Hello,

I'm begining a graduate program at U of Manitoba (Canada) in Electrical
Engineering. My thesis goal is to develop a micro-tweezer for human cell
manipulation and analysis.

At this moment I'm begining my literature research of methods of
fabrication and possible designs for a microtweezer.

In order to better understand this tool and its applications, I would like
to ask you to answer a few qustions (see below) that would immensely help
me with my research. There are 9 questions divided in "microtweezers
users" and "microtweezers designer" sections. Please do take a look in
both sections.

Thank you so much in advance!

        - Isabelle Harouche

Microtweezer's Users:

1. Are you presently using or have you ever used microtweezers as a tool
in your work?

2. In what kind of tasks do you find microtweezers to be useful?

3. What other tools do you use for micro-manipulation?

4. Do you buy microtweezers "off-the-shelf"? If so, from which
manufacturer?

5. What would you describe as the greatest advantage of using
microtweezers as a micromanipulation tool?

6. And what would the greatest disadvantage be?

Microtweezer's Designer

7. What kind of materials do you use for fabricating microtweezers?

8. What kind of actuators and actuation methods do you prefer?

9. Could you suggest me any papers and/or books related to the subject of
designing and fabricating microtweezers?



Thank you so much once again! :)