US 11,739,380 B2
Counteracting osmotic imbalance in a sequencing cell
Geoffrey Barrall, San Diego, CA (US); Jason Komadina, Fremont, CA (US); and Marcin Rojek, Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Assigned to Roche Sequencing Solutions, Inc., Pleasanton, CA (US)
Filed by Roche Sequencing Solutions, Inc., Pleasanton, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/200,634.
Application 16/776,320 is a division of application No. 15/630,342, filed on Jun. 22, 2017, granted, now 10,577,653, issued on Mar. 3, 2020.
Application 17/200,634 is a continuation of application No. 16/776,320, filed on Jan. 29, 2020, granted, now 10,947,590.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/355,114, filed on Jun. 27, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0198736 A1, Jul. 1, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C12Q 1/6874 (2018.01); C12Q 1/6869 (2018.01); G01N 27/447 (2006.01); G01N 33/487 (2006.01)
CPC C12Q 1/6874 (2013.01) [C12Q 1/6869 (2013.01); G01N 27/44782 (2013.01); G01N 27/44791 (2013.01); G01N 33/48721 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
 
1. A system for analyzing molecules, the system comprising:
a sequencing chip comprising an array of cells, wherein a plurality of the cells of the array each comprise a well that is covered by a membrane that encloses a first electrolyte solution having a first osmolarity within the well, the membrane comprising a nanopore;
a reservoir coupled to the sequencing chip, the reservoir comprising a second electrolyte solution having a second osmolarity; and
a processor or a circuitry configured to:
flow the second electrolyte solution from the reservoir over the membrane covering the well, wherein the second osmolarity differs from the first osmolarity, thereby resulting in a first net transfer of ions between the first electrolyte solution and the second electrolyte solution through the nanopore in the membrane; and
apply a voltage across the membrane covering the well, wherein the voltage causes a second net transfer of ions between the first electrolyte solution and the second electrolyte solution through the nanopore in the membrane, wherein the first net transfer of ions and the second net transfer of ions substantially counterbalance each other.