Sample positioning and analysis system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for analyzing the presence or activity of ion channels in membranous samples, comprising:
- a carrier having an aperture and a substantially planar seal surface circling the aperture;
first and second fluid compartments, separated by the carrier, and fluidically connected to one another, in the absence of a membranous sample, via the aperture;
a membranous sample, selected from the group consisting of cells, organelles, and vesicles, sealed across the aperture, wherein the seal has an electrical resistance of greater than about 1GΩ
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first and second electrodes, in electrical contact with the first and second fluid compartments, respectively, wherein the first and second electrodes are adapted to apply and/or measure at least one of an electrical potential and a current from at least a portion of the membranous sample sealed across the aperture within the seal surface; and
a sample-analysis mechanism adapted to perform a fluorescence measurement on a sample positioned about the aperture.
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Abstract
Systems for positioning and/or analyzing samples such as cells, vesicles, cellular organelles, and fragments, derivatives, and mixtures thereof, for electrical and/or optical analysis, especially relating to the presence and/or activity of ion channels.
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Citations
64 Claims
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1. A system for analyzing the presence or activity of ion channels in membranous samples, comprising:
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a carrier having an aperture and a substantially planar seal surface circling the aperture; first and second fluid compartments, separated by the carrier, and fluidically connected to one another, in the absence of a membranous sample, via the aperture; a membranous sample, selected from the group consisting of cells, organelles, and vesicles, sealed across the aperture, wherein the seal has an electrical resistance of greater than about 1GΩ
;first and second electrodes, in electrical contact with the first and second fluid compartments, respectively, wherein the first and second electrodes are adapted to apply and/or measure at least one of an electrical potential and a current from at least a portion of the membranous sample sealed across the aperture within the seal surface; and a sample-analysis mechanism adapted to perform a fluorescence measurement on a sample positioned about the aperture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for analyzing the presence or activity of ion channels in membranous samples, comprising:
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a carrier having an opening and a substantially planar seal surface circling the aperture; first and second fluid compartments, separated by the carrier, and fluidically connected to one another, in the absence of a membrane sample, via the opening; first and second electrodes, in electrical contact with the first and second fluid compartments, respectively, wherein the first and second electrodes being adapted to apply and/or measure at least one of an electrical potential and a current from at least a portion of a membranous sample sealed within the opening; a membranous sample, selected from the group consisting of cells, organelles, and vesicles, sealing the opening within the seal surface; and a sample-analysis mechanism adapted to perform a fluorescence measurement on a sample positioned about the aperture. - View Dependent Claims (22, 24, 25)
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23. The system of clam 21, wherein the opening has a wall surrounding an interior.
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26. A system for analyzing the presence or activity of ion channels in membranous samples, comprising:
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a carrier having a planar surface, an aperture at the planar surface, and a substantially planar seal surface circling the aperture; first and second fluid compartments, separated by carrier, and fluidically connected, in the absence of a sample, via the aperture; a membranous sample, selected from the group consisting of cells, organelles, and vesicles, sealed across the aperture, wherein the seal has an electrical resistance of greater than about 1 gigaohm; first and second electrodes, in electrical contact with the first and second fluid compartments, respectively, wherein the first and second electrodes are adapted to apply and/or measure at least one of an electrical potential and a current from at least a portion of the membranous sample sealed across the aperture within the seal surface; and a sample-analysis mechanism adapted to perform fluorescence measurement on a sample positioned about the aperture. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A system for analyzing the presence or activity of ion channels in membranous samples, comprising:
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a carrier comprising (i) a pluralilly of layers, the plurality including at least a first layer and a second layer having different compositions, (ii) an aperture that traverses the first and second layers, and (iii) and a substantially planar seal surface circling the aperture; first and second fluid compartments, separated by the carrier, and fluidically connected to one another, in the absence of a sample, via the aperture; a membranous sample, selected from die group consisting of cells, organelles, and vesicles, sealed across the aperture; first and second electrodes, in electrical contact with the first and second fluid compartments, respectively, wherein the first and second electrodes are adapted to apply and/or measure at least one of an electrical potential and a current from at least a portion of the membranous sample sealed across the aperture within the seal surface; and a sample-analysis mechanism adapted to perform a fluorescence measurement on a sample positioned about the aperture. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A system for analyzing the presence or activity of ion channels in membranous samples, comprising:
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a earner comprising (i) an aperture, (ii) a substatially planar seal surface circling the aperture, and (iii) a binding surface associated with the aperture, the binding surface being adapted to bind a membranous sample such that the sample seals across the aperture; first and second fluid compartments, separated by the carrier, and fluidically connected to one another, in the absence of a sample, via the aperture; a membranous sample, selected from the group consisting of cells, organelles, and vesicles, bound to the binding surface, and sealed across the aperture within the seal surface; first and second electrodes, in electrical contact with the first and second fluid compartments, respectively, wherein the first and second electrodes are adapted to apply and/or measure at least one of an electrical potential and a current from at least a portion of the membranous sample sealed across the aperture; and a sample-analysis mechanism adapted to perform a fluorescence measurement on a sample positioned about the aperture. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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Specification