1352824 九、發明說明： 【發明所屬之技術領域】 本發明係關於一種光鉗（optical tweezers)，並且特 別地，本發明係關於一種能用於操作微小粒子的光鉗。 【先前技術】 利用光的壓力來箝制並且操作微小粒子，如數微米 大小的微粒，的應用最早於1970年由Arthe「Ash_ 提出。他利用兩束雷射光相對入射，並且聚焦於同一 處’藉此’兩束雷射光的軸向作用力於該聚焦處相抵 消’產生可將微小粒子侷限於其中的位能井 well)。 於後續-連串的研究中，Ashkin進一步發現僅將單 束田射光同度聚焦，能在焦點處產生與光的行進方向相 反的軸向吸力，進而穩定地箝制微小粒子。由於這樣的 現象如同以鉗子夾住該微小粒子一般’便因此被稱為光 鉗。 ’’、、 明參閱第1圖，第1圖係繪示習知光鉗的示意圖。 如第1圖所示，該光鉗7包含一光源（丨ight s〇urce) 7〇、 一渡波構件（spatial filtering device) 72、一擴束構件 (beam expanding dev 丨 ce) 74、一物鏡（〇bject) 76 以及 一平台（platform〉78。 該光源70，例如一雷射光源，可發射一道連續雷射 光702，並且該雷射光7〇2的波長以及功率可視該微小 5 1352824 粒子的材質、種類等進行調整。該瀘'波構件72則可使 雷射光702更均勻分布，並且可縮減光甜焦點的尺寸， 以增加光鉗的功率以及鉗制力。該擴束構件74則協助 雷射光702以最大角度聚焦、照射該微小粒子並且能 獲得物鏡76之最大數值孔徑（numerjca| να) ’也能使光鉗的鉗制力達到最大。該平台78則用以 置放待操作之微小粒子（未繪示於圖中）。 • 因此，如第1圖所示，該光源7〇發射的雷射光7〇2 經過該濾波構件72以及該擴束構件74後，由該物鏡 76聚焦於該平台78上’以鈕住微小粒子。 隨著相關技術的發展，光鉗已經被廣泛應用於微米 級的生物醫學細胞、金屬顆粒、塑膠顆粒以及其他材質 顆粒的操作’甚至也能被應用於奈米級的DNA等微小 粒子的二維空間（水平）之操控。 然而’習知技藝所揭露之光鉗大多僅限於二維空間 • (如日本專利公告號第2005144281號所揭露之光鉗以 及光纖；以及 Numata, Takayuki、Takayanagi, Atsuo、BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical tweezers, and in particular, to an optical tongs that can be used to operate tiny particles. [Prior Art] The use of light pressure to clamp and manipulate tiny particles, such as micron-sized particles, was first proposed by Arthe "Ash_" in 1970. He used two beams of laser light to oppose the incident and focus on the same place. 'The axial force of the two beams of laser light cancels at the focus' to produce a well that can confine the tiny particles.) In a follow-up series of studies, Ashkin further discovered that only a single beam of light would be The degree of focus can produce an axial suction force at the focus opposite to the direction of travel of the light, thereby stably clamping the fine particles. Since such a phenomenon is like clamping the tiny particles with pliers, it is called a light clamp. Referring to Figure 1, Figure 1 is a schematic view showing a conventional optical clamp. As shown in Figure 1, the optical clamp 7 includes a light source (丨ight s〇urce) 7〇, a wave filtering device (spatial filtering device) 72, a beam expanding dev 丨ce 74, an objective lens (bject) 76 and a platform (platform > 78. The light source 70, such as a laser light source, can emit a Continuous laser light 702, and the wavelength and power of the laser light 7〇2 can be adjusted according to the material, type, and the like of the tiny 5 1352824 particles. The 泸 'wave member 72 can make the laser light 702 more evenly distributed and can reduce the light. The size of the sweet focus increases the power of the optical tongs and the clamping force. The beam expanding member 74 assists the laser light 702 to focus, illuminate the minute particles at a maximum angle and obtain the maximum numerical aperture of the objective lens 76 (numerjca| να) ' The clamping force of the optical tongs can be maximized. The platform 78 is used to place the tiny particles to be operated (not shown). Therefore, as shown in Fig. 1, the laser light emitted by the light source 7 〇 After passing through the filtering member 72 and the beam expanding member 74, the objective lens 76 is focused on the platform 78 to latch tiny particles. With the development of related technologies, optical tongs have been widely used in micrometer-scale. The operation of biomedical cells, metal particles, plastic particles and other material particles can even be applied to the manipulation of two-dimensional space (horizontal) of tiny particles such as nano-scale DNA. Most of the optical tongs disclosed by the Institute of Technology are limited to two-dimensional space. (The optical tongs and optical fibers disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005144281; and Numata, Takayuki, Takayanagi, Atsuo,
Otani，Yukitoshi #&Umeda，Norihiro，J_Appl.Phys. 45 ’（2006);該等係以全文引用方式納入本文中），對於 三維空間的操控不論在實驗架構或是操控範圍皆尚未 成熟。 此外，習知技藝所揭露之光鉗的光源傳遞多透過多 片分光鏡的交互反射達到物鏡，因此在傳遞的過程中光 源會有極高的損失問題。 6 1352824 進一步，習知技藝所揭露之光鉗經由單一光纖傳導 光線，因此若要同時操作多個微小粒子，則需增加光纖 數目使雷射光束增加（如美國專利申請號第 2004/0256542號所揭露之光鉗裝置；美國專利公告號 第7,049,579號所揭露之以光學微光束陣列進行活細胞 操作；以及J識yM.Tam、lsraelBjran以及Otani, Yukitoshi #&Umeda, Norihiro, J_Appl.Phys. 45 ’ (2006); these articles are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, and the manipulation of three-dimensional space is not mature in either the experimental framework or the scope of manipulation. In addition, the light source of the optical clamp disclosed in the prior art reaches the objective lens through the cross-reflection of the plurality of beamsplitters, so that the light source has a very high loss problem during the transfer. 6 1352824 Further, the optical tongs disclosed in the prior art disclose light through a single optical fiber, so if multiple small particles are to be operated simultaneously, the number of optical fibers needs to be increased to increase the laser beam (for example, US Patent Application No. 2004/0256542) The disclosed optical tongs device; the optical microbeam array for living cell operation disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 7,049,579; and J yM.Tam, lsraelBjran, and
Wa丨t，Appl.Phys_Lett_84，（2〇〇4)，該等文獻係以全 文引用方式納入本文中），亦即光纖數目需要匹配實驗個 體數目，因Jt造成整個光鉗設備的體積以及成本增加， 也使光鉗的設計複雜度增加。 【發明内容】 因此，本發明之一範疇在於提供一種光鉗。特別 地，根據本發明之光鉗能實現三維操控，並且能在不大 幅增加體積、複雜度以及成本的前提下達到同時操控多 個微小粒子的目的。 根據本發明之一較佳具體實施例，一種光鉗被提 供，該光鉗包含-光源、—準直器以及—變焦透鏡。該 光源訑產生一光束，並且透過一光纖傳遞該光束。該準 直器固定於該光纖之該底$，用以修正該光束成為一平 行光束。此外，該變焦透鏡則固定於該準直器之一表面 上’用以接收該平行％束，纟且將該平行光束聚焦於至 少一微小樣本上。 根據本發明之另一較佳具體實施例，一種光鉗被提 7 1352824 光源 準直器以及一變焦 供，該光鉗包含一平台、 兄。該平台係用以置放至少—微小樣本並且該平么 能進行二維空間的移動。該光源係用以產生一 = 且透過一光纖傳遞該光束。 、 不Θ平直窃固定於該光纖之該 底端，用以修正該光束成為一平行光束。 此外’該t焦透鏡固定於該準iif之一表面上用 以接收該平行光束，並且將該平行光束聚焦於該至少—Wa丨t, Appl.Phys_Lett_84, (2〇〇4), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), that is, the number of fibers needs to match the number of experimental individuals, and the volume and cost of the entire optical clamp device are increased due to Jt. It also increases the design complexity of the optical tongs. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical tong. In particular, the optical tongs according to the present invention can realize three-dimensional manipulation, and can achieve the purpose of simultaneously manipulating a plurality of minute particles without greatly increasing the volume, complexity, and cost. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an optical tong is provided that includes a light source, a collimator, and a zoom lens. The source 訑 produces a beam of light and transmits the beam through an optical fiber. The collimator is attached to the bottom $ of the fiber to correct the beam into a parallel beam. Additionally, the zoom lens is affixed to one of the surfaces of the collimator to receive the parallel % beam and focus the parallel beam onto at least one small sample. In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, an optical tongs is provided with a light source collimator and a zooming device, the optical tongs comprising a platform, a brother. The platform is used to place at least a small sample and the flat can move in a two dimensional space. The light source is used to generate a = and transmit the light beam through an optical fiber. The flat end is fixed to the bottom end of the optical fiber to correct the beam into a parallel beam. Further, the t-focus lens is fixed on one surface of the quasi-iif for receiving the parallel beam, and focusing the parallel beam on the at least -
微小樣本上。特別地，該變焦透鏡能進行變焦以控制該 至少、-微小樣本沿著大致與該平台垂直之一方向移 動。並且，該變焦透鏡還能使該平行光束準焦聚焦或散 焦聚焦於該至少一微小樣本上。 關於本發明之優點與精神可以藉由以下的發明詳 述及所附圖式得到進一步的瞭解。 【實施方式】 ，本發明提供—種能用於操作微小粒子的光鉗。以下 將評述本發明之具體實施例以及實際應用案例藉以充 分說明本發明之特徵、精神及優點。 請參閱第2圖’第2圖係繪示本發明之—具體實施 例的光钳示意圖。如第2圖所示，該総i包含一平台 (platf〇rm) 10、—光源（light source) 12、—準直器 (collimator) 14 以及一變焦透鏡（tunable f〇cus |ens) 16。特別地，根據本發明之光鉗1可對至少一巍小樣本 進行三維操作。 ’ 1352824 該平台1〇係用以置放該至少-微小樣本2,並且該 千台1〇能進行二維空間（水平）的微調移動。該光源12 可發出-光束(丨_ beam)’例如但不受限於雷射光 束，並且該光束之波長以及功率等特性可視該微小樣本 2的材質、種類等進行調整。舉例而言，當該為小樣本 2為生物樣本，如細胞、病毒 '細菌等時，該光束 長較佳地介於約800 nm至約1〇00 nm之間。 特別地’該光源12最佳地為單一光源。進一步， 該光源12所發出之光束可透過一光纖(〇_a丨… 進行傳遞。該光纖13可以是但不受限於，如一單模光 纖（single _e optical fiber)。單模光纖可減少光束的 能量損失，致使能量與作用力之間的轉換能如吾人所預On a small sample. In particular, the zoom lens can be zoomed to control the movement of the at least - tiny sample in a direction substantially perpendicular to the platform. Moreover, the zoom lens can also focus or focus the parallel beam on the at least one tiny sample. The advantages and spirit of the present invention will be further understood from the following detailed description of the invention. [Embodiment] The present invention provides an optical tong that can be used to manipulate tiny particles. The features, spirit, and advantages of the present invention are fully described in the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention. Referring to Figure 2, Figure 2 is a schematic view of a light clamp of a specific embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the 総i includes a platform (platf〇rm) 10, a light source 12, a collimator 14, and a zoom lens (tunable f〇cus |ens) 16. In particular, the optical tongs 1 according to the present invention can perform three-dimensional operations on at least one small sample. ' 1352824 The platform 1 is used to place the at least-small sample 2, and the thousand units can perform fine-tuning movement in a two-dimensional space (horizontal). The light source 12 can emit a - beam, for example, but not limited to, a laser beam, and characteristics such as the wavelength and power of the beam can be adjusted depending on the material, type, and the like of the minute sample 2. For example, when the small sample 2 is a biological sample, such as a cell, a virus 'bacteria, etc., the beam length is preferably between about 800 nm and about 1 00 nm. In particular, the light source 12 is preferably a single light source. Further, the light beam emitted by the light source 12 can be transmitted through an optical fiber (〇_a丨.... The optical fiber 13 can be, but is not limited to, a single _e optical fiber. The single mode fiber can reduce the beam. Energy loss, so that the conversion between energy and force can be as expected
;該準直器14被固定於該光纖13之一端，用以修正 該光束成為一平行光束。而該變焦透鏡16，例如但不受 • 限於液態變焦透鏡丨ef0cusliquid丨ens)，則固定 於該準直器14之-表面上，用以接收該平行光束，並 且將該平仃光束聚焦於該平台1 0上之微小樣本2上。 當本發明之光鉗1聚焦於該微小樣本2上時，其可 2制該微小樣本2,此時可將平台1〇水平微調，直到平 口 1 〇上之一預期位置被移動至該微小樣本2之位置， 即疋成水平方向（二維）的操控。此外，由於變焦透鏡16 可進仃垂直於平台10方向（如第2圖中之虛線箭頭所示 之方向）的焦點變換，可藉此控制該微小樣本2沿著垂 9 1352824 直於平台垂直之方向移動。因此，本發明之光鉗便可控 制該微小樣本2進行三維操控。The collimator 14 is fixed to one end of the optical fiber 13 for correcting the beam into a parallel beam. The zoom lens 16 is, for example, but not limited to, a liquid zoom lens 丨ef0cusliquid 丨ens, is fixed on the surface of the collimator 14 for receiving the parallel beam, and focusing the 仃 beam on the On the tiny sample 2 on the platform 10. When the optical clamp 1 of the present invention is focused on the minute sample 2, it can make the minute sample 2, and the platform 1 can be finely adjusted horizontally until one of the intended positions on the flat port 1 is moved to the minute sample. The position of 2, that is, the manipulation of the horizontal direction (two-dimensional). In addition, since the zoom lens 16 can be moved in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the platform 10 (as indicated by the dashed arrow in FIG. 2), the minute sample 2 can be controlled to be perpendicular to the platform along the vertical 9 1352824. Move in direction. Therefore, the optical forceps of the present invention can control the minute sample 2 for three-dimensional manipulation.
• 請參閱第3A圓以及第3B圖，第3A圖以及第3B ®係、繪示本發明之光钳垂直移動微小樣本之示意圖。如 第3A圖所示，該光鉗，之變焦透鏡比可先聚焦於平台 10上之微小樣本2上（位置A)。當該變焦透鏡16變焦 後，聚焦於第3B圖中之位置A，時，也將該微小樣本2 鲁提尚到位置A’ ’因此完成了該微小樣本2的垂直移動。 特別地，本發明之變焦透鏡16可使該平行光束準 焦（in-focus)聚焦或散焦（〇ff_focus)聚焦於該至少一微 小樣本上。進一步，當該變焦透鏡使該平行光束準焦聚 焦於該至少一微小樣本上時，該光鉗能捕捉其中一個微 小樣本。而當該變焦透鏡使該平行光束散焦聚焦於該至 少一微小樣本上時，由於光束的強度與分佈範圍增加， 因此該光鉗能捕捉其中複數個微小樣本。 φ 此外，該變焦透鏡之一鏡面尺寸可以視需求而進行 設計’例如介於約1 〇 μηι至約1 00 之間。當該變焦 透鏡之鏡面尺寸為微米等級時’其聚焦後的光腰尺寸更 小’因此可箝制並且操控奈米等級的微小樣本。 於實際應用中’前述之液態變焦透鏡可基於微機電 系統（Micro-Electro-Mechanical System, MEMS)並且 配合卓模光纖的核心尺寸進行製造，藉此，其能改變一 電壓以控制包含於其中的液體以達到變焦效果。 於實際應用中，該準直器14與該光纖13之間，以 ^52824 及該變焦透鏡16與該準直器1 4之間皆是以黏合方式固 定，並且需要對齊，使光束在黏合處不會發生偏折現 象。當然，該準直器1 4與該光纖1 3之間，以及該變焦 透鏡16與該準直器14之間也可藉由其它適當的方式進 行固定。• Refer to Figure 3A and Figure 3B, Figure 3A and Section 3B® for a schematic representation of the vertical movement of tiny specimens of the optical forceps of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 3A, the optical lens has a zoom lens that can be focused on the small sample 2 on the stage 10 (position A). When the zoom lens 16 is zoomed and focused on the position A in Fig. 3B, the minute sample 2 is also retracted to the position A'' thus completing the vertical movement of the minute sample 2. In particular, the zoom lens 16 of the present invention can focus the parallel beam in-focus focus or defocus (〇ff_focus) on the at least one small sample. Further, when the zoom lens focuses the parallel beam on the at least one minute sample, the optical clamp can capture one of the small samples. When the zoom lens focuses the focus of the parallel beam on the at least one small sample, the optical clamp can capture a plurality of tiny samples due to the increase in the intensity and distribution range of the beam. φ In addition, the mirror size of one of the zoom lenses can be designed as needed, for example, between about 1 〇 μηι and about 100. When the mirror size of the zoom lens is on the order of micrometers, the size of the waist after focusing is smaller, so that a small sample of the nanometer level can be clamped and manipulated. In practical applications, the aforementioned liquid zoom lens can be fabricated based on a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) and a core size of a mode-optic fiber, whereby it can change a voltage to control inclusion therein. Liquid to achieve zoom effect. In practical applications, the collimator 14 and the optical fiber 13 are fixed by bonding between the zoom lens 16 and the zoom lens 16 and the collimator 14 , and need to be aligned so that the light beam is at the bonding position. There will be no deflection. Of course, the collimator 14 and the optical fiber 13 and the zoom lens 16 and the collimator 14 can also be fixed by other suitable means.
综上所述’本發明之光鉗可藉由變焦透鏡的焦距改 變以及對焦方式的調整而同時操作多個樣本，也可對樣 本進行三維操控。此外，相較於習知技藝中的光鉗，本 發明之光鉗能在不增加光源、光纖以及透鏡數目的情況 下達到前述目的，因此具有架構簡單以及成本低廉等優 點° .，、、、丰發明已藉由較佳實施例以及圖示揭露如 上’然其係用以闡述而非限制本發明之範圍，任何 該項技藝者，在不脫離本發明之精神和範圍内，當^In summary, the optical clamp of the present invention can simultaneously manipulate a plurality of samples by changing the focal length of the zoom lens and adjusting the focus mode, and can also perform three-dimensional manipulation on the sample. In addition, compared with the optical tongs in the prior art, the optical tongs of the present invention can achieve the foregoing objectives without increasing the number of light sources, optical fibers, and lenses, and thus have the advantages of simple structure, low cost, and the like. The invention has been described by way of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, which are intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention.
，之更動與㈣。因此’本發明之範圍應以後面 Μ專利範圍所界定者為準。 之申 1352824 【圖式簡單說明】 第1圖係繪示習知光鉗的示意圖。 第2圖係繪示本發明之一具體實施例的光鉗示意 圖。 第3A圖以及第3B圖係繪示本發明之光鉗垂直移動 微小樣本之示意圖。 【主要元件符號說明】 10 、 78 :平台 1 3 :光纖 1 6 :變焦透鏡 A、A，：位置 74 :擴束構件 702 :雷射光 1、7 :光鉗 12、70 :光源 14 :準直器 2 :微小樣本 72 :濾波構件 7 6 :物鏡 12, the change and (four). Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined by the scope of the following patents. Shen 1352824 [Simple description of the drawings] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional optical clamp. Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing an optical tongs of an embodiment of the present invention. 3A and 3B are schematic views showing the vertical movement of the optical clamp of the present invention. [Main component symbol description] 10, 78: Platform 1 3: Optical fiber 1 6 : Zoom lens A, A, : Position 74: Expanding member 702: Laser light 1, 7: Optical clamp 12, 70: Light source 14: Collimation 2: tiny sample 72: filter member 7 6 : objective lens 12