Company News & Events

AFM users can "feel" nano-objects as they are manipulated in real-time, facilitating scientific exploration at the nanoscale level.

Santa Clara, CA -- May 19, 2003 -- Pacific Nanotechnology, Inc. (PNI), the global leader in high-performance, easy-to-use, and affordable atomic force microscopes (AFMs), announces that it has entered into a marketing alliance with NanoFeel (Carouge, Switzerland) to add nanomanipulation capabilities to PNI's Nano-R™ and Nano-I™ AFMs. AFM users can sense the texture or stickiness of a surface and "feel" nano-objects as they are manipulated in real time.

The NanoFeel™ 300 is a force feedback manipulator that allows real-time manipulation to occur when haptics force-feedback technology is applied to the AFM. Such a system typically magnifies the real motion by a factor of one million. Thus, moving a joystick one centimeter would move the AFM tip a millionth of a centimeter, or 10 nanometers. The user can monitor forces using the force-feedback to sense the probe being attracted to the surface, then "feeling" the surface roughness, sensing the adhesion of the probe, and finally sensing the lifting of the probe.

"This marketing alliance combines our capability for providing an intuitive 3-D haptic interface with PNI's state-of-the-art closed-loop AFM," said NanoFeel CEO Marc Jobin. "Manipulation at the nanometric scale will allow advanced nanoscale exploration efforts leading to developments in single-electron transistors, molecular devices, terabits/cm2 data storage media, advanced sensors, and nano-motors."

Applications include robotics, genetics, pharmaceutical development, medicine, the military, space exploration, and homeland security.

"We are committed to facilitating the growth and expansion of nanotechnology and the manufacture of nano-scale products by providing practical AFM tools and education on their advanced capabilities and applications," said Paul West, vice president of products and chief technology officer for PNI. "Our customers are now using next-generation technology and applying it to the AFM. We believe these NanoFeel applications for our AFMs will become a critical enabler for ground-breaking nanotechnology developments in several areas."

The NanoFeel 300 force feedback manipulator is available on both the Nano-R and Nano-I AFMs from PNI. For more information, visit the PNI web site at www.pacificnanotech.com.

PNI is the global leader in high-performance, easy-to-use, affordable AFMs for nano-scale research and manufacturing. The company is facilitating the growth and expansion of nanotechnology and the manufacture of nano-scale products by providing practical AFM tools for new or experienced and single- or multi-user environments. For more information, visit the company's website at www.pacificnanotech.com.

NanoFeel, based in Switzerland, is producing and commercializing manipulators for atomic force microscopes, enabling manipulation at the nanometric scale. The company's flagship product, the NanoFeel™ 300, is a force feedback manipulator allowing exceptional force sensitivity while manipulating nano-objects. For more information, please visit the company's web site at www.nanofeel.com.