Patent ID: 9274053
Filing Date: 2016-03-01
CPC Classification: B01L,G01N

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus, comprising: a substrate having at least one nanohole defined by a nanohole wall extending through the substrate, wherein the substrate and nanohole are configured to produce a plasmonic signal, wherein the substrate comprises a first layer and a second layer, the first layer and the second layer defining respective portions of the nanohole wall; a fluid inlet coupled to an inlet end of the at least one through nanohole and a fluid outlet coupled to an outlet end of the at least one through nanohole; an inlet side electrode situated at the inlet side of the at least one through nanohole and an outlet side electrode situated at the outlet side of the at least one through nanohole, wherein the inlet side electrode and the outlet side electrode are configured to apply a concentrating electric field in the at least one through nanohole; a pressure source configured to establish a pressure-driven fluid flow through the at least one through nanohole, wherein a fluid pressure and the concentrating field are selected to concentrate a charged species within the at least one nanohole, and the plasmonic signal is associated with the concentrated charged species in the at least one through nanohole; and a light source and a signal acquisition system, wherein the signal acquisition system is situated to acquire an optical signal from the at least one through nanohole in response to irradiation of the concentrated charged species in the at least one through nanohole by the light source, wherein the plasmonic signal is associated with the optical signal.