Nanopore Array Potential Control for Low-Noise Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Nanopore sensors face limitations in performance due to manufacturing variations, noise from parasitics, and contaminated sensing components, which affect bandwidth, sensitivity, and control, especially in large arrays.
Innovation Solution
A nanopore sensing device with an array of structures featuring drive electrodes, electrical transduction elements, and control terminals to manage analyte movement and improve measurement accuracy by altering electrical potential differences across individual nanopores, using control signals to control the movement and direction of analytes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If solid-state nanopore sensors are manufactured with standard techniques, then manufacturing is relatively simple, but performance is limited by manufacturing variations and tolerances affecting bandwidth and sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the electrical potential difference across each nanopore structure through control terminals. This allows dynamic adjustment of the electrical parameters to compensate for manufacturing variations, thereby maintaining consistent sensor performance across different devices and batches without requiring ultra-precise nanopore fabrication.
2Productivity
If large arrays of nanopore structures are formed, then productivity increases, but control and measurement accuracy deteriorate due to parasitic noise and contaminated components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sensing system into individually addressable nanopore structures, each with its own control terminal and transduction element. This segmentation allows independent control and measurement of each sensor element in the array, enabling precise measurement of ionic current fluctuations through specific nanopores while minimizing interference and parasitic noise from neighboring structures, thus maintaining high measurement accuracy in large arrays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces control terminals as intermediary elements between the drive electrodes and the nanopore structures. These control terminals serve as mediators that can independently modulate the electrical potential at each nanopore, allowing for precise control of analyte translocation and measurement while isolating the sensing process from parasitic effects in the larger array system.
3Ease of operation
If control is applied to individual nanopore structures, then analyte movement control improves, but device complexity increases due to additional control terminals and circuitry
Solution Approach 1:
The control terminals serve multiple functions: they can independently adjust the electrical potential difference across individual nanopore structures for precise analyte translocation control, and they can also be used for measuring ionic current fluctuations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate control and sensing circuitry, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining excellent analyte movement control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances the control and measurement accuracy of nanopore sensors, allowing for efficient formation of large arrays with minimal interference, improving sensitivity and manufacturability while reducing noise and parasitic effects.
Implementation Method 1
drive electrodes connected respectively to the analyte reservoir and the outlet chamber for imposing an electrical potential difference across the passages
Implementation Method 2
electrical transduction elements, each element connected to, or exposed to, the passage of a respective nanopore structure for measuring the fluidic electrical potential at that electrical transduction element
Implementation Method 3
control terminals, each terminal connected to a respective nanopore structure for applying a control signal to alter the electrical potential difference across that nanopore structure
Data Source
AI summary
Devices for improved nanopore sensing are described. An example device has a structure arranged to separate an analyte reservoir and an outlet chamber. An example device has a structure arranged to separate an analyte reservoir and an outlet chamber. The structure can include an array of nanopore structures, each nanopore structure comprising a passage for fluid connection through the structure between the analyte reservoir and outlet chamber. Control terminals can be arranged for applying a control signal to alter the electrical potential difference across that nanopore structure. Some embodiments include an electronic circuit configured to detect a signal from an electrical transduction element at each nanopore structure. Additional structural features and methods of operating and making the devices are described.