Nanopore Polymer Memory Cells for Long-Term Data Encoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for alternative data storage solutions that can store large volumes of data for extended periods without the instability issues faced by existing media like hard drives, optical media, and magnetic tapes, which become corrupted over time.
Innovation Solution
A nanopore-based system using memory cells with multiple chambers, where DNA or polymers are steered through nanopores to add unique codes, enabling efficient data storage and retrieval by successively steering the polymer through the nanopore-based memory cells based on a predetermined digital data pattern.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional storage media (hard drives, optical media, magnetic tapes) are used to store data, then data can be stored on physical media, but the storage becomes unstable and corrupted after prolonged storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical storage media (hard drives, optical discs, magnetic tapes) with a biological system using DNA polymers and enzymatic reactions. Data is stored by incorporating nucleotides into DNA strands through biochemical processes rather than mechanical or magnetic means, fundamentally substituting the storage mechanism to achieve superior stability and longevity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite structures combining DNA polymers with protective proteins and specialized chemical moieties. The DNA strand itself is a composite of nucleotides, and the system incorporates additional protective layers and stabilizing molecules to enhance the durability and resistance to degradation of the stored data over extended periods.
2Quantity of substance
If nanopore-based DNA storage system is used, then data storage density and longevity are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nanopore device is divided into distinct functional modules: nanopore detection units for reading data, synthesis chambers for writing data, and control systems for coordination. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system architecture by distributing functions across separate units rather than requiring a monolithic complex device.
Solution Approach 2:
The nanopore device is designed with multi-functional capabilities, where the same nanopore structure can perform both reading (detection) and writing (synthesis) operations by adjusting operational parameters. The system can switch between different modes of operation and handle various DNA polymer types, reducing the need for multiple specialized devices and thereby managing complexity.
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
This approach provides a stable and efficient method for storing and retrieving data, offering high storage density and longevity, potentially surpassing the limitations of traditional storage media by using nanopore technology to encode data on polymers.
Implementation Method 1
steering the polymer through the nanopore-based memory cells
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of storing and reading digital data, including providing a nanopore polymer memory (NPM) device having at least one memory cell comprising at least two addition chambers each arranged to add a unique chemical construct (or codes) to a polymer (or DNA) string when the polymer enters the respective addition chamber, the data comprising a series of codes; successively steering the polymer from deblock chambers through the nanopore into the addition chambers to add codes to the polymer to create the digital data pattern on the polymer; and accurately controlling the bit rate of the polymer using a servo controller. The device may have loading chamber(s) to load (or remove) the polymer into/from the deblock chambers through at least one “micro-hole”. The cell may be part of a memory system that stores and retrieves “raw” data and allows for remote retrieval and conversion. The cell may store multi-bit data having a plurality of states for the codes.