A FIELD-EFFECT DEVICE FOR THE DETECTION OF SMALL QUANTITIES OF ELECTRIC CHARGE, SUCH AS THOSE GENERATED IN BIO-MOLECULAR PROCESSES, BOUND IN THE VICINITY OF THE SURFACE

摘要

The device (1) allows the detection of small quantities of electrical charge (Qs) utilised for recognition of the gybridisation process of a single strand of DNA. It comprises a chip (2) in which is integrated an MOS device having a floating gate (7) a first portion (7a) of which extends in facing relation to a recess (8) formed in a surface of the chip (2) and accessible from outside the chip (2) and operable to retain an electrical charge (Qs) to be measured bound to it. A second portion (7b) of the gate (7) of the MOS device is coupled to a control electrode. (10) of the chip (2) by means of a capacitor (12) of predetermined value within the chip (2).