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

Vaughn H Yost

Daniel C Carter

Lawrence James DeLucas

Robert S Snyder

William K Witherow

Marc L Pusey

Charles E Bugg

Blair J Herren

Fred L Suddath

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

A radiation sensitive area detection device is disclosed which comprises a phosphor-containing film capable of receiving and storing an image formed by a pattern of incoming X-rays, UV, or other radiation falling on the film and capable of fluorescing in response to stimulation by a light source in a manner directly proportional to the stored radiation pattern; a light source capable of projecting light or other appropriate electromagnetic wave on the film so as to cause it to fluoresce; means, such as a lens, to focus the fluoresced light coming from the phosphor-containing film after light stimulation; and at least one charged coupled detector or other detecting element capable of receiving and digitizing the pattern of fluoresced light coming from the phosphor-containing film. The device of the present invention will be able to generate superior X-ray images of high resolution from a crystal or other sample, and will be particularly advantageous in that instantaneous near real time images of rapidly deteriorating samples can be obtained. Further, the device can be made compact and sturdy, thus capable of carrying out X-ray or other radiation imaging under a variety of conditions, including those experienced in space.

X-ray sensitive area detection device

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Huntsville, AL, United States of America

Vaughn H Yost