Micromanipulator
A micromanipulator is a device which is used to physically interact with a sample under a microscope, where a level of precision of movement is necessary that cannot be achieved by the unaided human hand.
Movement
Movement reduction can be performed by mechanical levers, hydraulically using pistons of different diameters connected by tubing containing non-compressible fluid, electronically using stepper motors or linear actuators, or combinations of techniques in one instrument. Mechanisms with different ranges of movement or variable reduction ratio may be incorporated in one instrument to allow coarse and fine positioning.
Depending on the application, users may require different scales of movement resolution, movement speed, range and accuracy. These are the critical variables integrated into manipulator design by manufacturers, which are typically presented to suit particular applications.
Microscope integration
Micromanipulators are usually used in conjunction with microscopes. Depending on the application, one or more micromanipulators may be fitted to a microscope stage or rigidly mounted to a bench next to a microscope. A typical application of micromanipulation is human intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Here, a spermatozoon measuring some 3 to 5 micrometres across is injected into an oocyte of approximately 100 micrometres in diameter, under the direct manual control of an embryologist. A disposable glass micropipette is fitted to a toolholder mounted on the output of the manipulator. The toolholder can be adjusted for different sized tools as well as the angle at which the tool is held.
Microelectronics
Micromanipulators are also used in applications such as microelectronics to position test probes onto small to medium scale
References
- ISBN 978-3-7091-5551-6.
Further reading
- Robert Barer, A. E. Saunders-Singer. A New Single-control Micromanipulator
- V. B. D. Skerman A New Type of Micromanipulator and Microforge J. gen. Microbiol. (1968), 54, 287-297
- Fred Sherman Micromanipulator for Yeast Genetic Studies Applied Microbiology, Nov. 1973, p. 829
- Inventors: Fonbrune, Pierre Henry Dussu DE.; Andre, Beaudouin Paul Micromanipulator controller U.S. Patent 2988928 [1][2]
- Inventors: Rowland, May Kenneth Micromanipulating devices U.S. Patent 2800055 [3][4] (1957)
- Inventors: Karl, Frischmann Micromanipulator U.S. Patent 2760405 [5][6]
- Fundamentals Series: Micromanipulators Part 2 [7]