Modelling of a planar magnetic micropusher for biological cell manipulations

The improvement of the efficiency and the automation of biological cell technologies are currently of great importance. One way is to build biological micro-factories which are able to perform complete biotechnological processes automatically. This technology requires the development of new automatic cell transport system to feed work stations in micro-factories. An original magnetic cell micropusher is described in this paper. The ferromagnetic pusher which is submerged in the biological medium follows the movement of a permanent magnet located in the air. This paper focuses on the modelling of the dynamic behaviour of the micropusher according to the magnet trajectory. The generic model proposed is able to determine pusher trajectory according to the micropusher magnetic properties and the permanent magnet shape and properties. This simulation tool will permit to optimize and to study cell trajectory control in further works. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.