Microinjection apparatus, and method of controlling microinjection

Abstract

A microinjection apparatus according to the invention includes a microsyringe having a plunger, a rotative moving member which rotates together with a shaft, and a micromovement device mounted on the rotative moving member and having a piezoelectric/electro-strictive element equipped with an inertial member. Applying an electric signal to the micromovement device produces a driving force which causes the rotative moving member to rotate by a minute amount. As a result, the plunger is moved a minute amount in the axial direction to move a liquid within the microsyringe. Also provided is a microinjection apparatus which includes a microsyringe having an internal rotary plate serving as a plunger and attached to a center shaft, a rotative moving member which rotates together with the center shaft, and a micromovement device mounted on the rotative moving member and having a piezoelectric/electro-strictive element equipped with an inertial member. Applying an electric signal to the micromovement device produces a driving force which causes the rotative moving member to rotate by a minute amount. As a result, the rotary plate serving as the plunger is rotated a minute amount to move a liquid within the microsyringe. Further, the microinjection apparatus is so adapted that a micromovement device having a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element equipped with an inertial member is driven to drive a rectilinear moving member directly in a linear direction, thereby operating a plunger.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.