Multi-beam laser micromanipulation of microtool by integrated optical tweezers

In noncontact cell manipulation with optical tweezers, we need to use microtools to avoid damages to the cells by direct laser irradiation. When we manipulate complex structures such as microtools, a multi-beam optical tweezers which can manipulate multiple objects is suitable; however manipulation speed or trapping number are not so good. Therefore, we developed an integrated optical tweezers by using time-shared scanning method for high speed manipulation and generalized phase contrast method for a lot of trapping. Then, we proposed cell manipulation method which suits for the integrated optical tweezers and then we designed the shape of microtools made of SU-8. A new fabrication method of SU-8 microtools was proposed to improve productivity. At last, we made the experiment system and the effectiveness of proposed methods was confirmed.