Patent ID: 8497119

Claim:
A method for performing micro-operations on a vesicular object by: a) securing the vesicular object by applying negative pressure in a radial vacuum passage ( 30 ) such radial vacuum passage including being a passage between an outer tip ( 7 ) and an inner tip ( 26 ), and such passage terminating at a primary aperture ( 8 ); b) advancing a pipette ( 27 ), such pipette being capable of injection or aspiration through an opening at its distal end ( 28 ), through an axial vacuum passage, such axial vacuum passage including being a passage between the inner tip and the distal end of the pipette, such passage terminating at a secondary aperture ( 32 ); c) penetrating the secured vesicular object at the secondary aperture ( 32 ); d) ensuring that the axial vacuum passage and the radial vacuum passage are not in fluid contact with each other or with atmospheric pressure; e) controlling the negative pressure in both axial and radial vacuum passages, and the pressure in the pipette, separately; whereby allowing the simultaneous holding of the vesicular object at the primary aperture by applying negative pressure in the radial vacuum passage; injection into or aspiration from the vesicular object via the pipette; and aspiration from the vesicular object at the secondary aperture by applying negative pressure in the axial vacuum passage.