Patent ID: 8246910

Claim:
A sensing device for sensing an analyte, comprising: a) a rigid architecture including i) a first electrode layer, ii) an insulating region located on said first electrode layer, iii) a second electrode layer located on said insulating region and having a plurality of apertures therethrough, iv) a plurality of open wells in said insulating region aligned with and extending from said apertures in said second electrode layer, said plurality of open wells being configured to provide analytes therein with access to a time-dependent electric field produced by applying a time-dependent voltage between said first and second electrode layers such that when said time-dependent voltage is applied the time-dependent electric field is produced in said plurality of open wells, each of said plurality of open wells having a depth of at least molecular dimensions; b) a means for applying the time-dependent voltage between said first and second electrode layers wherein the time-dependent voltage produces a time-dependent response of said sensing device; and c) a detection means for detecting a change in the time-dependent response induced by a presence of the analyte in at least one of said plurality of open wells.