Integrated circuit biochip microsystem
AssigneeUT-Battelle, LLC
InventorsTuan Vo-Dinh, Alan Wintenberg, Milton N. Ericson
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Abstract
The present invention discloses a self-contained miniature DNA biosensor designed to detect specific molecular targets, particularly suitable for detection of nucleic acids. For example, hybridized DNA may be detected without external monitoring or signal transmission. The miniaturized biosensor is a biochip comprising multiple biological sensing elements such as DNA probes, excitation microlasers, a sampling waveguide equipped with optical detectors (fluorescence and Raman), integrated electro-optics, and a biotelemetric radio frequency signal generator. The novel integrated circuit biochip microsystem (ICBM) is suitable for gene analysis and will allow rapid, large-scale, and cost-effective production of gene biochips.
Claims45
An integrated circuit based detection system comprising:
- a biosensor having at least one sensing element for selectively combining with target molecules, said biosensor generating a signal when combined with said target molecules responsive to incident electromagnetic radiation applied to said biosensor/target combination;
- and
- an integrated circuit microchip to which the biosensor is affixed, the integrated circuit microchip including:
- a plurality of detection channels operatively associated with said sensing elements, each of said detection channels including a detector for detecting electromagnetic signals, said detectors selected from the group consisting of photodiodes and phototransistors.
An integrated circuit based detection system having tuneable detection channels, comprising:
- a biosensor having at least one sensing element for selectively combining with target molecules, said biosensor generating a signal when combined with said target molecules responsive to incident electromagnetic radiation applied to said biosensor/target combination;
- and
- an integrated circuit microchip to which the biosensor is affixed, the integrated circuit microchip including:
- a plurality of tuneable detection channels operatively associated with said sensing elements, each of said detection channels including a detector for detecting electromagnetic signals and a dedicated signal processor.
An integrated circuit comprising:
- a) a detector capable of detecting an electromagnetic signal;
- b) a direct source of electromagnetic radiation, said direct source of electromagnetic radiation being integrated with the integrated circuit;
- and
- a) at least one sensing element operably associated with the integrated circuit wherein said sensing element selectively combines with a target molecule, said sensing element generating a signal when combined with said target molecules responsive to incident electromagnetic radiation applied to said sensing element/target combination.
The integrated circuit of claim of 19, wherein the direct source of electromagnetic radiation radiates light in the visible, ultraviolet, infrared, near-infrared, x-ray or radio frequency spectrum.
A method for detecting biomolecules in a sample, comprising:
- providing an integrated circuit based detection system having a plurality of tuneable detection channels, each of said detection channels including a detector for detecting electromagnetic signals and a dedicated signal processor, and
- at least one sensing element operably associated with said detection channels for selectively combining with target molecules, said sensing element generating a signal when combined with said target molecules responsive to incident electromagnetic radiation applied to said sensing element/target combination, said signal processors being integrated with the integrated circuit and having adjustable transfer characteristics for individualized processing of said signals generated by said sensing element on each of said detection channels;
- exposing said sample to said sensing elements;
- illuminating at least one of said sensing elements with electromagnetic radiation;
- separately processing signals from said sensing elements on each of said detection channels, wherein said processing can be different across said detection channels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.