Patent ID: 6905586

Claim:
A nanoscale nucleic acid sequence detection apparatus comprising: a) a hydrophilic nonconductive substrate serving as a sample plate; b) a cathode macroelectrode located on one surface of said substrate; c) an anode macroelectrode located on said surface of said substrate such that the spacing between said cathode macroelectrode and said anode macroelectrode is greater than the length of one nucleic acid molecule, the spacing between said cathode macroelectrode and said anode macroelectrode defining a nucleic acid loading and delivery path; d) a molecular transport liquid located on said surface of said substrate; e) an injection device capable of introducing a sample nucleic acid molecule into said molecular transport liquid; f) a programmable pulse generator connected to said cathode macroelectrode and said anode macroelectrode, said programmable pulse generator capable of controllably moving a nucleic acid molecule contained in said liquid along the nucleic acid loading and delivery path between said cathode macroelectrode and said anode macroelectrode by means of a programmable electrophoresis electric field; g) a first nanoelectrode located on said surface of said substrate; h) a second nanoelectrode located on said surface of said substrate such that the gap between said first nanoelectrode and said second nanoelectrode crosses the nucleic acid loading and delivery path, the gap between said first nanoelectrode and said second nanoelectrode defining a nanometer-size nucleic acid detection gate on said hydrophilic nonconductive substrate; i) a first nonhydrophilic and nonconductive protective insulating shield constructed on said surface of said substrate along the sides of said first nanoelectrode, the construction of said first protective insulating shield such that only a tip of said first nanoelectrode remains exposed on said surface of said substrate; j) a second nonhydrophilic and nonconductive protective insulating shield constructed on said surface of said substrate along the sides of said second nanoelectrode, the construction of said second protective insulating shield such that only a tip of said second nanoelectrode remains exposed on said surface of said substrate; and k) a nucleic acid nucleotide base detection means located at said nucleic acid detection gate.