
ZEISS PALM MicroTweezers Precise, Contact-free Manipulation of Cells and Subcellular Structures
This system of optical tweezers allows for precise, contact-free cell manipulation as well as to trap, move, and sort microscopic particles. With the highly focused laser beam of PALM MicroTweezers you manipulate cells and particles in the micro- and sub-micrometer range: live cells, organelles and other large biomolecules.


The laser separates the desired sample from the surrounding specimen (left). Sample capture is initiated using a single laser pulse (middle). The ejected sample is transferred to the desired capture device (right).
The laser separates the desired sample from the surrounding specimen (left). Sample capture is initiated using a single laser pulse (middle). The ejected sample is transferred to the desired capture device (right).
High-Precision Manipulation
Optical tweezers use the force field of a highly focused laser beam to generate an optical trap. This allows for precise micro-manipulation without mechanical contact. PALM MicroTweezers use an infrared laser with a wavelength of 1064 nm to minimize effects on your live samples. The intuitive system allows you to trap, move and position microscopic objects, such as red blood cells or bacteria.

Membrane tether extraction of a NIH 3T3 fibroblast with PALM MicroTweezers.

The force is calculated from the position of the bead center relative to the trap center. The tether length can also be measured. Raucher D, Sheetz MP. Characteristics of a Membrane Reservoir Buffering Membrane Tension. Biophys J. 1999 Oct;77(4):1992-2002.
Membrane tether extraction of a NIH 3T3 fibroblast with PALM MicroTweezers. The force is calculated from the position of the bead center relative to the trap center. The tether length can also be measured. Raucher D, Sheetz MP. Characteristics of a Membrane Reservoir Buffering Membrane Tension. Biophys J. 1999 Oct;77(4):1992-2002.
Force Measurement
The software module Force Measurement allows not only the manipulation of microscopic particles with optical tweezers, but also the quantitative measurement of forces relevant to various disciplines of life science research. The intuitive software offers flexible functionality and experimental freedom ranging from sperm motility measurements to the characterization of plasma membrane properties, molecular binding forces, or cell elasticity measurements.