Systems for forming a nanopore in a lipid bilayer

A system for forming a nanopore in a lipid bilayer, comprising:

• a chamber containing a nanopore forming solution, wherein the nanopore forming solution is deposited over a lipid bilayer;
• and
• a processor programmed to:
• control a source to initiate formation of a nanopore in the lipid bilayer, wherein initiating formation of a nanopore comprises applying an agitation stimulus level of a predetermined duration to the lipid bilayer;
• and
• after the agitation stimulus level, control the source to apply a measuring stimulus level to the lipid bilayer to determine that a nanopore has been formed based on a measurement in response to the measuring stimulus level, wherein an absolute magnitude of the agitation stimulus level is different from an absolute magnitude of the measuring stimulus level.

A system for forming a nanopore in a lipid bilayer, comprising:

• a chamber containing a nanopore forming solution, wherein the nanopore forming solution is deposited over a lipid bilayer, the nanopore forming solution having a concentration level and a corresponding activity level of pore molecules such that nanopores are preferentially inserted via an active mechanism that depends on a voltage stimulus waveform applied across the lipid bilayer over a passive mechanism that depends on a self-assembly process;
• and
• a processor programmed to:
• control a voltage source to initiate formation of a nanopore in the lipid bilayer, wherein initiating formation of a nanopore comprises applying the voltage stimulus waveform to the lipid bilayer;
• detect whether a nanopore has been formed in the lipid bilayer;
• and
• in the event that a nanopore is not detected, iteratively initiate formation of a nanopore in the lipid bilayer, comprising:
• controlling the voltage source to increase an amplitude of the voltage stimulus waveform applied to the lipid bilayer;
• and
• detecting whether a nanopore has been formed in the lipid bilayer.