Trapping molecular segments in nano-gaps
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsVenkat S. K. Balagurusamy, Stanislav Polonsky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A molecule trapping method includes forming a fluid bridge between a first reservoir and a second reservoir, translocating a molecule from the first reservoir to the second reservoir through the fluid bridge, detecting when a segment of the molecule is in the fluid bridge, breaking the fluid bridge and forming an a gap between the first and the second reservoirs, thereby trapping a segment of the molecule in the gap and making measurements on the segment of the molecule.
Claims15
A molecule trapping method, comprising:
- forming a fluid bridge between a first reservoir and a second reservoir;
- translocating a molecule from the first reservoir to the second reservoir through the fluid bridge;
- detecting when a segment of the molecule is in the fluid bridge;
- applying at least one of gas and an immiscible fluid to break the fluid bridge and form a gap between the first and the second reservoirs, thereby trapping a segment of the molecule in the gap;
- and
- making measurements on the segment of the molecule.
The method as claimed in claim, 1 wherein translocating the molecule in the fluid bridge comprises applying a first voltage across the first reservoir and the second reservoir.
A molecule trapping system, comprising:
- a first reservoir;
- a second reservoir coupled to the first reservoir;
- a gap formed of at least one of gas and an immiscible fluid is disposed between the first and second reservoirs, wherein the gap is configured to support a fluid bridge when the at least one of the gas and the immiscible fluid is not present;
- and
- a first voltage source in electrical communication with the first reservoir and the second reservoir.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.