IP Library Granted Patent US 12693263
Granted Patent B2
US 12693263 · App. 19/364,124 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Molded flow channel

Inventors: Edward Liu (Saratoga, CA); Kenneth M. Stothers (San Jose, CA); Markus Wallgren (Los Altos Hills, CA); Janusz B. Wojtowicz (Sunnyvale, CA); Robert A. Yuan (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Roche Sequencing Solutions, Inc.
G01N27/44791G01N33/48721
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12693263
App. No.
19/364,124
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A nanopore based sequencing system includes a plurality of nanopore sensors. Each nanopore sensor has a portion for receiving a fluid. The nanopore based sequencing system includes a fluid chamber configured to guide the fluid over the plurality of nanopore sensors and an inlet configured to deliver the fluid into the fluid chamber. At least a portion of the fluid chamber is made of a material that has been molded around at least a portion of an electrode.

Claims (28)

1 . A nanopore based sequencing system, the system comprising:

a nanopore sensor array comprising a plurality of nanopore sensors, each nanopore sensor comprising a cell and a working electrode, wherein the nanopore sensor array is fabricated on a sequencing chip, wherein the sequencing chip is electrically connected to a printed circuit board with a plurality of wire bonds, wherein the wire bonds are covered by an encapsulant configured to prevent the wire bonds from coming into contact with liquids;

a counter electrode;

a flow channel disposed over the nanopore sensor array;

an inlet configured to deliver the fluid into the flow channel, wherein the inlet is located proximate a first side of the nanopore sensor array; and

an outlet configured to deliver fluid out of the flow channel, wherein the outlet is located proximate a second side of the nanopore sensor array, wherein the first side is opposite the second side.

2 . The nanopore based sequencing system of claim 1 , wherein the nanopore sensor array comprises one million nanopore sensors.

3 . The nanopore based sequencing system of claim 1 , wherein the cell is configured to support a membrane and a nanopore disposed in the membrane.

4 . The nanopore based sequencing system of claim 3 , wherein the nanopore is a protein nanopore.

5 . The nanopore based sequencing system of claim 4 , wherein the protein nanopore is attached to a polymerase.

6 . The nanopore based sequencing system of claim 5 , wherein the polymerase is associated with a nucleic acid molecule to be sequenced.

7 . The nanopore based sequencing system of claim 6 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule is circular.

8 . The nanopore based sequencing system of claim 1 , wherein the nanopore sensors are organized into a plurality of sensor banks.

9 . The nanopore based sequencing system of claim 1 , further comprising a fan-out plenum in fluid communication with the inlet, the fan-out plenum configured to receive fluid from the inlet and dispense the fluid outwardly into the flow channel.

10 . The nanopore based sequencing system of claim 9 , further comprising a reverse fan-out plenum in fluid communication with the outlet, the reverse fan-out plenum configured to receive fluid from the fluid channel and direct the fluid to the outlet.

11 . The nanopore based sequencing system of claim 1 , wherein the encapsulant is an adhesive.

12 . The nanopore based sequencing system of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is configured to seal the flow channel over the sensor array and to the printed circuit board.

13 . A nanopore based sequencing system, the system comprising:

a nanopore sensor array comprising a plurality of nanopore sensors, each nanopore sensor comprising a cell and a working electrode, wherein the cell is configured to support a membrane and a nanopore disposed in the membrane, wherein the nanopore is attached to a polymerase, wherein the polymerase is associated with a nucleic acid molecule to be sequenced, wherein the nucleic acid molecule is circular, wherein the nanopore sensor array is fabricated on a sequencing chip, wherein the sequencing chip is electrically connected to a printed circuit board with a plurality of wire bonds, wherein the wire bonds are covered by an encapsulant configured to prevent the wire bonds from coming into contact with liquids;

a counter electrode;

a flow channel disposed over the nanopore sensor array;

an inlet configured to deliver the fluid into the flow channel, wherein the inlet is located proximate a first side of the nanopore sensor array; and

an outlet configured to deliver fluid out of the flow channel, wherein the outlet is located proximate a second side of the nanopore sensor array, wherein the first side is opposite the second side.

14 . The nanopore based sequencing system of claim 13 , wherein the nanopore sensor array comprises one million nanopore sensors.

15 . The nanopore based sequencing system of claim 13 , wherein the nanopore sensors are organized into a plurality of sensor banks.

16 . The nanopore based sequencing system of claim 13 , further comprising a fan-out plenum in fluid communication with the inlet, the fan-out plenum configured to receive fluid from the inlet and dispense the fluid outwardly into the flow channel.

17 . The nanopore based sequencing system of claim 16 , further comprising a reverse fan-out plenum in fluid communication with the outlet, the reverse fan-out plenum configured to receive fluid from the fluid channel and direct the fluid to the outlet.

18 . The nanopore based sequencing system of claim 14 , wherein the encapsulant is an adhesive that is also configured to seal the flow channel over the sensor array and to the printed circuit board.