The invention relates to a top-cover for a controlled environmental system (CES) for use with a measurement technique that requires introducing a probe to a sample placed on a sample holder, a CES and a procedure to control the environment for a sample in a system in particular a CES during a measurement with a probe based technique.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides systems and methods for generating nanostructures from tribological films. A probe tip can be immersed in a liquid mixture comprising a plurality of ink particles suspended in a medium. A substrate on which the tribological film is to be generated can also be immersed in the liquid mixture. A processor controlling movement of the probe tip can be configured to cause the probe tip to slide along the substrate in a shape of a desired pattern of the nanostructure with a contact force to cause one or more ink particles of the plurality of ink particles compressed underneath the probe tip to be transformed into a tribological film onto the substrate in the shape of the desired pattern of the nanostructure.

A probe for atomic force microscopy comprises a tip for atomic force microscopy oriented in a direction referred to as the longitudinal direction and protrudes from an edge of a substrate in the longitudinal direction, wherein the tip is arranged at one end of a shuttle attached to the substrate at least via a first and via a second structure, which structures are referred to as support structures, at least the first support structure being a flexible structure, extending in a direction referred to as the transverse direction, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and anchored to the substrate by at least one mechanical linkage in the transverse direction, the support structures being suitable for allowing the shuttle to be displaced in the longitudinal direction. An atomic force microscope comprising at least one such probe is also provided.

A probe for atomic force microscopy comprises a tip for atomic force microscopy oriented in a direction referred to as the longitudinal direction and protrudes from an edge of a substrate in the longitudinal direction, wherein the tip is arranged at one end of a shuttle attached to the substrate at least via a first and via a second structure, which structures are referred to as support structures, at least the first support structure being a flexible structure, extending in a direction referred to as the transverse direction, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and anchored to the substrate by at least one mechanical linkage in the transverse direction, the support structures being suitable for allowing the shuttle to be displaced in the longitudinal direction. An atomic force microscope comprising at least one such probe is also provided.

A sample vessel retention mechanism for an inverted microscope having an optical objective and a scanning probe microscope (SPM) head. The inverted microscope includes a platform for supporting a sample vessel, in which is formed an aperture sized to provide a passage for the objective of the inverted microscope to approach the sample vessel from below. The retention mechanism provides a vacuum region formed in the platform, with the vacuum region being barometrically coupled with a vacuum generator. Establishment of a vacuum in the vacuum region prevents or substantially reduces oscillation of the sample vessel floor in an operating frequency range of the SPM head.

A wet cell apparatus is provided and includes a sensor body defining a nano-pore by which respective cell interiors are fluidly communicative and a scanning probe microscope (SPM) tip. The SPM tip is configured to draw a molecule through the nano-pore from one of the respective cell interiors whereby sensing components of the sensor body identify molecule components as the molecule passes through the nano-pore.

The present invention makes it possible to easily and efficiently observe a specimen contained in a fluid without using a filtration device separate from a scanning probe microscope by attaching a filter holding part holding a filter to a fluid cell of a specimen support. Therefore, a specimen support 10, for holding a specimen subject to observation by the scanning probe microscope, comprises a fluid cell 11, into which fluid including the specimen is introduced, and a filter unit including a filter 15, which allows the fluid passage and at least a part of the specimen is adhered to. The fluid cell 11 includes a fluid entrance, the filter unit includes a fluid exit opening, and the filter unit is attached to one side of the fluid cell 11.

The present invention makes it possible to easily and efficiently observe a specimen contained in a fluid without using a filtration device separate from a scanning probe microscope by attaching a filter holding part holding a filter to a fluid cell of a specimen support. Therefore, a specimen support 10, for holding a specimen subject to observation by the scanning probe microscope, comprises a fluid cell 11, into which fluid including the specimen is introduced, and a filter unit including a filter 15, which allows the fluid passage and at least a part of the specimen is adhered to. The fluid cell 11 includes a fluid entrance, the filter unit includes a fluid exit opening, and the filter unit is attached to one side of the fluid cell 11.

Described herein is the analysis of nanomechanical characteristics of cells. In particular, changes in certain local nanomechanical characteristics of ex vivo human cells can correlate with presence of a human disease, such as cancer, as well as a particular stage of progression of the disease. Also, for human patients that are administered with a therapeutic agent, changes in local nanomechanical characteristics of ex vivo cells collected from the patients can correlate with effectiveness of the therapeutic agent in terms of impeding or reversing progression of the disease. By exploiting this correlation, systems and related methods can be advantageously implemented for disease state detection and therapeutic agent selection and monitoring.

A polymeric micro-arm apparatus and method to use the same. The apparatus comprises of an elongated hollow polymeric structure with a distal end and a proximal end, an opening near the distal end, a main body attached to the polymeric structure means to move the polymeric structure, means to generate fluid flow through the opening, means to measure a flowrate of the fluid flow through the opening; and an element embedded in the polymeric structure, wherein the element is configured to detect when the polymeric structure contacts an object and measures the force that the object exerts upon the polymeric structure.