Polymeric Micro-Arm Apparatus And Method To Use The Same

Abstract

A polymeric micro-arm apparatus and method to use the same. The apparatus comprises of an elongated hollow polymeric structure with a distal end and a proximal end, an opening near the distal end, a main body attached to the polymeric structure means to move the polymeric structure, means to generate fluid flow through the opening, means to measure a flowrate of the fluid flow through the opening; and an element embedded in the polymeric structure, wherein the element is configured to detect when the polymeric structure contacts an object and measures the force that the object exerts upon the polymeric structure.

1 . A method to use a micro-arm apparatus, the method comprising:
 a surface;   a micro-arm apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 an elongated hollow structure with a distal end and a proximal end; 
 a main body attached to the elongated hollow structure; 
 an opening (first opening) having a diameter between 1 micron and 60 micron on the distal end of the elongated hollow structure; 
 a second opening on the proximal end of the elongated hollow structure and on the main body; 
 the first opening and the second opening connect with the hollow part of the elongated hollow structure in a manner that allows for fluid to flow between the two openings through the hollow structure; 
 means to move the micro-arm apparatus in relation to a surface; 
 means to monitor the relative movement of the micro-arm apparatus; 
 means to generate fluid flow through the first opening; 
 means to measure the structural bending of the elongated hollow structure; 
 and a signal indicative of the structural bending of the elongated hollow structure; 
   an item (first item) in proximity to the surface or on the surface;   monitoring the signal to determine contact between the elongated hollow structure and the item; and   contacting the first opening to the item.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the item is one or more items selected from a group of items consisting of cells, live cells, cell cultures, extracellular matrices, substrates, surfaces, devices, proteins, antibodies, beads, functionalized microbeads, antibody functionalized beads, circulating tumor cells, suspended cells, microparticles, nanoparticles, items, spheres, cubical structures, blocks, bacteria. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising delivering a fluid on the item or on the surface. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising reacting the fluid to produce a solid material. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising heating the surface. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , the apparatus comprising an electrode inside second opening of the elongated hollow structure and an electrode contacting or in close proximity to the surface. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising configuring the micro-arm apparatus to measure an ionic current or a membrane potential of ion channels on the item. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a second item on the surface or in proximity to the surface. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising monitoring the signal to determine contact between the elongated hollow structure and the first item;
 contacting the first item at the first opening;   applying pressure by generating fluid flow through the first opening to functionally connect the first item to the first opening;   moving the micro-arm apparatus over the second item;   bringing the micro-arm apparatus and the second item in close proximity;   monitoring the signal to determine contact between the first item and the second item;   contacting the second item with the first item.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the second item is one or more item selected from a group of items consisting of cells, live cells, cell cultures, extracellular matrices, substrates, surfaces, devices, proteins, antibodies, beads, functionalized microbeads, antibody functionalized beads, circulating tumor cells, suspended cells, microparticles, nanoparticles, items, spheres, cubical structures, blocks, bacteria. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising adhering the first item to the second item;
 moving the micro-arm apparatus and the surface away from each other;   monitoring the signal indicative of the structural bending of the elongated hollow structure;   and recording the signal.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising drawing the first item into the elongated hollow structure by applying a pressure by generating fluid flow through the first opening. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising applying pressure to the first item to deposit the first item onto the second item. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the item is coated with a material; wherein the material is one or more materials selected from a group of materials consisting of antibodies, aptamers, biological binders, proteins, ligands, peptides, bacteria, coatings, bio-molecules, molecules, organic molecules, inorganic molecules, polymers, fluorescent dyes, color dyes. 
     
     
         15 . A method to use a micro-arm apparatus, the method comprising:
 a surface;   a micro-arm apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 an elongated hollow structure with a distal end and a proximal end; 
 a main body attached to the elongated hollow structure; 
 an opening (first opening) having a diameter between 1 micron and 60 micron on the distal end of the elongated hollow structure; 
 a second opening on the proximal end of the elongated hollow structure and on the main body; 
 the first opening and the second opening connect with the hollow part of the elongated hollow structure in a manner that allows for fluid to flow between the two openings through the hollow structure; 
 means to move the micro-arm apparatus in relation to a surface; 
 means to monitor the relative movement of the micro-arm apparatus; 
 means to generate fluid flow through the first opening; 
 means to measure the structural bending of the elongated hollow structure; 
 and a signal indicative of the structural bending of the elongated hollow structure; 
   an item (first item) in proximity to the surface or on the surface;   placing one or more particles on the first item;   bringing the elongated hollow structure and one of the particles close to each other, said particle becomes a selected particle;   monitoring the signal indicative of the structural bending to determine the contact between the elongated hollow structure and the particle;   contacting the first opening to the selected particle;   applying pressure by generating fluid flow through the first opening to attach the selected particle at the opening;   pulling the selected particle away from the item by moving the elongated hollow structure away from the surface; and   measuring the signal indicative of the structural bending, the signal being indicative of the adhesive force between the item and the particle.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the particles are coated with a material. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the particles are subdivided into groups and each group is coated with one or more distinct materials. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the item is one or more items selected from a group of items consisting of cells, live cells, cell cultures, extracellular matrices, substrates, surfaces, devices, proteins, antibodies, beads, functionalized microbeads, antibody functionalized beads, circulating tumor cells, suspended cells, microparticles, nanoparticles, items, spheres, cubical structures, blocks, bacteria. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the particle is one or more particles selected from a group of particles consisting of cells, live cells, beads, functionalized microbeads, antibody functionalized beads, circulating tumor cells, suspended cells, microparticles, nanoparticles, items, particles, spheres, cube-shaped items, blocks, substrates, surfaces, and bacteria. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the material is one or more materials selected from a group of materials consisting of antibodies, aptamers, biological binders, proteins, ligands, peptides, bacteria, coatings, bio-molecules, molecules, organic molecules, inorganic molecules, polymers, fluorescent dyes, color dyes.