Patent ID: 8707892

Claim:
An ionic conductance measurement system comprising: a single-side membrane forming apparatus including: a first fluid chamber adapted to retain a fluid, the first fluid chamber including a bottom wall and a sidewall having an aperture therein; and a second fluid chamber extending into the aperture, of the first fluid chamber, the second fluid chamber being adapted to retain a fluid and including a sidewall and a barrier wall separating the first fluid chamber from the second fluid chamber, wherein the barrier wall includes a nanopore formed therein, and wherein access to a side of the nanopore through the second fluid chamber is restricted for the purpose of membrane formation such that the forming apparatus provides for single-sided formation from the first fluid chamber of a planar lipid bilayer; a first electrode adapted to contact a fluid in the first fluid chamber; a second electrode adapted to contact a fluid in the second fluid chamber; and a controller in communication with the first and second electrodes and adapted to supply electricity to the first and second electrodes to produce a potential across the first and second electrodes and between the first and second fluid chambers in order to detect constant and time varying voltages across the first and second electrodes.