Fig. 1: System for micro-indentation measurements on C. elegans embryos.
From: Force microscopy of the Caenorhabditis elegans embryonic eggshell
a Photograph of the cellular force microscope (CFM), integrated with an inverted microscope for high-resolution imaging. The configuration, combining xyz precision linear positioners and a piezo system, allows manipulation of the MEMS-based capacitive force sensor with an attached micro-indenter (blue) with nanometer resolution and centimeter travel range. b Schematics of the CFM. Once a suitable embryo has been selected by means of the xy coarse stage of the inverted microscope, the xyz positioner centers the micro-indenter over the egg and moves it in z direction close to the shell. c Indentation Δz of the eggshell is performed by further downward motion of the micro-indenter, controlled via the xyz piezo stage. The indenter tip position and the resulting force Fz are recorded simultaneously
