Methods and apparatus for measuring analytes
AssigneeLife Technologies Corporation
InventorsJonathan ROTHBERG, Todd REARICK
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus relating to FET arrays including large FET arrays for monitoring chemical and/or biological reactions such as nucleic acid sequencing-by-synthesis reactions. Some methods provided herein relate to improving signal (and also signal to noise ratio) from released hydrogen ions during nucleic acid sequencing reactions.
Claims21
-20. (canceled)
A sensor for detecting a bio-chemical event, the apparatus comprising:
- an Ion Sensitive Field Effect Transistor (ISFET) having a source electrode, a drain electrode and a gate electrode, the gate electrode configured to communicate with a sensor plate;
- a wall encircling the sensor plate to form a well, the well having an aperture at a distal end and a surface at a proximal end, the sensor plate defining a portion of the surface.
An apparatus for detecting a bio-chemical event, the apparatus comprising:
- an array having a plurality of sensors arranged in rows and columns, a first of the plurality of sensor having a Field Effect Transistor (FET) with a source electrode, a drain electrode and a gate electrode, the gate electrode configured to communicate with a sensor plate;
- a wall encircling the sensor plate to form a well, the well having an aperture at a distal end and a surface at a proximal end, the sensor plate defining a portion of the surface;
- and
- a readout circuit in communication with the first sensor to identify a biochemical event the first sensor.
A method for detecting an incorporation event, the method comprising:
- introducing a ssDNA to a reaction site, the reaction site having an aperture at a distal end of the reaction site and a surface at a proximal end;
- inducing a reaction by introducing one of a nucleotide complementary with the first reactant to the reaction site, the reaction releasing one or more ions;
- capturing the one or more ions at a sensor plate extending over a portion of the surface;
- and
- detecting the incorporation event by measuring a charge fluctuation at the sensor plate from the one or more captured ions.
The method of claim 40, further comprising introducing a bead comprising an ssDNA to a reaction site and positioning the bead substantially directly above the sensor plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.