Micromanipulator

A micromanipulator is a device which is used to physically interact with a sample under a microscope, where a level of precision of movement is necessary that cannot be achieved by the unaided human hand.

Movement reduction can be performed by mechanical levers, hydraulically using pistons of different diameters connected by tubing containing non-compressible fluid, electronically using stepper motors or linear actuators, or combinations of techniques in one instrument.

Mechanisms with different ranges of movement or variable reduction ratio may be incorporated in one instrument to allow coarse and fine positioning.

These are the critical variables integrated into manipulator design by manufacturers, which are typically presented to suit particular applications.

Micromanipulators are also used in applications such as microelectronics to position test probes onto small to medium scale integrated circuits and hybrid devices, and patch clamp experiments in biological research.