Micromanipulation Pipette System for Minute Object Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current micromanipulation systems require high operator skill for injection operations, making it difficult to detect and pierce the manipulation target position of minute objects, and often necessitate additional equipment like electrodes and control devices, which can complicate the workspace.
Innovation Solution
A manipulation system comprising a sample stage, a first pipette for holding the object, a second pipette for manipulation, an imaging unit, and a control unit that moves the second pipette to overlap with the object from an upper side, allowing for rotation and detection of the target position without dedicated rotation devices, and uses image data to accurately position the pipette for manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If automatic control is used for manipulation operations, then operator skill dependency is reduced, but detection of manipulation target position becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the second pipette itself to perform the rotation operation that enables detection of the manipulation target position. By moving the second pipette to overlap with the minute object from the upper side and rotating it, the system makes the object rotate automatically, allowing the imaging unit to capture images at different orientations and detect the target position without requiring external detection devices or operator intervention.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If additional equipment like electrodes and control devices is added for rotation operation, then manipulation target position detection is enabled, but workspace complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second pipette is designed to serve multiple functions: it holds the minute object, performs manipulation operations, and executes the rotation operation for detection. By making the second pipette multi-functional, the system eliminates the need for separate dedicated rotation devices, electrodes, or control devices, thereby maintaining a simple workspace configuration while enabling manipulation target position detection through the rotation mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If the second pipette tip contacts the minute object directly, then rotation operation is simplified, but damage to the minute object occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system carefully controls the contact location between the second pipette and the minute object. The second pipette is positioned to overlap with the minute object from the upper side, and the rotation operation is performed by moving the pipette shaft portion rather than the tip. This localized approach ensures that only the appropriate portion of the pipette contacts the object during rotation, simplifying the operation while preventing damage to the minute object through controlled contact positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
A manipulation system includes a sample stage configured such that a minute object is placed thereon, a first manipulator including a first pipette for holding the minute object, a second manipulator including a second pipette for manipulating the minute object that is held to the first pipette, an imaging unit configured to image the minute object, and a control unit configured to control the sample stage, the first pipette, the second pipette, and the imaging unit. The control unit moves the second pipette to a direction approaching the sample stage from the upper side of the minute object, at a position where the second pipette overlaps with the minute object and is away from the center of the minute object in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the second pipette, when viewed from the direction perpendicular to the sample stage.