Christine Lynn Thomas

US Patent:

8336405, Dec 25, 2012

Filed:

Jul 28, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/845486

Inventors:

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

Assignee:

E.A. Fischione Instruments, Inc. - Export PA

International Classification:

B01L 3/00
G01N 21/00

US Classification:

7386491, 2504431

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.

US Patent:

20130014528, Jan 17, 2013

Filed:

Jul 27, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/560647

Inventors:

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

Assignee:

E.A. FISCHIONE, INC. - Export PA

International Classification:

F25B 49/00

US Classification:

62129

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 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.