Patent ID: 7807042

Claim:
A method of patch clamp analysis of one or more biological cellular membranes, the method comprising: a. applying one or more cells comprising the one or more biological cellular membranes to a semiconductive substrate having at least one channel extending therethrough; b. applying a solid electrolyte to a lower part of the semiconductive substrate and at least one of the biological cellular membranes such that the solid electrolyte is in contact with a lower part of the at least one of the cellular membranes to conductively contact at least one of the one or more biological cellular membranes; c. placing a first electrode in conductive contact with a first side of at least one of the one or more biological cellular membranes, and a second electrode in conductive contact with a second side of the at least one of the one or more biological cellular membranes; d. scanning a laser beam cell by cell across the one or more biological cellular membranes, wherein the laser beam triggers the opening or closing of an ion channel of at least one of the one or more biological cellular membranes; and e. detecting a current between the first electrode and the second electrode.