Nano-pillar transistor fabrication and use

Abstract

A field effect nano-pillar transistor has a pillar shaped gate element incorporating a biomimitec portion that provides various advantages over prior art devices. The small size of the nano-pillar transistor allows for advantageous insertion into cellular membranes, and the biomimitec character of the gate element operates as an advantageous interface for sensing small amplitude voltages such as transmembrane cell potentials. The nano-pillar transistor can be used in various embodiments to stimulate cells, to measure cell response, or to perform a combination of both actions.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A nano-pillar transistor, comprising:
 a planar substrate comprising a source segment and a drain segment; and   a biomimetic gate arranged between the source segment and the drain segment, the gate comprising a pillar structure with a linear axis oriented orthogonal to the planar substrate, the pillar structure incorporating a first platinum-gold-platinum metal portion that mimics a hydrophilic-hydrophobic-hydrophilic structure of a cellular membrane.   
     
     
         14 . The nano-pillar transistor of  claim 13 , further comprising a first platinum portion fabricated upon the source segment and a second platinum portion fabricated upon the drain segment. 
     
     
         15 . The nano-pillar transistor of  claim 14 , wherein the pillar structure is a serrated pillar structure configured for anchoring the biomimetic gate to animal tissue. 
     
     
         16 . A system comprising:
 a nano-pillar transistor having a biomimetic gate configured as a pillar structure with a linear axis of the pillar structure oriented orthogonal to a substrate, the pillar structure incorporating a platinum-gold-platinum metal portion that mimics a hydrophilic-hydrophobic-hydrophilic structure of a cellular membrane.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , comprising a common-source amplifier that is implantable in the cellular membrane, the common-source amplifier including the nano-pillar transistor. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , comprising a current mirror circuit incorporating the nano-pillar transistor. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein a gate terminal of the nano-pillar transistor is arranged to make contact with animal tissue for sensing a voltage provided by the animal tissue. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the voltage provided by the animal tissue is a trans-membrane cellular voltage. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a variable frequency generator, wherein the current mirror circuit is coupled to the variable frequency generator for providing at least a first control current and a second control current, the variable frequency generator configured to generate a first signal having a first frequency or a second signal having a second frequency, in response to receiving the first or the second control current respectively.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the variable frequency generator comprises a voltage controlled oscillator.