Description:
UTHealth inventors have designed and developed a novel low-cost manual electrode micromanipulator, which can be as small as 73mm x 12 mm x 37 mm (length, width, height) with a weight of 25 g. The design incorporates a compliant mechanism via a simple flexible hinge to mediate the movement along three axes: 12 mm (forward/backward), 9 mm (vertical), 5 mm (left/right). The designed micromanipulator can be easily assembled from 3D-printed parts.
Background
Micromanipulators are a common laboratory and clinical instrument used in cell biology, neurobiology, microelectronics, and microsurgery to hold a micro tool for carrying, injecting, cutting, collecting, or otherwise manipulating a sample precisely under a microscope. Traditional micromanipulators require multiple moving parts to ensure the fluidity of motion, which requires extremely strict tolerances in manufacturing. As a result, the micromanipulators are usually costly and complicated due to the requirement of lubrication and maintenance, complicated multi-part fabrication, and friction loss.
Significance and Impact
UTHealth inventors have developed a novel design of a manual electrode micromanipulator that is much smaller than all existing micromanipulators. The novel electrode manipulator employs a simple flexible hinge to allow precise control of movement along the axis. This flexible hinge design does not require any lubrication or maintenance, because there is no friction loss. In addition, it can be fabricated by 3D printing and easy to assemble at a lower cost than standard micromanipulators. Thus, the novel electrode micromanipulator design is highly competitive over all commercially available micromanipulators.
Benefits/Technology Advantages
•Much smaller and lighter (length of 73mm, width of 12 mm, height of 37 mm, weight of 25 g) than all existing micromanipulators on the market.
•Precise control of motion along three axes: 12 mm (forward/backward), 9 mm (vertical), 5 mm (left/right).
•Simple single-part fabrication and easy to assemble at a lower cost.
Intellectual Property Status
International Design Registration patent application filed in US, EU, China, Japan, and Israel.
Available for licensing.
About the Inventors
Curtis L. Neveu, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Neurobiology & Anatomy at UTHealth Houston
John H. Byrne, Ph.D.
June and Virgil Waggoner Chair of Neurobiology and Anatomy at UTHealth Houston
UTHealth Ref. No: 2024-0055