E.a. Fischione Instruments, Inc.

Other

Simple Origin, Inc.

Pushkarraj Deshmukh

Paul E Fischione

Jeffrey J Gronsky

Christine M Thomas

Alan C Robins

Halina Stabacinskiene

A cryogen refilling system includes a reservoir assembly for holding cryogen and a delivery channel in fluid communication with the reservoir assembly for delivering cryogen from the reservoir assembly to a microscope cryogen holder. The delivery channel includes at least one control valve. The system also includes a sensor-lid assembly and a controller. The sensor-lid assembly includes a sensor assembly configured to detect a level of cryogen in the microscope cryogen holder. The controller is configured to receive sensor data from the sensor assembly, analyze the sensor data to determine whether the microscope cryogen holder requires refilling, and in response to determining that the microscope cryogen holder requires refilling, cause a valve control mechanism to open the at least one control valve of the delivery channel.

System and method for refilling cryogen in microscope cryogen holders

An improved cryogenic specimen holder for imaging and analysis facilitates imaging at very high tilt angles with a large field of view. A retractable specimen holder tip protects the specimen during transport. An optimized Dewar design is positioned at a fixed, tilted angle with respect to the axis of the holder, providing a means of continuously cooling the specimen irrespective of the high tilt angle and amount of liquid nitrogen present in the vessel. The Dewar neck design reduces entrapment of nitrogen gas bubbles and its shape prevents the spilling of liquid nitrogen at high tilt angles. The specimen holder has a retractable tip that completely encapsulates the specimen within a shielded environment internal to the specimen holder body. The cooling and specimen transfer mechanisms reduce thermal drift and the detrimental effects of vibrations generated by both the evaporation of liquid nitrogen present in the Dewar and other environmental effects.

Cryogenic specimen holder

An in situ optical specimen holder is disclosed which allows imaging and analysis during dynamic experimentation. This holder assembly includes a set of focusing and reflection optics along with an environmental cell. Electromagnetic radiation can be used to optically excite the specimen in the presence or absence of fluid and the source of such radiation may be located within the body of the holder itself. The spot size of the irradiation at the specimen surface can be varied, thus exciting only a specific region on the specimen. The window type cell provides a variable fluid path length ranging from the specimen thickness to 500 &#x3bc;m. The holder has the provision to continuously circulate fluids over the specimen. The pressure within the cell can be regulated by controlling the flow rate of the fluids and the speed of the pumps.

In situ holder assembly

An improved cryogenic specimen holder for imaging and analysis facilitates imaging at very high tilt angles with a large field of view. A retractable specimen holder tip protects the specimen during transport. An optimized Dewar design is positioned at a fixed, tilted angle with respect to the axis of the holder, providing a means of continuously cooling the specimen irrespective of the high tilt angle and the amount of liquid nitrogen present in the vessel. The Dewar neck design reduces the entrapment of nitrogen gas bubbles and its shape prevents the spilling of liquid nitrogen at high tilt angles. The specimen holder has a retractable tip that completely encapsulates the specimen within a shielded environment internal to the specimen holder body. The cooling and specimen transfer mechanisms reduce thermal drift and the detrimental effects of vibrations generated by both the evaporation of liquid nitrogen present in the Dewar as well as other environmental effects.

An in situ optical specimen holder is disclosed which may be utilized for imaging and analysis during dynamic experimentation. This holder assembly includes a set of focusing and reflection optics along with an environmental cell. Electromagnetic radiation can be used to optically excite the specimen in the presence or absence of fluid. A highly reflective mirror may be used to focus the radiation on to the specimen without the presence of any heating components within the cell. The spot size of the irradiation at the specimen surface can be varied, thus exciting only a specific region on the specimen. The window type cell provides a variable fluid path length ranging from the specimen thickness to 500 &#x3bc;m. The holder has the provision to continuously circulate fluids over the specimen. The pressure within the cell can be regulated by controlling the flow rate of the fluids and the speed of the pumps.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Pushkarraj Deshmukh