrated circuit array sensor and accessing said signals representative of the interaction of probe and target molecular structures;
an input/output port for communicating with control, post-processing, and data storage circuits;
a chamber, such as a hybridization chamber, for exposing sensitive area of said integrated array sensor to the sample substance; and
a means for controlling and programmable changing of the temperature of said chamber, the sample substance and said integrated array sensor.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for identifying molecular structures within a sample substance using an integrated circuit array sensor having a plurality of test sites upon which the sample substance is applied. Each test site includes a probe formed therein to bond with an associated target molecular structure. An electrical signal produced on the test site upon forming or breaking of molecular probe-target duplexes is detected to determine which probes have bonded to an associated target molecular structure.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus for identifying molecular structures within a sample substance, comprising:
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an integrated circuit array sensor for outputting signals representative of the interaction of probe molecular structures on the surface of said sensor and target molecular structures within a sample substance (hereinafter “
target”
);
a controller unit for interfacing with said integrated circuit array sensor and accessing said signals representative of the interaction of probe and target molecular structures;
an input/output port for communicating with control, post-processing, and data storage circuits;
a chamber, such as a hybridization chamber, for exposing sensitive area of said integrated array sensor to the sample substance; and
a means for controlling and programmable changing of the temperature of said chamber, the sample substance and said integrated array sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for identifying molecular structures within a sample substance, comprising the steps of:
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(a) applying the substance to a plurality of test sites formed on a surface of said integrated circuit array sensor, said test sites having respective probes attached thereto which specifically bind to a target molecular structure, such that different test sites have probes which specifically bind to different target molecular structures;
(b) maintaining a constant preprogrammed temperature of the substance and said integrated circuit array sensor, or alternatively, running a preprogrammed temperature profile such as, but not limited to, gradually increasing or decreasing the temperature or, for example, stepwise changing of the temperature of the sample substance and said integrated array sensor;
(c) acquiring an electronic signal from a plurality of the pixels associated with the test sites, each test site covering at least one pixel of said integrated array sensor;
(d) detecting the amplitude of the electronic signals versus time from the test sites to determine which probes have interacted with an associated target molecular structure such that a plurality of different targets can be detected. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification