High-speed solution switching using piezo-based micropositioning stages

Abstract

Motion-induced vibration is a critical limitation in high-speed micropositioning stages used to achieve solution switching. Controlled rapid solution switching is used to study the fast activation and deactivation kinetics of ligand-gated ion-channel populations isolated in excised membrane patches--such studies are needed to understand fundamental mechanisms that mediate synaptic excitation and inhibition in the central nervous system. However, as the solution-switching speed is increased, vibration induced in the piezo-based positioning stages can result in undesired, repeated, ligand application to the excised patch. The article describes a method to use knowledge of the piezo-stage's vibrational dynamics to compensate for and reduce these unwanted vibrations. The method was experimentally verified using an open-electrode technique, and fast solution switching (100 micros range) was achieved.

Design of high-bandwidth high-precision flexure-based nanopositioning modules

“…Besides the direct usage in micro/nanopositioning, parallelogram flexure mechanisms are widely used as basic building blocks for many low degree-of-freedom parallel kinematic stages, such as XY and XYZ micro/nanopositioning stages [8,10,11]. Fig.…”

“…Micro/nanopositioning systems are widely used in various applications, such as optical alignment [1,2], scanning probe microscope [3,4] and micro/ nanomanufacturing [5][6][7][8][9]. The majority of practical nanopositioners utilize flexure-based structures, such as compliant mechanisms and notch-flexure-based mechanisms, due to their smooth and friction-free motion and high durability without wear and deterioration.…”

Achieving Maximal Speed of Solution Exchange for Patch Clamp Experiments

“…The transfer function of the response of a piezoelectric stack alone has been previously measured to optimize the movement of the piezo [27]. Here we extend this idea to optimize the movement of the whole system that is constituted by the piezo stack + manipulator + application pipette + liquid interface.…”

<title>Development of a novel piezo-driven parallel-kinematics single crystal silicon micropositioning XY stage</title>

“…A micropositioning XY table has been developed for a submicron lithography system 3 . Many other successful applications of micropositioning stages have also been reported [4][5][6][7] .…”