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:
Jul. 15, 2014
Filed:
Apr. 27, 2012
Johannes H. Kindt, Ettlingen, DE;
Daniel Lyons, Goleta, CA (US);
Charles Meyer, Goleta, CA (US);
Russ Mead, Goleta, CA (US);
Johannes H. Kindt, Ettlingen, DE;
Daniel Lyons, Goleta, CA (US);
Charles Meyer, Goleta, CA (US);
Russ Mead, Goleta, CA (US);
Bruker Nano, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Abstract
A cleaning station for thoroughly cleaning the AFM component surfaces that are exposed to fluid during imaging of a sample supported in a fluid medium is disclosed. The cleaning station is designed to selectively expose the AFM component surfaces to cleansing agents, such as soap/detergent and water, plasma cleaning, etc., and cleaning tools, such as brushes, while protecting fluid sensitive components from exposure to the cleansing agents. The preferred embodiments are particularly beneficial for scanners in which the fluid sensitive components (actuator, sensor, connector, etc.) are integrated in the same device to which the cantilever holder is attached.