The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 25, 2012
Filed:
Jul. 28, 2010
Halina Stabacinskiene, North Huntingdon, PA (US);
Jeffrey J. Gronsky, Ligonier, PA (US);
Christine M. Thomas, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Pushkarraj V. Deshmukh, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Alan C. Robins, Horley Surrey, GB;
Paul E. Fischione, Export, PA (US);
Halina Stabacinskiene, North Huntingdon, PA (US);
Jeffrey J. Gronsky, Ligonier, PA (US);
Christine M. Thomas, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Pushkarraj V. Deshmukh, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Alan C. Robins, Horley Surrey, GB;
Paul E. Fischione, Export, PA (US);
E.A. Fischione Instruments, Inc., Export, PA (US);
Abstract
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.