US 5,689,109 AGranted

Apparatus and method for the manipulation, processing and observation of small particles, in particular biological particles

OwnerRaimund Schutzeinventor

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Abstract

Apparatus for the manipulation, processing and observation of small particles, in particular biological particles, is disclosed. A first laser (4) generates light beams in a first wavelength range, which are focused with a first optical device (12, 13; 14, 15) and form an optical trap. A object holder (22) serves to contain the relevant particles. In addition a light source (17) for observation light is provided, whereas observation and recording devices serve to observe particles and record their behavior. A second laser (3) generates light beams in a second wavelength range, which are focused in order to manipulate particles in the object holder. The optical devices for the individual light beams can be positioned and focused independently of one another, and at the beginning of manipulation and observation the beams are focused in the same object plane of the object holder independently of their wavelengths.

Claims24

Dependent claims

Apparatus for the manipulation, processing and observation of small particles, comprising

at least one first laser (4) that generates light beams in a first wavelength range,
a first optical device (12, 13, 14, 15, 21) for focusing the beams in said first wavelength range with sufficient convergence to form an optical trap in a predetermined region,
an object holder (22) to contain particles,
a light source (17) for observation light, and
observation and recording devices (1, 2, 23) with which to observe particles in the object holder (22) and to record their behavior, and
at least one second laser (3) to generate light beams in a second wavelength range, and a second optical device (10, 11, 21) for focusing the beams in said second wavelength range with sufficient convergence to manipulate particles present in the object holder (22),
wherein for each of the light beams from the first laser (4) and the second laser (3) its own diverging optic (12, 13, 14, 15, 10, 11) is provided, which in each case is adjustable in three dimensions, including along three orthogonal coordinates (x, y, z), in such a manner that the optical devices (10, 11, 12 to 15, 21 ) for the beams in the first wavelength range, for the beams in the second range, and for the beams of the observation light can each be positioned and focused separately and independently of one another;
and wherein the beams in the first wavelength range, the beams in the second wavelength range and the beams of the observation light are focused at the beginning of manipulation and observation in the same object plane (x-y plane) of the object holder (22), regardless of their wavelengths, wherein the respective beams can be influenced independently of one another in order to achieve movements of the particles within the object holder (22) and to process them at a specifically targeted position within their three-dimensional extent, and wherein the focusing can be preserved for the visible observation light.

5 more elements

A method for the manipulation, processing and observation of small particles, in which the objects in an object holder (22) are fixed in an optical trap by means of at least one first laser (4) that generates light beams in a first wavelength range and the objects are observed and/or their behavior is recorded with observation and recording devices (1, 2, 23), and in which at least one second laser (3) is used, which generates light beams in a second wavelength range that are focused with sufficient convergence to manipulate particles present in the region of the object holder (22), wherein for each of the beams from the first laser (4) and the second laser (3) its own diverging optic (12, 14, 14, 15, 10, 11) is used, which in each case is adjustable in three dimensions, including along three orthogonal coordinates (x, y, z), in such a manner that the light beams in the first wavelength range and the beams of the observation light can each be adjusted in the object plane (x-y plane) and focused in the axial direction (z direction) with separate optical devices, independently of one another;

and wherein the beams in the first wavelength range, the beams in the second wavelength range and the beams of the observation light are focused at the beginning of manipulation and observation in the same object plane (x-y plane) of the object holder (22), regardless of their wavelengths, wherein the respective beams can be influenced independently of one another in order to achieve movements of the particles within the object holder (22) and to process them at a specifically targeted position within their three-dimensioned extent, wherein the focusing can be preserved for the visible observation light.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.