The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 27, 2005
Filed:
Jan. 25, 2002
David L. Carnahan, Needham, MA (US);
David L. Carnahan, Needham, MA (US);
NanoLab, Inc., Newton, MA (US);
Abstract
A nanoscale grasping device comprising at least three electrostatically actuated grasping elements. The use of at least three elements, which together define a plane, allows an object to be grasped more accurately, more easily held, and more readily manipulated. The grasping elements preferably comprise conductive nanotubes which are grown at specific points on a substrate (e.g., directly on an electrode), using chemical vapor deposition ('CVD') techniques, thereby allowing the grasping device to be manufactured with greater control. Different types of electrostatic forces may be used to open or close the grasping tool. Such attractive and repulsive forces can be created through the application of either a constant voltage or an oscillating voltage.