Optical and electrical methods and apparatus for molecule detection

US5653939A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology · US
• Houston Advanced Research Center · US
• Baylor College of Medicine · US

Inventors

• Mark A. Hollis · Concord, US
• Daniel J. Ehrlich · Lexington, US
• R. Allen Murphy · Boxboro, US
• Bernard B. Kosicki · Acton, US
• Dennis D. Rathman · Ashland, US
• Chang-Lee Chen · Sudbury, US
• Richard H. Mathews · Chelmsford, US
• Barry E. Burke · Spring, US
• Mitch D. Eggers · Diemelstraße, US
• Michael E. Hogan · Princeton, US
• Rajender S. Varma · Cincinnati, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 7, 1995
• Grant date: Aug 5, 1997
• Expiry date: Aug 7, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S436/807
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for identifying molecular structures within a sample substance using a monolithic array of test sites formed on a substrate upon which the sample substance is applied. Each test site includes probes formed therein to bond with a predetermined target molecular structure or structures. A signal is applied to the test sites and certain electrical, mechanical and/or optical properties of the test sites are detected to determine which probes have bonded to an associated target molecular structure.