Waveguide microgripper for identification, sensing and manipulation

A Waveguide Microgripper utilizes flexible optical waveguides as gripping arms, which provide the physical means for grasping a microobject, while simultaneously enabling light to be delivered and collected. This unique capability allows extensive optical characterization of the structure being held such as transmission, reflection or fluorescence. One of the simplest capabilities of the waveguide microgripper is to be able to detect the presence of a microobject between the microgripper facets by monitoring the transmitted intensity of light coupled through the facets. The intensity of coupled light is expected to drop when there is an object obstructing the path of light. The optical sensing and characterization function of the microgripper is a strong function of the optical power incident on the structure of interest. Hence it is important to understand the factors affecting the power distribution across the facet. The microgripper is also capable of detecting the fluorescence. This capability of microgripper is expected to have applications in medical, bio-medical and related fields.