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The United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of the

Charles E Bugg

Daniel C Carter

Lawrence James DeLucas

Paul P Trotta

Robert S Snyder

Vaughn H Yost

Tattanhalli L Nagabhushan

Blair J Herren

Lawrence L Delucas

By Sue Bishop, Executrix

John Bradford Bishop, Deceased

Fred L Suddath

Michael D Harrington

An apparatus for producing crystals of a macromolecule in microgravity includes a container 100 which is made of a material having a low thermal conductivity and an open end. A thermally conductive lid 102 is fitted on the open end of the container to close the container and a heat source/sink 114 is provided in thermal contact with the thermally conductive lid to generate a temperature gradient within the container. When a solution of the macromolecule is provided in the container, the temperature gradient induces and control the crystallization of the macromolecule. In operation, a temperature ramp from a start temperature to an end temperature is used to maintain and control the temperature gradient.

Method and apparatus for crystalizing macromolecules in microgravity

A macromolecular crystal growing system especially designed for growing crystals in the low gravity of space as well as the gravity of earth includes at least one tray assembly, a carrier assembly which receives the tray, and a refrigeration-incubation module in which the carrier assembly is received. The tray assembly includes a plurality of sealed chambers with a plastic syringe and a plug means for the double tip of the syringe provided therein. Ganging mechanisms operate the syringes and plugs simultaneously in a precise and smooth operation. Preferably, the tray assemblies are mounted on ball bearing slides for smooth operation in inserting and removing the tray assemblies into the carrier assembly. The plugging mechanism also includes a loading control mechanism. A mechanism for leaving a syringe unplugged is also provided.

Macromolecular crystal growing system

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Birmingham, AL, United States of America

Charles E Bugg