Method and device for manipulating individual small objects

Abstract

A method for individually moving small objects, such as cells, from one location to another as well as a device for implementing the method is disclosed. A small object such as a cell is isolated at some initial location and moved to some destination location by the movement of the small object through a succession of intermediate locations until the small object arrives at the destination location. Also disclosed are methods of manipulating cells made possible by the method and device of the present invention.

1 - 67 . (canceled) 
     
     
         68 . A method of moving an individual small object from an initial location to a destination location, comprising:
 a. defining a series of N+1 locations L 0  . . . L N , N being an integer greater than 1 wherein L 0  is the initial location and L N  is the destination location; and   b. for i from 0 to N−1, successively moving the individual small object from a location L i  to a location L i+1      wherein said moving is effected by applying an attractive force from said location L i+1  to the individual small object so as to cause the individual small object to move from a said location L i  to a said location L i+1 , and   wherein the order of the size of the individual small object is equal to or less than 10 3  micron.   
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said location Li is fixed relative to said location Li+1. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising applying a repulsive force to the individual small object from location L i . 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein said repulsive force is selected from the group consisting of physical, electrical and magnetic forces. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein said repulsive force is a result of a flow of fluid from said location L i . 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein said flow of fluid is generated by injection of a fluid from the vicinity of location L i . 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said attractive force is selected from the group consisting of physical, electrical and magnetic forces. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said attractive force is a result of a flow of fluid towards said location L i+1 . 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein said flow of fluid is generated by suction of a fluid from the vicinity of location L i+1 . 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein at least one of said locations L 0  . . . L N , comprises an enclosure of a size sufficient to substantially enclose the individual small object. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said fluid is a liquid. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said liquid is a cell culture medium. 
     
     
         80 . A method of moving an individual small object in a fluid from a first location to a second location, comprising:
 a. drawing fluid towards the first location so as to produce a first force localizing the small object at the first location; and   b. subsequently drawing fluid towards the second location so as to produce a second force localizing the small object at the second location,   
       wherein the order of the size of the individual small object is equal to or less than about 10 3  micron. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein said first location is fixed relative to said second location. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein said drawing of fluid towards the first location and towards the second location is performed by suction of the fluid by a flow generator. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 80 , further comprising reducing the magnitude of said first force so as to assist in said localizing of the small object at the second location. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 80 , further comprising injecting fluid from the first location so as to produce a repulsive force to assist in said localizing of the small object at the second location. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein said fluid is a liquid. 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein said liquid is a cell culture medium. 
     
     
         87 . A method of studying a cell, comprising suspending said cell individually in a liquid by using a Bernoulli effect.