Planar patch clamp electrodes
OwnerJames Klemic, Kathryn G. Klemic +2inventors
InventorsJames Klemic, Kathryn G. Klemic, Mark A. Reed, Frederick J. Sigworth
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Abstract
The present invention relates to ionic electrodes, particularly microelectrodes and electrode arrays, and also relates to fabrication methods for such electrodes. In particular, the present invention relates to planar polymer electrodes for making patch clamp measurements of ionic currents through biological membranes, such as the plasma membranes of living cells. The electrodes of the present invention are useful for measuring individual and multisite cell membrane currents and voltages, as well as in high-throughput screening procedures.
Claims15
A method of making an aperture in a polymer comprising:
- a) coating a mastermold with a curable polymer;
- b) flowing air through an aperture of about 0.1 to 10 micron in the mastermold;
- and
- c) curing the polymer on the coated mastermold to form an aperture in the polymer.
A method of making an electrode comprising:
- a) coating a support structure with freshly prepared polymer and placing the support structure on a mastermold;
- b) flowing air through an aperture of about 0.1 to 10 micron in the mastermold to form a hole in the freshly prepared polymer layer;
- and
- c) curing the polymer to form an electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.