Apparatus and method for living cell manipulation
AssigneeHamilton Thorne, Inc.
InventorsDiarmaid H. Douglas-Hamilton, Thomas G. Kenny
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method and system for using eye-safe infrared energy from a Class I laser to manipulate cells in culture. The laser energy produces one or more phase boundary propulsion events, which generate hydrodynamic forces sufficient to manipulate cells at the focal point.
Claims14
A method of repositioning one or more of a plurality of cells suspended in an aqueous medium by inducing phase boundary propulsion (PBP) at a focal point in the aqueous medium, comprising providing infrared energy having a wavelength greater than 1400 nm and an energy less than 1.6 mJ per pulse from a laser through an objective lens to the aqueous medium, superheating the aqueous medium and inducing a phase transition at a temperature insufficient to produce significant ionization, moving the focal point through the medium, and repeating said step of providing the infrared energy, to produce a series of adjacent PBP bubbles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.