Patent ID: 7878071

Claim:
A manipulation apparatus configured to be operated in both tension and compression on nano-scale specimens having dimensions below 1 μm, comprising: a tip having at least one surface in a first plane, said at least one surface configured to apply a compressive force to a first test specimen having a dimension below 1 μm, said first test specimen to be placed in compression when said first test specimen is attached to a support; and said tip further having a pair of tines substantially oriented in an orientation parallel to said first plane, said pair of tines configured to apply a tension force to a second test specimen having a dimension below 1 μm, said second test specimen to be placed in tension when said second test specimen is attached to a support; said pair of tines each having a root and a tip, a first of said pair of tines having a first surface oriented substantially perpendicular to said first plane, a second of said pair of tines having a second surface oriented substantially perpendicular to said first plane, said first surface of said first tine and said second surface of said second tine connected at said respective roots, said first surface of said first tine and said second surface of said second tine oriented at an angle relative to each other such that said first surface of said first tine and said second surface of said second tine are configured to form a “V”-shaped aperture that becomes wider as one traverses a respective one of said tines from said root to said tip, said “V”-shaped aperture configured to engage a substantially linear extent of said second test specimen to be placed in tension, said tines each having an additional surface opposite said at least one surface configured to apply said compressive force to said first test specimen, said additional surface configured to engage said second test specimen to be placed in tension at a wider portion of said second test specimen than said substantially linear extent of said second test specimen; said tip being configured to perform either or both of compression and tension tests on respective first and second test specimens to be tested in compression and tension successively.