Micromachined cell handling devices

Describes the cell handling devices fabricated by semiconductor manufacturing processes. One is a cell fusion device and the other is a selector of cells. The cell fusion device is designed for the electrofusion of two different kinds of cell and the selector for is for deflecting a cell to either of the outlets. Dielectrophoretic force is used for the manipulation of cells. It is very useful to manipulate cells without contact. The electric field and force applied to cells in the devices are calculated by a commercial FEM package program. These devices are fabricated with a photosensitive polyimide and the seedless electroplating technique. It is possible to integrate the cell handling devices with electronic circuits. The authors examine the effects on cells under the electric fields and the frequencies in a macro experimental apparatus. Currently cell handling in the fabricated devices is under experiment.