• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.274-278
• /
• 1999

Determination of soil texture, particularly the clay fraction, is an important measurement in most researches related with soil. In this study micro-pipette method For soil particle size analysis was compared with the standard hydrometer method. Micro-pipette method can eliminate the need for bulky laboratory equipment and long settling times associated with the standard hydrometer or pipette method. In the results of this investigation, the particle size data obtained with micro-pipette method were in good agreement with those found using standard hydrometer method. And with this method one person could run analysis much larger numbers of soil sample per day than with hydrometer method in relatively small laboratory space.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.411-417
• /
• 2004

Recently, instruments and systems related on biological technology have been enormously developed. Particularly, many researches for biological cell injection have been carried out. Usually, excessive contact force occurring when the end-effector and a biological cell contact might make a damage on the cell. Unfortunately, the excessive force could easily destroy the membrane and tissue of the cell. In order to overcome the problem, we proposed a new injection system for biological cell manipulation. The proposed injection system can measure the contact force between a pipette and a cell by using a force sensor. Also, we used vision technology to correctly guide the tip of the pipette to the cell. Consequently, the proposed injection system could safely manipulate the biological cells without any damage. This paper presents the introduction of our new injection system and design concepts of the new micro end-effector. Through a series of experiments the proposed injection system shows the possibility of application for precision biological cell manipulation such as DNA operation.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
• /
• v.35 no.11
• /
• pp.1133-1137
• /
• 2011

A novel technique for the fabrication of a glass micropipette-based thermal sensor was developed utilizing inexpensive thermocouple materials. Thermal fluctuation with a resolution of ${\pm}0.002$ K was measured using the fabricated thermal probe. The sensors comprise unleaded low-melting point solder alloy (Sn) as a core metal inside a borosilicate glass pipette coated with a thin film of Ni, creating a thermocouple junction at the tip. The sensor was calibrated using a thermally insulated calibration chamber, the temperature of which can be controlled with a precision of ${\pm}0.1$ K and the thermoelectric power (Seebeck coefficient) of the sensor was recorded from 8.46 to $8.86{\mu}V$/K. The sensor we have produced is both cost-effective and reliable for thermal conductivity measurements of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) and biological temperature sensing at the micron level.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
• /
• 2004.10a
• /
• pp.285-290
• /
• 2004

Electro-active polymer, one of smart materials, is a new alternative technology, which can get an ultra precision movements and bio-compatibilty. This paper presents the relationship between elastic modulus and maximum deflection as a key property of maxwell stress effects and also presents the relationship between dielectric constant and maximum deflection as a key property of electro-striction effects in disc-type actuators using segmented PU. To induce equation about distributed load of a disc, we use boundary condition of fully clamped circular plate and to obtain design parameters of a micro-fluidics system, CFD simulation is performed.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2003.10a
• /
• pp.2445-2450
• /
• 2003

Recently, biological technology industry shows great development. Instruments and systems related biological technology have been developed actively. In this paper, we developed a new micro end-effector for biological cell manipulation. The existing micro end-effector for biological cell manipulation has not any force sensing mechanism. Usually, excessive contact force occurring when the end-effector and a cell collide might make a damage on the cell. However, unfortunately, user can not notice the condition in case of using the existing end-effector. In order to overcome we proposed the improved micro end-effector having a force sensing mechanism. This paper presents the design concepts of the new micro end-effector. We carried out calibration of the force sensor and tested the performance of the proposed micro end-effector. Through a series of experiments the new micro end-effector shows the possibility of application for precision biological cell manipulation such as DNA operation

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.350-354
• /
• 2020

In this study, a pressure sensor for each displacement was fabricated based on the silicon-based pressure sensor obtained through simulation results. Wires were bonded to the pressure sensor, and a piezoresistive pressure sensor was inserted into the printed circuit board (PCB) base by directly connecting a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) sensor and a readout integrated circuit (ROIC) for signal processing. In addition, to prevent exposure, a non-conductive liquid silicone was injected into the sensor and the entire ROIC using a pipette. The packaging proceeded to block from the outside. Performing such packaging, comparing simple contact with strong contact, and confirming that the measured pulse wavelength appears accurately.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.147-151
• /
• 2009

Purpose: 2-[$^{18}F$]Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([$^{18}F$]FDG) particularly plays as a important role in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging in nuclear medicine. Domestic [$^{18}F$]FDG auto synthesizers are installed in Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (SNUBH) at June 2008, these modules were known that it's synthetic yields were guaranteed in average $45{\pm}5%$ so far. To improve yields and convenience of domestic [$^{18}F$]FDG auto synthesizer, numerous trials in reaction time, base concentration, pressure and temperature were performed to increase [$^{18}F$]FDG yields. Materials and Methods: Several synthetic factors (temperature, time and pressure) and shortcoming were corrected based on many evaporation test. Syringe dispensing of tetra-butylammonium bicarbonate (TBAB) was replaced with micro pipette to prepare tetrabutyl ammonium fluoride salt ([$^{18}F$]TBAF). Troublesome refill of liquid nitrogen every 2 hours which was used to protect vacuum system was changed to charcoal cartridge, base guard filter. To monitor the volume of delivered $[^{18}O]OH_2$ from cyclotron by surveillance camera, we set up the volumetric vial on the cover of the module. In addition to, the recovery vial was added in [$^{18}F$]FDG production system to recover [$^{18}F$]FDG loss due to the leak of valve ($V_{13,14}$) in [$^{18}F$]FDG purification process. Results: When we used micro pipette for adding TBAB ($30\;{\mu}L$ in 12% $H_2O$ in acetonitrile), this quantitative dispensation has enabled to improve $5.5{\pm}1.7%$ residual fluorine-18 activity in fluorine separation cartridge compared to syringe adding. Besides, the synthetic yields of [$^{18}F$]FDG has increased $58{\pm}2.6%$ (n=19), $58{\pm}2.9%$ (n=14), $60%{\pm}2.5%$ (n=17) for 3 months. The life cycle of charcoal cartridge and base vacuum was 3 months prior to filling liquid nitrogen every 2 hours and additional side separator can prevent pump corrosion by organic solvent. After setting of volumetric indicator vial, the operator can easily monitor the total volume of irradiated $[^{18}O]OH_2$ from cyclotron. The recovery vial can be used for the stabilizer when an irregular [$^{18}F$]FDG loss was generated by the leak of valves ($V_{13,14}$). Conclusions: We has optimized appropriate synthetic conditions (temperature, time, pressure) in domestic [$^{18}F$]FDG auto synthesizer. In addition to, the remodeling with several accessories improve yields of domestic [$^{18}F$]FDG auto synthesizer with reliable reproducibility.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2003.10a
• /
• pp.2451-2456
• /
• 2003

In biological cell manipulation, manual thrust or penetration of an injection pipette into an egg is currently performed by a skilled operator, relying only on visual feedback information. Massive load of various micro injection of either genes, fluid or cells in the postgenomic era calls a more reliable and automatic micro injection system that can test hundreds of genes or cell types at a single experiment. We initiated to study cellular force sensing in zebrafish eggs as the first step for the development of a more controllable micro injection system by any inexperienced operator. Zebrafish eggs at different developmental stages were collected and an integrated biomanipulation system was employed to measure cellular force during penetrating the egg envelope, the chorion. First of all, the biomanipulation system integrated with cellular force sensing instrument is implemented to measure the penetration force of cell membranes and characterize mechanical properties of zebrafish embryo cells. Furthermore, implementation of cellular force sensing system and calibration are presented. Finally, the cellular force sensing of penetrating cell membranes at each developmental stages was experimentally performed. The results demonstrated that the biomanipulation system with force sensing capability can measure cellular force at real-time while the injection operation is undergoing. The magnitude of the measured force was in the range of several hundreds of uN. The precise real-time measurement should provide the first step forwards for the development of an automatic and reliable injection system of various materials into biological cells.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.5 no.6
• /
• pp.487-494
• /
• 2001

During depolarization, extrusion of $Ca^{2+}$ from sarcoplasmic reticulum through forward-mode $Na^+-Ca^{2+}$ exchange was studied in the rat ventricular myocytes patch-clamped in whole-cell configuration. In order to confine the $Ca^{2+}$ responses in a micro-domain by limiting the $Ca^{2+}$ diffusion time, rat ventricular myocytes were dialyzed with high (14 mM) EGTA. $K^+$ current was suppressed by substituting KCl with 105 mM CsCl and 20 mM TEA in the pipette filling solution and by omitting KCl in the external Tyrode solution. $Cl^-$ current was suppressed by adding 0.1 mM DIDS in the external Tyrode solution. During stimulation roughly mimicking action potential, the initial outward current was converted into inward current, $47{\pm}1%$ of which was suppressed by 0.1 mM $CdCl_2.$ 10 mM caffeine increased the remaining inward current after $CdCl_2$ in a cAMP-dependent manner. This caffeine-induced inward current was blocked by $1\;{\mu}M$ ryanodine, $10\;{\mu}M$ thapsigargin, 5 mM $NiCl_2,$ or by $Na^+\;and\;Ca^{2+}$ omission, but not by $0.1\;{\mu}M$ isoproterenol. The $I{\sim}V$ relationship of the caffeine-induced current elicited inward current from -45 mV to +3 mV with the peak at -25 mV. Taken together, it is concluded that, during activation of the rat ventricular myocyte, forward-mode $Na^+-Ca^{2+}$ exchange extrudes a fraction of $Ca^{2+}$ released from sarcoplasmic reticulum mainly by voltage-sensitive release mechanism in a micro-domain in the t-tubule, which is functionally separable from global $Ca^{2+}{_i}$ by EGTA.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.171-178
• /
• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of electric fusion methods on cell fusion rate and embryo development by somatic cell nuclear transfer in Korean Native Cattle. The KNC ear cell was cultured in vitro for confluence in serum starvation condition(DMEM＋0.05％ FBS) for cell confluence. The zona pellucida of IVM oocytes were partially dissection using micro pipette. Ear cells were transferred into an enucleated oocyte. The reconstructed embryos were electrically fused with Zimmermann Cell Fusion Medium(ZCFM). Nuclear transfer embryos were activated with a combination of 10${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ calcium ionophore(5 min) and 2.0mM 6-DMAP(3 hr). The activated embryos were cultured in CR1 -aa medium contains 0.3％ BSA or 10％ FBS at 37$^{\circ}C$, 90％ $N_2$, and 5％ $CO_2$in incubator for 6 days. The fusion rates were 51.6％(chamber) and 68.9％(needle), respectively and there were significantly difference between the fusion method(P<0.05). But, lysis rates were not significantly different(10.7％, 11.5％), respectively. The cleavage rates were significantly different between the chamber method(73.2％) and needle method(80.3％), respectively(P<0.05). The rates of early embryos(2∼4cells) and blastocysts of chamber and needle methods were 54.1％, 61.1％ and 18.4％, 26.3％ respectively, and needle method was significantly higher than chamber method(P<0.05). But, morulae formation rate were not significantly differences between the chamber(6.7％) and needle(6.2) method(P <0.05). These result suggest that electric fusion of needle method was to be profitable for nuclear transfer embryo fusion rate, blastocyst formation rate and reduce of oocyte lysis.