Patent ID: 8968663
Filing Date: 2015-03-03
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for monitoring membrane-bound proteins in a cell, comprising: a chamber divided into an upper well and a lower well by an insulating partition; a pore penetrating the insulating partition and having a size and shape so as to snugly hold a cell in place between the upper well and lower well; a radio frequency interrogating circuit for delivering radio frequency interrogating signals to the cell, including a belt electrode located within the insulating partition and situated directly adjacent to the pore and substantially encircling the pore; a current injecting electrode located on a surface of the insulating partition; and a plurality of voltage sensing electrodes for measuring the radio frequency impedance of a membrane of the cell, wherein at least one of the plurality of voltage sensing electrodes is located on the surface of the insulating partition, wherein changes in the impedance signals presence of a protein in the membrane of the cell and a state of the protein.