Patent ID: 7191092

Claim:
A system for controlling motion of and optically tracking a mechanically unattached magnetic probe, the system comprising: (a) a magnetic coil and pole assembly including at least one thin film or thin foil magnetic pole piece located on a light transmissive substrate and at least one magnetic coil being magnetically coupled to the pole piece for applying magnetic force to a mechanically unattached probe through the pole piece; (b) imaging and tracking optics located proximally to the pole piece for imaging a sample under test and tracking motion of the probe; (c) a position translation stage being mechanically coupled to a sample under test in which the probe resides; and (d) a computer coupled to the magnetic coil and pole assembly, the imaging and tracking optics, and the position translation stage for receiving position information regarding the probe and the position translation stage and for producing control signals for moving at least one of the probe and the position translation stage to maintain position of the probe within a predetermined volume.