Patent ID: 9184099
Filing Date: 2015-11-10
Classification: B01L,B82Y,G01N,H01L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for sensing target materials including biological or chemical molecules in a fluid, the apparatus comprising: a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) structure including an electrically-insulating layer; a fluidic channel supported by the SOI structure and configured and arranged to receive and pass a fluid including the target materials; at least two electrodes configured and arranged to pass current for facilitating electrophoretic flow or electroosmotic flow of the fluid through the fluidic channel; a semiconductor device including at least three electrically-contiguous semiconductor regions doped to exhibit a common polarity and located in the fluidic channel, the semiconductor regions including a sandwiched region sandwiched between two of the other semiconductor regions, and configured and arranged adjacent to the fluidic channel with a surface directed toward the fluidic channel for coupling to the target materials in the fluidic channel, and further arranged for responding to a change in potential; said two of the other semiconductor regions being configured and arranged at least partially on the electrically-insulating layer, being doped at a higher concentration than the sandwiched region and being electrically connected to end electrodes, wherein in response to the potential resulting from the target materials in the fluidic channel, said at least one contiguous semiconductor region is configured and arranged to sense the presence of the target materials in the fluidic channel in response to the flow of electrons in a conducting mode from one end electrode to another end electrode; and an amplification circuit supported by the SOI structure and configured and arranged to facilitate sensing the target material near or in the fluidic channel.