Method and apparatus for accurately manipulating an object during microelectrophoresis

An apparatus for manipulation of an object on a microscope stage comprising:

• a microscope having a stage;
• a chamber for holding the object, the chamber being on the stage;
• a plurality of electrodes coupled to the chamber for creating an electric field across the chamber, the electric field having at least one changeable parameter, the plurality of electrodes being coupled to the chamber in an array for allowing distinct manipulations of the electric field;
• an electrode array control coupled to the plurality of electrodes for manipulating the electric field;
• at least one processing unit, the processing unit being electrically connected to the electrode array control, the electrode array control being responsive to the processing unit;
• an imaging device electrically connected to the microscope for creating an image of the chamber, the imaging device being electrically connected to the processing unit for sending the image of the chamber to the processing unit;
• and
• the processing unit having the ability to receive the image, detect the first position of the object in the chamber, detect the preferred second position of the object in the chamber, and determine how to change the electrode array control for changing the electric field to move the object from the first position to the preferred second position,
• wherein when the image from the imaging device is received by the processing unit, the processing unit detects the location of the object, determines how to change the electrode array control for changing the electric field to move the object from the first position to the preferred second position and changes the electric field thereby moving the object from the first position to the preferred second position.

An apparatus for manipulation of a nucleic acid having two ends on a microscope stage comprising:

• a microscope having a stage;
• a chamber for holding the nucleic acid, the chamber being on the stage;
• a plurality of electrodes coupled to the chamber for creating an electric field across the chamber, the electric field having at least one changeable parameter, the plurality of electrodes being coupled to the chamber in an array for allowing distinct manipulations of the electric field;
• an electrode array control coupled to the plurality of electrodes for manipulating the electric field;
• at least one processing unit, the processing unit being electrically connected to the electrode array control, the electrode array control being responsive to the processing unit;
• an imaging device electrically connected to the microscope for creating an image of the chamber, the imaging device being electrically connected to the processing unit for sending the image of the chamber to the processing unit;
• the processing unit having the ability to receive the image, detect the first position of the nucleic acid in the chamber, detect the preferred second position of the nucleic acid in the chamber, and determine how to change the electrode array control for changing the electric field to move the object from the first position to the preferred second position;
• a micropositioning stage adjacent to the stage;
• a plurality of tubes positioned on top of the micropositioning stage in a predetermined order, each of the plurality of tubes having two ends, a first end of the plurality of tubes being in a position for surrounding a free end of the nucleic acid in the chamber;
• a micropositioning stage control, the micropositioning stage control being electrically connected to the micropositioning stage for manipulating the micropositioning stage, and the micropositioning stage control being electrically connected to the processing unit, the micropositioning stage control being responsive to the processing unit for directing the micropositioning stage control to position the first end of one of the plurality of tubes on the micropositioning stage to surround at least part of the nucleic acid in the chamber;
• and
• a substrate placed in the chamber which does not move in the electric field, the substrate being complimentary to various sites of the nucleic acid for metal coordination, for attaching to one end of the nucleic acid
• wherein when the image from the imaging device is received by the processing unit, the processing unit detects the location of the nucleic acid attached to the substrate, determines how to change the electrode array control for changing the electric field to stretch the free end of the nucleic acid away from the substrate and changes the electric field thereby stretching the nucleic acid, the processing unit then directs the micropositioning stage control to position the end of one of the plurality of tubes on the micropositioning stage to surround the free end of the nucleic acid in the chamber, thereby positioning the end of one of the plurality of tubes on the micropositioning stage to surround the free end of the nucleic acid in the chamber.