Micromanipulator

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. It may typically consist of an input joystick, a mechanism for reducing the range of movement and an output section with the means of holding a microtool to hold, inject, cut or otherwise manipulate the object as required. The mechanism for reducing the movement usually requires the movement to be free of backlash. This is achieved by the use of kinematic constraints to allow each part of the mechanism to move only in one or more chosen degrees of freedom, which achieves a high precision and repeatability of movement, usually at the expense of some absolute accuracy.

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.

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.

Micromanipulators are also used in applications such as microelectronics to position test probes onto small to medium scale integrated circuits and hybrid devices, and patch clamp experiments in biological research.

References


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  • micromanipulator — MICROMANIPULATÓR s.n. Aparat pentru manipularea şi disecţia celulelor sau a obiectelor foarte mici. [< fr. micromanipulateur]. Trimis de LauraGellner, 09.06.2005. Sursa: DN …   Dicționar Român

  • micromanipulator — mikromanipuliatorius statusas T sritis automatika atitikmenys: angl. microhandler; micromanipulator vok. Mikromanipulator, m rus. микроманипулятор, m pranc. micromanipulateur, m …   Automatikos terminų žodynas

  • micromanipulator — mikromanipuliatorius statusas T sritis fizika atitikmenys: angl. micromanipulator vok. Feinmanipulator, m rus. микроманипулятор, m pranc. micromanipulateur, m …   Fizikos terminų žodynas

  • micromanipulator — noun Date: 1921 an instrument for micromanipulation …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • micromanipulator — mi·cro·ma·nip·u·la·tor (mī krō mə nĭpʹyə lā tər) n. A device for manipulating minute instruments and needles under a microscope in order to perform delicate procedures, such as microsurgery.   mi cro·ma·nip u·laʹtion n. mi cro·ma·nip u·la tive… …   Universalium

  • micromanipulator — noun a device, used for micromanipulation, consisting of microscopic needles and instruments viewed through a microscope …   Wiktionary

  • micromanipulator — An instrument used in micromanipulation, whereby microdissection, microinjection, and other maneuvers are performed, usually with the aid of a microscope. * * * mi·cro·ma·nip·u·la·tor nip yə .lāt ər n an instrument for micromanipulation * * *… …   Medical dictionary

  • micromanipulator — mi·cro·manipulator …   English syllables

  • micromanipulator — “+ noun Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary micr + manipulator : an instrument for micromanipulation …   Useful english dictionary

  • Micropipette — A Gilson multichannel adjustable micropipette. This one has only four channels in use. A micropipette is one of two different instruments used in science laboratories. Contents 1 History …   Wikipedia

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