Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus of restoring probes attached to the manipulator in a control environment (e.g. vacuum chamber of an focus ion beam) without a need to open the vacuum chamber. Another embodiment of the present invention teaches construction and application of various shapes of nanoforks from a nanoneedles array inside a FIB vacuum chamber. In another embodiment, the present invention teaches edition and correction of completed and oxide-coated circuit boards by re-nano-wiring using nanoneedles of a nanoneedles array (as nanowire supply), contained in the same controlled space. In this embodiment, individual nanoneedles in a nanoneedle array are manipulated by a manipulator and placed in such a way to make electrical contact between the desired points.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides the description of an inexpensive and disposable handheld device for detecting Circulating tumor cells (CTC) in blood called a handheld CTC detector (HCTCD). The HCTCD is capable of detecting less than 1 CTC per milliliter. The HCTCD consists of a dense array of high aspect ratio freestanding metallic nanoneedles, functionalized with antibodies that integrated within a microfluidic device and selectively capture and count (using electrical signal detection) the CTCs. By selecting a right functionalization protocol for the nanoneedles array, the HCTCD can be used for selective capturing a variety of rare cells that are mixed in human fluids.

Abstract: The present invention provides a description for an instrument for creating arrays of metal nanostructures allows on various substrates at the wafer scale. Embodiment methods permit for the formation of individual and arrays of metal alloys of nanostructures by bringing an array of liquid metal droplets droplet in contact with an array of metal patterns by using high precision manipulation mechanism. Top view and side view optical lenses are used to observe the manipulation process and also allow for aligning the metal droplets with film of solid metal patterns. As one example, this instrument is capable of pattering high aspect ratio nanostructures such as silver-gallium (Ag2Ga) nanowires onto prefabricated microstructures. This invention also describes a method for forming arrays of liquid metal droplets on the tip of micro structures by bringing a flexible membrane containing a liquid metal film, in contact with a pattern of microstructures.

Abstract: The present invention provides method for creating point to point metallic contact and bridges between two structures at the nanoscale. Embodiment methods permit for the formation of individual and arrays of silver-gallium nanostructures bridges by mobilizing a gallium microdroplet and bringing in contact with silver coated surface. The invention also describes an example instrument for formation of individual and multiple nanostructure bridges at selective location and orientation. Example structures including multiple nanostructure bridges on the top of each other, suspended nanostructure sensors and actuators, nanowire bonded that provides electrical contacts between nanostructures (e.g. carbon nanotube, Graphene, nanowires) and microelectronic circuits are enabled by this invention.