Apparatus and method for biopolymer identification during translocation through a nanopore

An apparatus for detecting a biopolymer translocating a nanopore, comprising:

• (a) a first electrode having a first nanopore;
• (b) a second electrode adjacent to said first electrode having a second nanopore wherein said first nanopore of said first electrode is positioned with said second nanopore of said second electrode so that said biopolymer may translocate through said first nanopore and said second nanopore;
• and
• (c) potential means for electrically connecting said first electrode and said second electrode for applying a ramping voltage over an energy spectrum of the biopolymer from said first electrode through a portion of said biopolymer to said second electrode to produce a detectable signal indicative of a portion of said biopolymer translocating said first nanopore and said second nanopore;
• wherein ramp-time of the applied voltage is short compared to a nucleotide translocation time through the nanopore.

An apparatus for detecting a portion of a biopolymer translocating a nanopore, comprising:

• (a) a first electrode;
• (b) a second electrode spaced from said first electrode to define a nanopore between said first electrode and said second electrode, said nanopore designed for receiving a translocating biopolymer, said first electrode being in electrical connection with said second electrode;
• and
• (c) potential means for electrically connecting said first electrode and said second electrode for applying a ramping voltage over an energy spectrum of the biopolymer from said first electrode, across said biopolymer to said second electrode to produce a signal indicative of a portion of said biopolymer translocating said nanopore;
• wherein ramp-time of the applied voltage is short compared to a nucleotide translocation time through the nanopore.

An apparatus for detecting a biopolymer in a nanopore, comprising:

• (a) a first electrode;
• (b) a second electrode adjacent to said first electrode;
• (c) a nanopore adjacent to said first electrode and said second electrode and positioned to allow said biopolymer to be positioned between said first electrode and said second electrode;
• and
• (d) potential means for electrically connecting said first electrode and said second electrode for applying a ramping voltage over an energy spectrum of the biopolymer from said first electrode, through a portion of said biopolymer in said nanopore, to said second electrode to produce a signal indicative of said portion of said biopolymer,
• wherein ramp-time of the applied voltage is short compared to a nucleotide translocation time through the nanopore;
• and
• wherein said ramping voltage induces resonant tunneling.

A method for identifying a biopolymer translocating through a nanopore, comprising:

• (a) applying a ramping voltage over an energy spectrum of the biopolymer from a first electrode through a portion of said biopolymer to a second electrode to identify said portion of said biopolymer positioned in said nanopore;
• wherein ramp-time of the applied voltage is short compared to a nucleotide translocation time through the nanopore;
• and
• wherein said ramping voltage induces resonant tunneling.