Patent ID: 8506905

Claim:
An apparatus for forming a bilayer membrane by contact of amphipathic monolayers, the apparatus comprising: a) a substrate; b) a first microchannel formed on the substrate, wherein the first microchannel is supplied with an organic solvent comprising amphipathic molecules; c) a second microchannel formed on the substrate, orthogonally intersecting the first microchannel to form two opposing inlets; d) a square-shaped chamber at the intersection of the first and second microchannels, wherein a width of the square-shaped chamber is greater than widths of the two opposing inlets; e) at least one pump connected to ends of the second microchannel, said pump configured to supply the second microchannel with a liquid which is immiscible with the organic solvent; and f) a control unit connected to the at least one pump and configured such that a distance between opposing monolayer interfaces, which form between the organic solvent and the immiscible liquid in the square-shaped chamber, is controlled by pressure from the at least one pump allowing bilayer membrane formation by bringing the opposing monolayer interfaces into contact.