Patent ID: 11913941
Assignee: BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  B  C | IPC B  C  G

Claim 0:
1. A method of detecting a plurality of target molecules, comprising:
providing a plurality of microbeads, where each microbead of the plurality of microbeads comprises a surface comprising a plurality of capture molecules that each specifically binds one or more of the plurality of target molecules;
contacting a sample suspected of containing the plurality of target molecules with the plurality of microbeads under conditions that allow binding of the plurality of capture molecules to the plurality of target molecules;
applying the plurality of microbeads to a first microfluidic chip, the microfluidic chip comprising a membrane, the membrane comprising a first side, a second side, and a pore, the pore comprising a first opening on the first side of the membrane and a second opening on the second side of the membrane, the pore further comprising an ionic current flowing from the first side to the second side and a capture volume;
trapping the plurality of microbeads within the capture volume of the pore using optical trapping or fluid flow;
while the plurality of microbeads are trapped within the capture volume of the pore, releasing the plurality of target molecules from the plurality of capture molecules, such that the plurality of target molecules pass through the pore; and
measuring the change in ionic current, thereby detecting the plurality of target molecules as they pass through the pore.