Asylum Research Licenses Magnetic Actuated Cantilever Technology
October 21, 2005 (Santa Barbara, CA) Asylum Research, a leading manufacturer of atomic force microscopes (AFMs), announced an exclusive licensing agreement with the Institut Curie of Paris for their Atomic Force Microscope patent on magnetic actuated cantilever technology. The license agreement covers use in US and European markets.
The cantilevers are actuated by driving a tiny oscillating current through the legs of the cantilever. In a magnetic field, even one as small as the earth's, this oscillating current results in an actuation force, directly driving the cantilever. "This licensing agreement will add another powerful capability for imaging samples with our MFP-3D(TM) instruments, particularly in fluid, " said Dr. Roger Proksch, president of Asylum Research. "This new technology overcomes serious limitations of other magnetically actuated techniques that require magnetic coated cantilevers. The quality of the magnetic film coating is unreliable and may corrupt an experiment with unwanted metal (Fe, Ni or Co) ions."
Magnetically actuated cantilever technology allows non-destructive atomic force microscopy of sensitive samples, particularly for imaging bioscience and polymer samples in fluid.
Asylum Research manufactures advanced scientific instrumentation, including AFMs/ Scanning Probe Microscopes (SPMs), for nanoscale science and technology. An AFM/SPM is one of the premier instruments used for measuring surfaces and surface properties at the nanometer level.
The Institut Curie is a private foundation headquartered in Paris, France, and is focused on fighting cancer. In addition to their research activities, they are also a hospital.
