Patent ID: 7201836

Claim:
A multiaperture system for analyzing membranous samples, comprising: a carrier having a plurality of apertures; at least two fluid compartments, separated by the carrier, and fluidically connected to one another, in the absence of a membranous sample, via at least one of the apertures, at least one fluid compartment including a suspension, and a substantially planar seal surface circling the aperture; a membranous sample from the suspension, selected from the group consisting of cells, organelles, and vesicles, sealed across one of the plurality of apertures, wherein the seal between the sample and the carrier is tight enough so that the variance of leakage currents through the aperture during electrical measurements lies below the signals to be measured by a factor of 5–10; and at least two electrodes in electrical contact with at least one of the fluid compartments, wherein the electrodes are adapted to apply and/or measure at least one of an electrical potential and a current, across at least a portion of the membranous sample sealed across the one of the plurality of apertures within the seal surface.