Patent ID: 8425844

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a molecule identification device, including: a substrate; a first electrically-conductive comb, the first comb having a first back and a first plurality of tines spaced apart along the first back, each of the tines of the first plurality being formed of a composition that includes an inorganic electrical conductor or semiconductor and being located on the substrate; a second electrically-conductive comb, the second comb having a second back and a second plurality of tines spaced apart along the second back, each of the tines of the second plurality being formed of a composition that includes an inorganic electrical conductor or semiconductor and being located on the substrate, the tines of the first plurality being interlaced between the tines of the second plurality, wherein the interlaced tines are separated by gaps; and a first electrically-conductive pad located on the substrate and being electrically connected with the first comb, and a second electrically-conductive pad located on the substrate and being electrically connected with the second comb, wherein the first and second pads are capable of applying an externally-generated voltage across the combs, and wherein the apparatus is configured for selective identification of an amino acid-containing polypeptide or macromolecule.