Method for positioning an atomic force microscopy tip in a cell
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorsNazumi Alice Yamada, Bo U. Curry, Chriatian Rankl
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for positioning a tip of an atomic force microscope relative to a intracellular target site in a cell is provided. In general terms, the method comprises: a) positioning a fluorescent tip of an atomic force microscope over a cell comprising a fluorescent intracellular target site so that said tip is above target site; b) moving the tip toward said target site while obtaining images of the distal end of said tip and/or the target site using a fluorescence microscope; and c) arresting the movement of the tip when the target site and the distal end of the tip are both in focus in the fluorescence microscope. A microscope system for performing the method is also provided.
Claims20
A method for positioning a tip of an atomic force microscope relative to a intracellular target site in a cell, comprising:
- a) positioning a fluorescent tip of an atomic force microscope over a cell comprising a fluorescent intracellular target site so that said tip is above target site;
- b) moving said tip toward said target site while obtaining images of the distal end of said tip and/or said target site using a fluorescence microscope;
- and
- c) arresting the movement of said tip when said target site and the distal end of said tip are both in focus in said fluorescence microscope.
A microscope system comprising:
- a) an atomic force microscope comprising a fluorescent tip;
- b) a sample plate for placement of a cell that comprises a fluorescent intracellular target site;
- and
- c) a fluorescence microscope;
- wherein said system is configured to automatically:
- a) move said fluorescent tip toward said sample plate after said tip has been positioned above said cell;
- and b) arrest the movement of said sample plate when the distal end of said tip and said fluorescent intracellular target site are both in focus in said fluorescence microscope.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.