Modular specimen holders for high pressure freezing and X-ray crystallography of a specimen

A modular specimen holder (10, 10′) for high pressure freezing and/or X-ray crystallography of a specimen comprising a specimen holding element (100, 100′) and an extension element (200, 200′) connectable with each other and separable from each other;

• the specimen holding element (100, 100′) comprising a tubule (120, 120′) and a base element (110, 110′), wherein:
• the tubule (120, 120′) is adapted to hold the specimen,
• the base element (110, 110′) is adapted to hold the tubule (120, 120′),
• a distance from a bottom of the base element (110, 110′) to a top of the tubule (120, 120′) is a first distance (d1);
• the extension element (200, 200′) being adapted to be connected with the base element (110, 110′), wherein,
• when the extension element (200, 200′) and the base element (110, 110′) are connected with each other, a distance from a bottom of the extension element (200, 200′) to the top of the tubule (120, 120′) is a second distance (d2);
• wherein the second distance (d2) is larger than the first distance (d1);
• wherein the modular specimen holder (10, 10′) further comprises a cartridge (300) connectable with the specimen holding element (100, 100′) and separable from the specimen holding element (100, 100′);
• the cartridge (300) comprising an encapsulating element (320) in its interior, wherein:
• the tubule (120, 120′) and the encapsulating element (320) are formed such that the tubule (120, 120′) can be placed inside the encapsulating element (320).