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US 12,211,664 B2Granted
Electron microscope imaging adaptor
AssigneeUniversity of Kansas
InventorEduardo Rosa-Molinar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosure describes assemblies and systems for use in reel-to-reel imaging of ultrathin samples. The assemblies and the systems disclosed herein are adapted for use with a plurality of detectors and are configured for use in a variety of electron microscopes. Also, methods of using such assemblies and systems are disclosed.
Claims22
A modular reel-to-reel assembly for an electron microscope imaging comprising:
- a reel-to-reel frame comprising:
- a) a strut having a first surface and an opposite second surface, a first end and a second end, wherein the strut detachably holds:
- i) a mounting bracket having a top surface and a bottom surface and extending from the first surface of the strut and positioned perpendicularly to the first surface of the strut, wherein the mounting bracket comprises a first aperture extending from the top surface to the bottom surface;
- ii) a feeder motor and a take-up motor coupled to the second surface of the strut such that the feeder motor is spaced from the take-up motor by a predetermined distance;
- iii) a first rod detachably coupled with the feeder motor through the strut, such that the first rod extends from the first surface of the strut in parallel to the mounting bracket, wherein the feeder motor is configured to spin the first rod at a predetermined speed, and
- iv) a second rod detachably coupled with the take-up motor through the strut, such that the second rod extends from the first surface of the strut in parallel to the mounting bracket, wherein the take-up motor is configured to spin the second rod at a predetermined speed that is the same or different as the predetermined speed of rotations of the first rod;
- and
- b) a feeder reel having a top portion and a bottom portion detachably and rotatably coupled to the first rod and a take-up reel having a top portion and a bottom portion detachably and rotatably coupled to the second rod;
- wherein the feeder reel is configured to relay a sample-containing tape to the take-up reel at a first speed;
- and
- wherein the reel-to-reel assembly is adapted for use in an electron microscope chamber.
8 more elements
A modular reel-to-reel assembly for an electron microscope imaging comprising:
- a reel-to-reel frame comprising:
- a) a strut having a first surface and an opposite second surface, a first end and a second end, wherein the strut detachably holds:
- i) a mounting bracket having a top surface and a bottom surface and extending from the first surface of the strut and is positioned perpendicularly to the first surface of the strut, wherein the mounting bracket comprises a first aperture extending from the top surface to the bottom surface;
- ii) a feeder motor and a take-up motor coupled to the second surface of the strut such that the feeder motor is spaced from the take-up motor by a predetermined distance;
- iii) a first rod detachably coupled with the feeder motor through the strut, such that the first rod extends from the first surface of the strut in parallel to the mounting bracket, wherein the feeder motor is configured to spin the first rod at a predetermined speed, and
- iv) a second rod detachably coupled with the take-up motor through the strut, such that the second rod extends from the first surface of the strut in parallel to the mounting bracket, wherein the take-up motor is configured to spin the second rod at a predetermined speed that is the same or different as the predetermined speed of rotations of the first rod;
- b) a feeder reel having a top portion and a bottom portion detachably and rotatably coupled to the first rod and a take-up reel having a top portion and a bottom portion detachably and rotatably coupled to the second rod;
- wherein the feeder reel is configured to relay a sample-containing tape to the take-up reel at a first speed;
- c) a sampling platform comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface of the sampling platform is configured to be detachably attached to the top surface of the mounting bracket, wherein the top surface of the sampling platform is configured to receive the sample-containing tape as it is relayed from the feeder reel to the take-up reel or from the take-up reel to the feeder reel;
- and
- d) an electron-microscope-stage-engaging platform detachably connected to the bottom surface of the mounting bracket;
- and
- wherein the reel-to-reel assembly is adapted for use in an electron microscope chamber.
10 more elements
A system for electron microscopy imaging comprising:
- a) a modular reel-to-reel assembly comprising a reel-to-reel frame comprising:
- i) a strut having a first surface and an opposite second surface, a first end and a second end, wherein the strut detachably holds:
- 1) A mounting bracket having a top surface and a bottom surface and extending from the first surface of the strut and is positioned perpendicularly to the first surface of the strut, wherein the mounting bracket comprises a first aperture extending from the top surface to the bottom surface;
- 2) A feeder motor and a take-up motor coupled to the second surface of the strut such that the feeder motor is spaced from the take-up motor by a predetermined distance;
- 3) a first rod detachably coupled with the feeder motor through the strut, such that the first rod extends from the first surface of the strut in parallel to the mounting bracket, wherein the feeder motor is configured to spin the first rod at a predetermined speed, and
- 4) a second rod detachably coupled with the take-up motor through the strut, such that the second rod extends from the first surface of the strut in parallel to the mounting bracket, wherein the take-up motor is configured to spin the second rod at a predetermined speed that is the same or different as the predetermined speed of rotations of the first rod;
- ii) a feeder reel having a top portion and a bottom portion detachably and rotatably coupled to the first rod and a take-up reel having a top portion and a bottom portion detachably and rotatably coupled to the second rod;
- wherein the feeder reel is configured to relay a sample-containing tape to the take-up reel at a first speed;
- and
- wherein the reel-to-reel assembly is adapted for use in an electron microscope chamber;
- and
- b) a control unit, wherein the control unit is controlling the predetermined speed of the feeder motor and the predetermined speed of the take-up motor.
9 more elements
A system for electron microscopy imaging comprising:
- a) a modular reel-to-reel assembly comprising a reel-to-reel frame comprising:
- i) a strut having a first surface and an opposite second surface, a first end and a second end, wherein the strut detachably holds:
- 1) A mounting bracket having a top surface and a bottom surface and extending from the first surface of the strut and positioned perpendicularly to the first surface of the strut, wherein the mounting bracket comprises a first aperture extending from the top surface to the bottom surface;
- 2) A feeder motor and a take-up motor coupled to the second surface of the strut such that the feeder motor is spaced from the take-up motor by a predetermined distance;
- 3) a first rod detachably coupled with the feeder motor through the strut, such that the first rod extends from the first surface of the strut in parallel to the mounting bracket, wherein the feeder motor is configured to spin the first rod at a predetermined speed, and
- 4) A second rod detachably coupled with the take-up motor through the strut, such that the second rod extends from the first surface of the strut in parallel to the mounting bracket, wherein the take-up motor is configured to spin the second rod at a predetermined speed that is the same or different as the predetermined speed of rotations of the first rod;
- ii) a feeder reel having a top portion and a bottom portion detachably and rotatably coupled to the first rod and a take-up reel having a top portion and a bottom portion detachably and rotatably coupled to the second rod;
- wherein the feeder reel is configured to relay a sample-containing tape to the take-up reel at a first speed;
- iii) a sampling platform comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface of the sampling platform is configured to be detachably attached to the top surface of the mounting bracket, wherein the top surface of the sampling platform is configured to receive the sample-containing tape as it is relayed from the feeder reel to the take-up reel or from the take-up reel to the feeder reel;
- and
- iv) an electron-microscope-stage-engaging platform detachably connected to the bottom surface of the mounting bracket;
- and
- wherein the reel-to-reel assembly is adapted for use in an electron microscope chamber;
- and
- b) a control unit, wherein the control unit is controlling the predetermined speed of the feeder motor and the predetermined speed of the take-up motor.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.