Stacked Sensing Arrangement for DNA Base Identification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods and devices face challenges in reliably distinguishing different components or portions of a fluidic sample, particularly DNA bases of a DNA strand, due to limitations in characterization and separation techniques.
Innovation Solution
A sensor device with a stacked sensing arrangement comprising multiple sensing layers and a nanopore with a small diameter, allowing fluidic samples to pass through and enabling multiple measurements and error cancellation, while the sensing layers are electrically insulated to improve resolution and distinguish different DNA bases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional single-layer sensing methods are used, then device complexity is low, but measurement precision and reliability are insufficient for distinguishing different DNA bases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing arrangement is divided into multiple stacked sensing layers (at least three layers), where each layer independently senses the fluidic sample at a different position. This segmentation allows multiple measurements of the same sample to be taken simultaneously, improving measurement precision and enabling better distinction between different DNA bases while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular layer construction
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-plane sensing approach to a three-dimensional stacked arrangement of sensing layers. By adding the vertical dimension with multiple layers separated by dielectric materials, the system achieves enhanced resolution and measurement precision without proportionally increasing overall device footprint, effectively resolving the contradiction between precision and complexity
2Measurement precision
If a larger nanopore diameter is used, then ease of operation and sample passage are improved, but measurement precision and resolution are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The nanopore diameter is optimized to a specific range (less than 20 nm, particularly less than 10 nm or 5 nm) to achieve the right balance. This parameter change ensures that the pore is small enough to provide high measurement precision and resolution for distinguishing DNA bases, while still being large enough to allow fluidic samples to pass through with reasonable ease of operation
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensing layers are stacked closely together, then measurement precision and resolution are improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Dielectric layers are introduced as intermediary structures between the conductive sensing layers. These dielectric layers provide both electrical insulation and mechanical spacing, allowing the sensing layers to be stacked closely together for high measurement precision while the dielectric materials facilitate manufacturing by providing clear separation and alignment references during the fabrication process
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
The sensor device achieves enhanced resolution and accuracy in analyzing fluidic samples by allowing multiple measurements of the same sample, enabling the identification of DNA bases and improving the characterization of biopolymers at the molecular level.
Implementation Method 1
a hole formed therein which is adapted to let pass the fluidic sample... the hole may be a nanopore having a circular or rectangular cross section... the diameter or width of the nanopore may be less than 20 nm
Implementation Method 2
U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,782 discloses that a voltage bias could drive single-stranded charged polynucleotides through a 1-2 nanometer transmembrane channel in a lipid bilayer
Implementation Method 3
Data in the form of variations in channel ionic current provide insight into the characterization and structure of biopolymers at the molecular and atomic levels
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor device for analyzing fluidic samples is provided. The sensor device includes a stacked sensing arrangement having at least three sensing layers and a multilayer structure. The multilayer structure has a hole formed therein which is adapted to let pass the fluidic sample and the stacked sensing arrangement is formed in the multilayer structure in such a way that the fluidic sample passes the stacked sensing arrangement when the fluidic sample passes the hole.