Patent ID: 9546996
Date: 2017-01-17
CPC Classifications: G01N,H01Q

Claim:
1. An apparatus for analysing the sequence of nucleotides in a nucleic acid sample, said apparatus comprising a substrate and a plurality of nanopores provided therein suitable for the passage of nucleic acid molecules therethrough; at least one sample holding chamber disposed upstream of the inlet of said nanopores, at least one detection window juxtaposed within or downstream of the outlet of each nanopore adapted to detect a property characteristic of one or more detectable elements associated with the nucleic acid as each nucleic acid molecule passes therethrough and a detector adapted to generate a data stream characteristic of the various detection events occurring in the detection window characterised in that the apparatus further comprises a means located within the sample holding chamber adapted to increase the local concentration of the nucleic acid sample adjacent the inlet of the nanopores relative to the bulk concentration thereof, wherein the concentrating means comprises a plurality of one or more different physical, chemical or biological structures adapted to bind selectively and reversibly to the nucleic acid molecules each of which structures are located on the substrate or on an element adjacent to the inlets of the nanopore.