Abstract
AFM can be used not only for surface observation but also for local surface fabrication. In particular, in micro-anatomical field, AFM has been expected as a micro-manipulator. Thus, highly accurate positioning of the AFM probe relative to a sample has been required. We have developed a compact AFM manipulator coupled with an inverted optical microscope to observe the AFM probe edge for accurate probe positioning and monitoring the scene of the manipulation. In this research, the apparatus was customized to remove a single biological cell selectively from a substrate. To avoid damaging the cell, a micro-cell scraper was fabricated from a micro cantilever using focused ion beam milling. As a demonstration, a single Hele cell was selectively removed from the substrate, and then it was collected by a micropipette. The system would be very useful as a single cell sorter.
