US Patent 7439501 - Direct write nanolithography using heated tip

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7439501.html

This patent from Georgia Tech Research seems to be claiming a system identical to earlier technology such as IBM's millipede system for high density memory storage. Some prior art not considered during the examination can be found here. Claim 1 reads:

1. A device for sculpting a substrate, comprising:

a. a vertically displaceable probe having a nano-scale dimensioned probe tip;

b. a displacement mechanism configured to adjust a vertical displacement between the probe tip and the substrate; and

c. a heating mechanism that selectively heats the probe tip to a preselected temperature that is sufficient to cause a portion of the substrate in contact with the probe tip to decompose.