US Patent 8232074 - Nanotips for measuring electrical properties of cells

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/8232074.html

This patent from Cellectricon teaches nanoelectrode arrays performing high-throughput electrophysiological recordings for drug discovery. Claim 1 reads:

1. A microfluidic system comprising:

a) at least one measurement chamber wherein the measurement chamber comprises walls and a base;

b) at least one hollow nanotip protruding from the walls or base of the measurement chamber and having an aperture at an end of the nanotip; and

c) at least one microchannel connected to the measurement chamber, the microchannel having at least one inlet positioned to receive an aqueous solution and at least one outlet positioned to deliver the aqueous solution into the measurement chamber.