US 10,866,172 B2 · System and method for preparing cryo-em grids

Abstract

A system for producing cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) grids. A grid holding element holds a cryo-EM grid in place while a sample deposit element deposits liquid sample from a sample supply onto the grid. A sample shaping element shapes the liquid sample and then a cryogenic sample vitrifying element vitrifies the liquid sample. The shaping element may direct a gas jet towards the grid to reduce the thickness of the liquid sample. The gas jet may mix first and second liquid samples together in midair or on the grid. A storage element stores vitrified cryo-EM grids and includes an electromagnetic field (EMF) source that creates an EMF within the storage element such that the vitrified sample is exposed to the EMF. As a result of being exposed to the EMF, a protein provided with the sample is re-oriented from a first orientation to a second orientation.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for preparing cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) samples comprising the steps of:

depositing a liquid sample having a least one protein that is receptive to and whose orientation in a three-dimensional space can be modified by an electromagnetic field (EMF) onto a sample grid using a sample dispenser;
exposing the sample to an EMF, wherein as a result of being exposed to the EMF, the at least one protein of the sample is re-oriented from a first orientation to a second orientation;
and
vitrifying the sample deposited on the sample grid.

1 more element

A system for producing cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) grids comprising:

a grid holding element configured to hold a cryo-EM grid while a liquid sample is deposited onto the grid and while the deposited liquid sample is vitrified;
a sample deposit element configured to deposit liquid sample provided by a sample supply onto the cryo-EM grid held by the grid holding element;
a sample shaping element configured to shape liquid sample deposited onto the cryo-EM grid;
and
a cryogenic sample vitrifying element configured to vitrify liquid sample deposited on the sample grid, wherein the cryogenic sample vitrifying element and the grid holding element are configured to move relative to one another.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for preparing cryo-em grids

Life of this patent

System and method for preparing cryo-em grids

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19