Patent ID: 7502107
Filing Date: 2009-03-10
Classification: G21K

Abstract:
1. A system for transport of microscopic object/particles comprising: i) at least one specimen stage to support microscopic object/particles; ii) at least one laser source; iii) said laser source operatively connected to microscope objective and adapted to generate gradient optical forces on the microscopic object/particles to thereby transport the microscopic object; characterized in that said gradient optical forces are asymmetric about the mid point of the major axis of an elliptic laser beam, such that said system for transport of the objects/particles is adapted to allow control of both direction and speed of transport of said object where the speed of particle transport is controllable by regulating the optical beam power and/or by varying the degree of asymmetry in the intensity profile of said elliptic laser beam and where the direction of particle transport is adapted to be controlled by rotating the direction of the major axis of said elliptic laser beam until alignment with the desired angle in the transverse plane.