In order to do things such as building microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) or grabbing individual stem cell spheres for analysis, scientists use extremely fine-tipped tools known as microtweezers. While such devices aren’t a brand new innovation in and of themselves, researchers from Indiana’s Purdue University have developed a new type of microtweezers that are said to be easier and cheaper to manufacture than their conventional counterparts. Not only that, but unlike most similar devices currently in use, they don’t require heat, magnetism or electricity to operate.
The simple new microtweezers are composed of a thimble knob from a standard micrometer, a two-pronged one-piece silicon tweezer, and what is known as a “graphite interface” – this translates the user’s thimble knob-turning into a pushing or pulling action, causing the tweezer’s two prongs to move towards or away from one another.
via gizmag
January 19, 2012
