Lucent Technologies Inc.

Princeton University

David William Tank

Michale Sean Fee

Winfried Denk

Fritjof Helmchen

Vladimir Anatolyevich Aksyuk

David John Bishop

Sebastian Seung

Adrian A Wanner

Disclosed are a procedure and system for live monitoring of staining quality and heavy metal diffusion during electron microscopy preparation protocols for biological samples. The disclosed approach employs x-rays via, e.g., a commercially available micro-CT device, to observe and measure the diffusion and distribution of the heavy metals during conventional biological sample staining procedures for electron microscopy. This allows one to observe and check the quality and homogeneity of the staining without damaging or destroying the sample.

X-ray assisted electron microscopy staining procedure

A process for operating an optical scanning system includes making an image of a sample by scanning spots in the sample, measuring intensities of light emitted by the scanned spots, determining locations of the scanned spots, and assigning intensities to image pixels based on the measured intensities and determined locations of the scanned spots. In the making of the image, the acts of determining depend on a value of a parameter. The process also includes selecting a new value for the parameter and deciding whether the image of the sample has less double imaging if the new value of the parameter is used during the acts of determining. The process accepts the new value of the parameter in response to determining that the new value produces less of the double imaging.

System and method for optical scanning

An optical scanning system includes a probe and a processor. The probe includes a mechanical oscillator responsive to AC voltage signals and an optical fiber. The optical fiber has a free end that executes an oscillatory scanning motion in response to being mechanically driven by the mechanical oscillator. The processor is configured to receive measured intensities of light emitted from spots of a sample scanned by light from the free end of the optical fiber. The processor is also configured to assign intensities to image pixels based on the measured intensities of light. The acts of assigning compensate for variations in the density of the scanned spots.

A method for forming micron-sized or smaller drops of liquid, and the use of the method in fabricating micro electro mechanical and micro mechanical devices is disclosed. A micropipette is formed having an inside diameter no larger than the size of the drops to be formed. The micropipette is connected to a system capable of developing a positive and optionally negative pressure within the micropipette. The tip of the micropipette is placed in liquid. The liquid is drawn into the micropipette via capillary action or from the negative pressure developed by the system. The micropipette is then positioned to deliver liquid to an intended location on a surface. To deliver the liquid, a positive pressure is developed within the micropipette. The positive pressure forces a micron-sized or smaller drop of liquid out of the micropipette. The method can be used to form micron-sized or smaller drops of adhesive for fixing in place various structural members that form microdevices.

Growing community of inventors

Princeton, NJ, United States of America

David William Tank