Acoustical tweezers for contactless and selective manipulation of micro- and nanoscopic objects

This MicroElectroMechanical System (MEMS) allows the remote manipulation of particles, cells and droplets lying in a liquid sample with a high selectivity (one particle can be selected and moved in dependently of its neighbors).

This technology relies on the use of a specific kind of volume acoustic waves called swirling volume acoustic waves, which are synthesized few millimeters from piezoelectric material with Interdigitated transducers.
These waves once transmitted to a liquid sample create a localized acoustical trap.

Benefits

1. 3D Trapping and manipulation
2. The manipulation is contactless and non-invasive and do not interfere with biological process thus limiting alteration of the particle,cell,…
3. The MEMS is highly compact and can be easily integrated in existing systems(microscope, lens, labonachip)
4. The system can manipulate particles ranging from 1 mm to 100 nanometers
5. The device production is simple, cheap and compatible with current equipments.
6. No pre-marking is required for the manipulation
7. the MEMS is printed on a transparent material, enabling simultaneous manipulation and visualization.
8. The trapping process is compatible with a large range of materials including glass and PMMA(e.gPetridishesormicrochannels…)