Workstation, preparation station and method for manipulating an electron microscopy grid assembly
Inventors
TACKE, Sebastian • RAUNSER, Stefan
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12580149-B2
Publication Date
2026-03-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
The invention relates to a workstation (1), a preparation station (2) and a method for manipulating an electron microscopy grid assembly (3). The workstation (1) comprises a first compartment (101), a first gas inlet (102) for generating an overpressure in the first compartment (101), a first glove (104) and a second glove (105), each being fixed in a respective opening (106, 107) of the workstation (1), wherein the first glove (104) and the second glove (105) are movable in the first compartment (101) to manipulate objects in the first compartment (101), wherein the workstation (1) comprises a port (109) for providing a transfer device (4) for an electron microscopy grid assembly (3) in the first compartment (101). The preparation station (2) comprises a coolant reservoir (201, 202), a first part (210) configured to hold a shuttle (6) for holding an electron microscopy grid assembly (3) in a fixed orientation, wherein the preparation station (2) is configured such that the first part (210) is submergable in the cryogenic coolant when the coolant reservoir (201, 202) contains the cryogenic coolant.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a workstation for manipulating an electron microscopy grid assembly. The workstation includes a first compartment in which a dry-gas flow is supplied from a gas reservoir through a first gas inlet, and the gas flow is configured to generate overpressure in the first compartment relative to the exterior of the workstation. Manipulation is performed in the first compartment using a first glove and a second glove that are fixed in openings and are movable inside the first compartment.
The workstation further includes a port for providing a transfer device for an electron microscopy grid assembly in the first compartment from an exterior. Through this port, the electron microscopy grid assembly can be inserted into the transfer device or removed from the transfer device in the first compartment, and a pump inlet is configured to be connected to a vacuum pump to evacuate a chamber of the transfer device when the transfer device is arranged in the port of the workstation.
A preparation station is provided that supplies cryogenic coolant for handling parts that can be submerged, including modules and subassemblies with tool holders and a removable holder for a shuttle. The preparation station includes alignment grooves and an alignment platform to rotationally orient the electron microscopy grid, and mechanisms are provided for transferring the grid assembly from the shuttle to a cassette and then into a transfer receptacle, enabling a transfer into a cryo-electron microscope and subsequent imaging under anhydrous or minimized humidity conditions.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim clm-00001 recites a workstation with dry-gas overpressure for glove-based manipulation and a port-connected evacuable transfer device. The provided partial content does not include the full text of any other independent claims.
Dry-gas overpressure glovebox workstation with movable gloves
A workstation for manipulating an electron microscopy grid assembly comprising a first compartment, a first gas inlet providing a dry-gas flow from a gas reservoir into the first compartment, configured such that overpressure can be generated in the first compartment relative to an exterior, and first and second gloves fixed in respective openings and movable in the first compartment to manipulate objects using the respective hands of a user.
Port-mounted evacuable transfer device via vacuum pump
The workstation comprises a port for providing a transfer device for an electron microscopy grid assembly in the first compartment from the exterior, configured to insert or remove the electron microscopy grid assembly into or from the transfer device in the first compartment, and comprises a pump inlet connected to a vacuum pump to evacuate a chamber of the transfer device when the transfer device is arranged in the port.
Based on the provided claim text, the claim coverage centers on dry-gas overpressure within a glovebox-like first compartment for manipulating an electron microscopy grid assembly and transferring the grid assembly through a workstation port using a transfer device whose chamber is evacuated by a vacuum pump.
Stated Advantages
Contamination minimization under anhydrous or minimized humidity conditions.
Documented Applications
Manipulating an electron microscopy grid assembly.
Transfer into a cryo-electron microscope and subsequent imaging.
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