Sequencer
AssigneeHuldagate Technologies Limited
InventorJoseph Prosser
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A biopolymer (e.g. DNA) sequencing system comprises a biopolymer capture element for capturing a biopolymer from a sample disposed on a substrate for receiving the sample which capture element is preferably provided by a helicase which further acts as a size exclusion molecular motor for delivering a biopolymer such as DNA to a discrete detection means associated with the capture element and the substrate. The detection means may detect signals or variances in a signal associated with the biomolecule and, in particular, components of the biomolecule (e.g. nucleotides or bases). The biomolecule may be returned to the sample. Highly efficient, high speed, low cost sequencing of biopolymers such DNA are thereby achievable.
Claims14
A system for sequencing a biopolymer, the system comprising:
- a substrate for receiving a sample containing biopolymer material of a biopolymer to be sequenced;
- a biopolymer capture element comprising a helicase configured to capture a biopolymer material from a sample and act as a molecular motor on the biopolymer material;
- and
- a discrete detection assembly associated with the biopolymer capture element and formed in or on the substrate, the discrete detection assembly comprising a passageway for passage of a biopolymer to be sequenced, the detection assembly comprising:
- an electrical assembly comprising a pair of opposing electrodes disposed in and across the passageway of the discrete detection assembly so as to detect biopolymer sequence features transversely to the orientation of a biopolymer molecular structure of the biopolymer to be sequenced;
- an upstream passageway inlet of the passageway, the upstream passageway inlet being downstream of the helicase and upstream of the electrical assembly;
- and
- a downstream passageway outlet of the passageway, the downstream passageway outlet being downstream of the electrical assembly, the downstream passageway outlet configured to deliver sequenced biopolymer material directly back to the sample,
- wherein the helicase is configured in relation to the discrete detection assembly to feed a biopolymer to be sequenced into the passageway via the upstream passageway inlet, through the electrical assembly to capture sequence-related data and to return the sequenced biopolymer via the downstream passageway outlet directly to the sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.