RADIO-FREQUENCY ION CHANNEL PROBE
First Claim
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1. A high frequency cell membrane analyzer comprising:
- an electrically insulating support providing support region for holding a cellular membrane fixed with respect to the electrically insulating support;
a first and second electrode on opposite sides of the support regions separated by the cellular membrane; and
circuitry providing a high-frequency signal across the first and second electrodes to determine changes of impedance across the cellular membrane from measurement of a change in electrical resonance.
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Abstract
A patch-clamp system employs a high-frequency characterization of cell wall membranes. Changes in the frequency response of a tank circuit incorporating the cell wall membrane impedance provides highly sensitive and highly time-resolved measurements of ion channel activity.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A high frequency cell membrane analyzer comprising:
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an electrically insulating support providing support region for holding a cellular membrane fixed with respect to the electrically insulating support; a first and second electrode on opposite sides of the support regions separated by the cellular membrane; and circuitry providing a high-frequency signal across the first and second electrodes to determine changes of impedance across the cellular membrane from measurement of a change in electrical resonance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of measuring ion transport through a cellular membrane comprising the steps of:
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(a) placing a cellular membrane to span a lip formed on an insulating substrate so that the lip and membrane separate a first and second electrode on opposite sides of the lip; (b) applying a high-frequency electrical signal across the electrodes to determine an impedance therebetween; and (c) monitoring changes in the impedance to detect ionic transport through the cellular membrane for events having a time resolution of substantially less than 20 μ
s. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification