Patent ID: 6682649
Filing Date: 2004-01-27
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An assembly, comprising:a plane substrate having a first side and a second side spaced apart from one another and defining a first substrate thickness, and a first surface part and an opposite second surface part spaced apart from one another and defining a second substrate thickness, the second substrate thickness being less than the first substrate thickness, a plurality of sites in the first surface part of the substrate each of which is adapted to hold an ion channel-containing structure contained in a liquid, and each of which has a passage therein through the substrate connecting the first surface part and the second surface part, said passage having walls and being dimensioned to hold an ion channel-containing structure and to form a high resistance seal between said ion channel-containing structure and said substrate around or along the walls of said passage with the aid of suction, a plurality of measuring electrodes, each of which is associated with a respective site, one or more reference electrodes affixed to the substrate, wherein the measuring electrodes and the respective reference electrode or reference electrodes are electrodes capable of passing, when in electrolytic contact with each other and when a potential difference is applied between them, a current between them by delivery of ions by one electrode and receipt of ions by the other electrode, each of the sites being adapted to provide a high electrical resistance seal established between an area of contact of the outer surface of an ion channel-containing structure held at the site and a first surface part of the substrate around or along the walls of said passage, the seal, when established, separating a domain defined on one side of the seal established by the ion channel-containing structure and in electrolytic contact with the measuring electrode from a domain defined on the opposite side of the seal established by the ion channel-containing structure and in electrolytic contact with the respective reference electrode, whereby a current flowing between the reference and respective measuring electrodes and through the ion channel-containing structure can be determined and/or monitored, the electrodes being integrated with the assembly and having been formed by a photolithography, etching, and conducting thin film deposition process, connection means for connecting the substrate to a suction means for creating a suction on said ion channel-containing structure and through said passage so as to enable the ion channel-containing structure to be positioned, sealed and ruptured by the suction, wherein, in use, the first surface part is in contact with the liquid containing the ion channel containing structure, the connection means forming an integral part of the assembly and extending from the second surface part of the substrate to the first side of the substrate.