System and Method for Pixelated Fluid Assay

Abstract

A method of performing a fluid-material assay employing a device including at least one active pixel having a sensor with an assay site functionalized for selected fluid-assay material. The method includes exposing the pixel's sensor assay site to such material, and in conjunction with such exposing, and employing the active nature of the pixel, remotely requesting from the pixel's sensor assay site an assay-result output report. The method further includes, in relation to the employing step, creating, relative to the sensor's assay site in the at least one pixel, a predetermined, pixel-specific electromagnetic field environment.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . An active matrix assay device comprising:
 a plurality of pixels formed on a substrate surface, each pixel comprising:
 a digital communication interface; 
 a digitally addressable electronic switching structure connected to the communication interface; 
 an assay site; and, 
 a field-creation structure connected to the electronic switching structure, the field-creation structure configured to bathe the corresponding assay site with an energy field in response to digital commands. 
   
     
     
         19 . The active matrix assay device of  claim 18  wherein the assay site is functionalized with a substance having an affinity for an assay-specific-material. 
     
     
         20 . The active matrix assay device of  claim 19  wherein each pixel further comprises:
 a sensor connected to the electronic switching structure, the sensor configured to detect assay-specific-material interactions with the functionalized assay site, in response to digital commands. 
 
     
     
         21 . The active matrix assay device of  claim 20  wherein the sensor is selected from a group consisting of an optical detector, and a strain detector to detect target molecule-induced deflections in an assay site formed on a thin-film cantilever structure. 
     
     
         22 . The active matrix assay device of  claim 20  wherein the assay site comprises an oligonucleotide probe attached to an assay site surface. 
     
     
         23 . The active matrix assay device of  claim 22  wherein the sensor is configured to detect target molecule interactions with the oligonucleotide probe. 
     
     
         24 . The active matrix assay device of  claim 18  wherein the field-creation structure is selected from a group consisting of a light-creating structure, a heat-creating structure, and a non-uniform electrical field-creating structure. 
     
     
         25 . The active matrix assay device of  claim 19  wherein a first plurality of pixel assay sites are independently functionalized with substances to have an affinity with a corresponding first plurality of different assay-specific-materials. 
     
     
         26 . The active matrix assay device of  claim 18  wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of thin-film semiconductor layers overlying a support substrate selected from a group consisting of glass and plastic; and,
 wherein the assay site, field-creation structure, and sensor are formed in the thin-film semiconductor layers. 
 
     
     
         27 . A method for functionalizing an active matrix assay device, the method comprising:
 providing a device with a plurality of pixels formed on a substrate surface, each pixel comprising a digital communication interface, a digitally addressable electronic switching structure, an assay site, and a field-creation structure;   addressing a first pixel from the plurality of pixels;   selectively engaging the field-creation structure in the first pixel;   bathing the corresponding assay site with an energy field; and,   in response to the energy field, functionalizing the assay site with an affinity substance having an affinity for an assay-specific-material.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising:
 exposing the active matrix assay device to the affinity substance; and, 
 wherein functionalizing the assay site includes functionalizing the assay site in response to the combination of the energy field and the affinity substance exposure. 
 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein exposing the active matrix assay device to the affinity substance includes exposing the active matrix assay device to an oligonucleotide; and,
 wherein functionalizing the assay site includes functiona the assay site with an oligonucleotide probe having an affinity for a particular DNA target molecule. 
 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein exposing the active matrix assay device to the affinity substance includes exposing the active matrix assay device to a fluid including the affinity substance. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27  wherein bathing the corresponding assay site with the energy field includes bathing with an energy field selected from a group consisting of a light, heat, and a non-uniform electrical field. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27  wherein functionalizing the assay site includes independently functionalizing a first plurality of pixel assay sites with substances having an affinity with a corresponding first plurality of different assay-specific-materials. 
     
     
         33 . A method for reading an active matrix assay device, the method comprising:
 providing a device with a plurality of pixels formed on a substrate surface, each pixel comprising a digital communication interface, a digitally addressable electronic switching structure, a functionalized assay site, and a sensor;   addressing a first pixel from the plurality of pixels;   selectively engaging the sensor in the first pixel; and,   in response to engaging the sensor, identifying an assay-specific-material interacting with an affinity substance on the corresponding assay site.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein providing the device functionalized assay site includes providing a device where a plurality of pixels comprise an oligonucleotide probe attached to the assay site; and,
 wherein identifying the assay-specific-material includes identifying a target molecule interacting with a corresponding assay site oligonucleotide probe. 
 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the sensor is an optical detector. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the assay site is formed on a thin-film cantilever; and,
 wherein the sensor is a strain detector to detect assay-specific-material-induced deflections in the thin-film cantilever. 
 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33  wherein identifying the assay-specific-material includes independently identifying a first plurality of assay-specific-materials corresponding with a first plurality of different pixel assay sites.