Nanopore-based sequencing with varying voltage stimulus

A system for analyzing a molecule in a nanopore, the system comprising:

• a voltage source;
• a capacitor;
• a working electrode in electrical communication with the capacitor;
• a counter electrode;
• a switch configured to selectively connect the voltage source with the capacitor or disconnect the voltage source from the capacitor, wherein the capacitor is configured to store a charge received from the voltage source when the voltage source is connected to the capacitor and wherein the capacitor is configured to discharge the stored charge through a nanopore in a membrane disposed between the working electrode and the counter electrode when the voltage source is disconnected from the capacitor, wherein the switch is configured to selectively connect both the capacitor and the working electrode with the voltage source or to disconnect both the capacitor and the working electrode from the voltage source;
• and
• a processor programmed to:
• determine a rate of voltage decay across the capacitor when the voltage source is disconnected from the capacitor;
• and
• determine the state of the nanopore based on the determined rate of voltage decay.

A system for analyzing a molecule in a nanopore, the system comprising:

• a voltage source;
• a capacitor;
• a working electrode in electrical communication with the capacitor;
• a counter electrode;
• a switch configured to selectively connect the voltage source with the capacitor or disconnect the voltage source from the capacitor, wherein the capacitor is configured to store a charge received from the voltage source when the voltage source is connected to the capacitor and wherein the capacitor is configured to discharge the stored charge through a nanopore in a membrane disposed between the working electrode and the counter electrode when the voltage source is disconnected from the capacitor;
• and
• a processor programmed to:
• determine a rate of voltage decay across the capacitor when the voltage source is disconnected from the capacitor;
• and
• determine the state of the nanopore based on the determined rate of voltage decay, wherein the rate of voltage decay is determined by measuring a magnitude of a drop in voltage over a fixed time interval.

A system for analyzing a molecule in a nanopore, the system comprising:

• a voltage source;
• a capacitor;
• a working electrode in electrical communication with the capacitor;
• a counter electrode;
• a switch configured to selectively connect the voltage source with the capacitor or disconnect the voltage source from the capacitor, wherein the capacitor is configured to store a charge received from the voltage source when the voltage source is connected to the capacitor and wherein the capacitor is configured to discharge the stored charge through a nanopore in a membrane disposed between the working electrode and the counter electrode when the voltage source is disconnected from the capacitor;
• and
• a processor programmed to:
• determine a rate of voltage decay across the capacitor when the voltage source is disconnected from the capacitor;
• and
• determine the state of the nanopore based on the determined rate of voltage decay, wherein the rate of voltage decay is determined by measuring a length of time required for a fixed voltage drop.

A system for analyzing a molecule in a nanopore, the system comprising:

• a voltage source;
• a capacitor;
• a working electrode in electrical communication with the capacitor;
• a counter electrode;
• a switch configured to selectively connect the voltage source with the capacitor or disconnect the voltage source from the capacitor, wherein the capacitor is configured to store a charge received from the voltage source when the voltage source is connected to the capacitor and wherein the capacitor is configured to discharge the stored charge through a nanopore in a membrane disposed between the working electrode and the counter electrode when the voltage source is disconnected from the capacitor;
• and
• a processor programmed to:
• determine a magnitude of a drop in voltage across the capacitor over a fixed time interval when the voltage source is disconnected from the capacitor;
• and
• determine the state of the nanopore based on the determined magnitude of the drop in voltage, wherein the state of the nanopore is selected from the group consisting of an open channel, a first molecule disposed within the nanopore, a second molecule disposed within the nanopore, a third molecule disposed within the nanopore, and a fourth molecule disposed within the nanopore.

A system for analyzing a molecule in a nanopore, the system comprising:

• a voltage source;
• a capacitor;
• a working electrode in electrical communication with the capacitor;
• a counter electrode;
• a switch configured to selectively connect the voltage source with the capacitor or disconnect the voltage source from the capacitor, wherein the capacitor is configured to store a charge received from the voltage source when the voltage source is connected to the capacitor and wherein the capacitor is configured to discharge the stored charge through a nanopore in a membrane disposed between the working electrode and the counter electrode when the voltage source is disconnected from the capacitor;
• and
• a processor programmed to:
• determine a length of time required for a fixed drop in voltage across the capacitor when the voltage source is disconnected from the capacitor;
• and
• determine the state of the nanopore based on the determined length of time.