Patent ID: 7282130

Claim:
A biopolymer translocation apparatus for controlling lateral movement of a biopolymer as it translocates through a nanopore, comprising: (a) a first electrode; (b) a second electrode adjacent to said first electrode; (c) a third electrode adjacent to said second electrode, said third electrode being in electrical connection with said first electrode and defining a first set of electrodes; (d) a fourth electrode adjacent to said third electrode, said fourth electrode being in electrical connection with said second electrode and defining a second set of electrodes, wherein said first-electrode, said second electrode, said third electrode and said fourth electrodes define a nanopore wherein the nanopore is between the first and third electrodes and between the second and fourth electrodes; (e) a first voltage source for applying voltages to the first, second, third and fourth electrodes for producing an electric field for controlling lateral movement of said biopolymer as it translocates through said nanopore; and (f) a second voltage source and a current measuring device in electrical connection with said first and third electrodes for monitoring quantum tunneling through said biopolymer and said first and third electrodes.