Fluidic nanotubes and devices
First Claim
1. A fluidic nanotube, comprising:
- a tubular member having first and second ends, and an inner bore between said first and second ends;
said tubular member having a non-porous inner wall;
said tubular member comprising a non-carbon, hydrophilic material;
wherein said nanotube is a functional component of a device selected from the group of devices consisting essentially of nanocapillary devices, field effect transistors, nanoelectrophoretic devices, detectors, DNA sequence detectors, immunosensors, tube-field-effect transistors, microfluidic wafers, nanocapillary wafers, electrode wafers, MEMS switching chips, transistors, sensors, thermoelectric devices, photonic devices, nanoelectromechanical actuators, nanoelectromechanical sensors, nanoscale fluidic bioseparators, and imaging devices.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Fluidic nanotube devices are described in which a hydrophilic, non-carbon nanotube, has its ends fluidly coupled to reservoirs. Source and drain contacts are connected to opposing ends of the nanotube, or within each reservoir near the opening of the nanotube. The passage of molecular species can be sensed by measuring current flow (source-drain, ionic, or combination). The tube interior can be functionalized by joining binding molecules so that different molecular species can be sensed by detecting current changes. The nanotube may be a semiconductor, wherein a tubular transistor is formed. A gate electrode can be attached between source and drain to control current flow and ionic flow. By way of example an electrophoretic array embodiment is described, integrating MEMs switches. A variety of applications are described, such as: nanopores, nanocapillary devices, nanoelectrophoretic, DNA sequence detectors, immunosensors, thermoelectric devices, photonic devices, nanoscale fluidic bioseparators, imaging devices, and so forth.
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Citations
109 Claims
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1. A fluidic nanotube, comprising:
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a tubular member having first and second ends, and an inner bore between said first and second ends;
said tubular member having a non-porous inner wall;
said tubular member comprising a non-carbon, hydrophilic material;
wherein said nanotube is a functional component of a device selected from the group of devices consisting essentially of nanocapillary devices, field effect transistors, nanoelectrophoretic devices, detectors, DNA sequence detectors, immunosensors, tube-field-effect transistors, microfluidic wafers, nanocapillary wafers, electrode wafers, MEMS switching chips, transistors, sensors, thermoelectric devices, photonic devices, nanoelectromechanical actuators, nanoelectromechanical sensors, nanoscale fluidic bioseparators, and imaging devices. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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2-4. -4 (canceled)
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16-56. -56 (canceled)
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57. A tubular field effect transistor (TFET), comprising:
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at least one semiconducting nanotube;
a reservoir fluidly coupled to each end of said nanotube;
a source electrode attached to a first end of said nanotube; and
a drain electrode attached to a second end of said nanotube;
wherein the passage of molecular species through said nanotube changes source to drain current flow. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60)
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61-68. -68 (canceled)
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69. A nanocapillary electrophoresis device, comprising:
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at least one hydrophilic nanotube;
a plurality of capture molecules retained within said nanotube for capturing or slowing selected molecular species;
a reservoir fluidly coupled to each end of said nanotube;
a source electrode coupled proximal a first end of said nanotube; and
a drain electrode coupled proximal a second end of said nanotube;
wherein the passage of molecular species through said nanotube changes ionic current flow. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
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72. A nanocapillary electrophoresis array technology (NEAT) device, comprising:
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a hydrophilic nanotube;
a plurality of capture molecules retained within said nanotube for capturing or slowing selected molecular species;
a reservoir fluidly coupled to each end of said nanotube;
a source electrode coupled proximal a first end of said nanotube;
a drain electrode coupled proximal a second end of said nanotube;
wherein the passage of molecular species through said nanotube changes ionic current flow;
wherein the above structures comprise an electrophoresis cell;
an array of said electrophoresis cells; and
means for detecting the current from each of said electrophoresis cells.
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80-99. -99 (canceled)
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100. A semiconductor device, comprising:
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a nanotube formed from a plurality of longitudinal segments and sheaths of alternatively doped semiconductor material; and
a plurality of electrical contacts coupled to said alternatively doped longitudinal segments and/or sheaths for establishing electrical connection to said device. - View Dependent Claims (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109)
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Specification