Patent ID: 8490469
Filing Date: 2013-07-23
Classification: B01L

Abstract:
1. A high throughput screening system for applying force to a plurality of mechanically unattached probes located in specimens contained in wells of a multiwell plate, the system comprising: a multiforce plate having disposed thereon a plurality of field forming poles, each field forming pole being located on the multiforce plate at a location corresponding to a well in a multiwell plate; and an exciter assembly having excitation poles disposed thereon at locations corresponding to the field forming poles, for electrically or magnetically coupling to the field forming poles, and for delivering via the field forming poles at least one of an electric and a magnetic field in the vicinity of the field forming poles, wherein the coupled field forming poles apply force via the at least one field to mechanically unattached probes located in the wells of the multiwell plate to move the probes and test mechanical properties of specimens in the wells, wherein the exciter assembly and the field forming poles are configured for individual control of force applied to each well of the multiwell plate by providing a flux return path for each well in the multiwell plate that is separate from flux return paths of other wells in the multiwell plate.