Visually-guided protein crystal manipulation using micromachined silicon tools

Articles:

Title:: Visually-guided protein crystal manipulation using micromachined silicon tools
Author(s):: Georgiev, Atanas
Edstrom, William
Allen, Peter K.
Date:: 2004
Type:: Articles
Department:: Computer Science
Permanent URL:: http://hdl.handle.net/10022/AC:P:15184
Book/Journal Title:: 2004 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), 28 September - 2 October, 2004, Sendai, Japan: proceedings
Publisher:: IEEE
Publisher Location:: Piscataway, N.J.
Abstract:: We present a system for protein crystal micro-manipulation with focus on automated crystal mounting for the purposes of X-ray data collection. The system features a set of newly designed micropositioner end-effectors we call microshovels which address some limitations of the traditional cryogenic loops. We have used micro-electrical mechanical system (MEMS) techniques to design and manufacture various shapes and quantities of microshovels. Visual feedback from a camera mounted on the microscope is used to control the micropositioner as it lowers a microshovel into the liquid containing the crystals and approaches a selected crystal for pickup. We present experimental results that illustrate the applicability of our approach.
Subject(s):: Nanotechnology
DOI:: http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/IROS.2004.1389358