This successful marriage of semiconductor sensors and biochemistry address a diversity of potential biochemical diagnostics and measurements including detection and quantification of human, animal and plant diseases. This innovation overcomes low sensitivity and drift problems associated with earlier semiconductor biochemical sensing. Prototype devices have been developed and successfully tested. Experiments have shown high sensitivity and high specificity biochemical detection with very large electronic outputs measured. Multiple target detection and senor arrays with enhanced signal amplification and automation are enabled in this silicon IC technology.
Biochemical detection uses specific device architectures and processes.
Typical large voltage or current output signals, proportional to the receptor-bound specific biochemical molecule density and its electric charges, are measured. Add-on amplifier devices can further enhance the already high detection sensitivity. Sensor devices may be prepared to simultaneously detect multiple specific biochemical species. Sensor device arrays may be constructed to provide multiple detection means in a single low cost, multi-diagnostic IC chip. Experimental results are available to support of the invention.