Methods and apparatus for detecting molecular interactions using fet arrays
AssigneeLife Technologies Corporation
InventorsJonathan ROTHBERG, Wolfgang HINZ
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatuses relating to large scale FET arrays for analyte detection and measurement are provided. ChemFET (e.g., ISFET) arrays may be fabricated using conventional CMOS processing techniques based on improved FET pixel and array designs that increase measurement sensitivity and accuracy, and at the same time facilitate significantly small pixel sizes and dense arrays. Improved array control techniques provide for rapid data acquisition from large and dense arrays. Such arrays may be employed to detect a presence and/or concentration changes of various analyte types in a wide variety of chemical and/or biological processes.
Claims24
-23. (canceled)
A method for detecting a target analyte in a sample comprising
- providing an apparatus comprising a field-effect transistor array comprising at least 105 sensors, each sensor including a field-effect transistor comprising a floating gate structure and a dielectric layer formed on top of the floating gate structure, and a molecular recognition site on the surface of the dielectric layer, the molecular recognition site including a recognition molecule having a specificity for the target analyte;
- disposing a sample in proximity to or in contact with at least a portion of the sensor array, and
- identifying interactions between the recognition molecule and the target analyte present in the sample by detecting changes in electrical output of at least one of the field-effect transistors of the field-effect transistor array.
A method for detecting a target analyte in a sample comprising
- providing an apparatus comprising a field-effect transistor array comprising a plurality of sensors formed in a substrate, the sensors comprising a field-effect transistor having a floating gate structure comprising conductors formed in a plurality of conductor layers and electrically coupled to one another, a dielectric layer formed on top of the floating gate structure, and a molecular recognition site on the surface of the dielectric layer, the apparatus further comprising signal lines for the sensors within at least one of the conductor layers, the molecular recognition site including a recognition molecule having a specificity for the target analyte;
- disposing a sample in proximity to or in contact with at least a portion of the sensor array, and
- identifying interactions between the recognition molecule and the target analyte present in the sample by detecting changes in electrical output of at least one of the field-effect transistors of the field-effect transistor array.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.