Abstract: A nanopump for pumping small volumes of electrolyte solution under the control of a voltage source is described. The device includes a chamber and a nanopore membrane which partitions the chamber into upstream and downstream regions. When a voltage potential is applied across the membrane, electroosmotic flow through the membrane channels produces a precise-volume flow between the two chamber regions. A method for precise-volume pumping employing the nanopump and a nanopump device for determining the lengths of nucleic acid fragments in an electrolyte solution of different-length fragments are also described.

Abstract: A self-contained delivery device for delivery a selected volume of stored electrolyte solution at selected time intervals is disclosed. The device includes a housing having a delivery port, a chamber containing an upstream supply reservoir for holding a quantity of electrolyte solution, a downstream delivery reservoir for receiving electrolyte solution from the supply reservoir and, disposed between the two reservoirs, a membrane having a plurality of flow-through channels extending between the two reservoirs. A pair of electrodes placed in the chamber on either side of the membrane and controlled by a controller contained within the housing for pumping selected quantities of the electrolyte solution at selected time intervals. The device includes a chamber, and a membrane disposed in said chamber and having a channel extending between an upstream chamber region, where the said channel has a selected minimum cross-sectional dimension in the range between 2 and 100 nm.

Abstract: A self-contained delivery device for delivery a selected volume of stored electrolyte solution at selected time intervals is disclosed. The device includes a housing having a delivery port, and contained within the housing, a chamber containing an upstream supply reservoir for holding a quantity of electrolyte solution, a downstream delivery reservoir for receiving electrolyte solution from the supply reservoir and, disposed between the two reservoirs, a membrane having a plurality of flow-through channels extending between the two reservoirs. A pair of electrodes placed in the chamber on either side of the membrane are controlled by a controller contained within the housing, for pumping selected quantities of the electrolyte solution at selected time intervals. The invention also includes a device for detecting a target nucleic acid sequence contained in a solution of solution of nucleic acid fragments.

Abstract: The invention includes a device for detecting a target nucleic acid sequence contained in a solution of solution of nucleic acid fragments. The device includes a chamber, and a membrane disposed in said chamber and having a channel extending between an upstream chamber region, where the said channel has a selected minimum cross-sectional dimension in the range between 2 and 100 nm. Attached to a wall portion of the channel, is a capture nucleic acid having a sequence complementary to the target sequence. Upstream and downstream electrodes disposed in the upstream and downstream chamber regions, respectively, are in contact with electrolyte solution placed in the corresponding chamber regions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nanopump for pumping small volumes of electrolyte solution under the control of a voltage source. The device includes a chamber and a nanopore membrane which partitions the chamber into upstream and downstream regions. When a voltage potential is applied across the membrane, electroosmotic flow through the membrane channels produces a precise-volume flow between the two chamber regions. Also disclosed is a method for precis-volume pumping employing the nanopump. Also disclosed is device for determining the lengths of nucleic acid fragments in an electrolyte solution of different-length fragments is disclosed. The device includes a chamber having disposed therein, a nanopore channel extending between upstream and downstream chamber regions. By applying a voltage potential across upstream and downstream electrodes in the chamber regions, individual nucleic acid fragments contained in the solution are moved through the channel.

Abstract: A self-contained delivery device for delivery a selected volume of stored electrolyte solution at selected time intervals is disclosed. The device includes a housing having a delivery port, and contained within the housing, a chamber containing an upstream supply reservoir for holding a quantity of electrolyte solution, a downstream delivery reservoir for receiving electrolyte solution from the supply reservoir and, disposed between the two reservoirs, a membrane having a plurality of flow-through channels extending between the two reservoirs. A pair of electrodes placed in the chamber on either side of the membrane are controlled by a controller contained within the housing, for pumping selected quantities of the electrolyte solution at selected time intervals. The invention also includes a device for detecting a target nucleic acid sequence contained in a solution of solution of nucleic acid fragments.