Micro handling with rotational needle-type tools under real time observation

This paper analyzes human operation of an arbitrary single micro object und er 1 mm while observing the object and systematically studies the design of a micro handling system to perform such operations. This system features t he following mechanical elements; (1) a needle-type tool with a tip as smal l as the micro object to handle; (2) a palette engraved with micro structur es to hold the micro object; (3) a driving mechanism not only to translate the tool but also to rotate it; (4) a microscope to observe the tool operat ion in real time. As the microscope occupies a large volume, the system set s the mechanism elements in a centralized arrangement so the micro object, tool tip, center of tool rotation, microscope focus intersect at one point and the remaining elements are radially arranged around it. We used this sy stem to conduct several operations including a SEM monitored micro house co nstruction by assembling and bonding walls and roof, an optical microscope monitored microscopic insemination by inserting a sperm into an ovum, and a fluorescent microscope monitored DNA surgery cutting out an arbitrary gene from a chromosome. These operations verified the effect of the above desig n guideline, that is the group of mechanism elements and their construction .