US Patent 7674389 - Low energy e-beam shaping of nanodevice

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7674389.html

This patent assigned to the University of California teaches a technique using a focused electron to shape nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes for applications such as atomic force microscopy. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of shape modifying a nanodevice, comprising:

a) providing a nanodevice;

b) providing an assist gas;

c) contacting the nanodevice with a low energy focused electron beam in a presence of the assist gas; and

d) applying a force to at least a part of the nanodevice during application of the low-energy focused electron beam, whereby the nanodevice is transformed into a shape-modified nanodevice.