Diffraction system for biological crystal screening
AssigneeBruker AXS GmbH
InventorsRoger D. Durst, Bob Baoping He
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A biological crystal formation screening apparatus uses an x-ray diffraction technique to analyze the sample containers of a sample tray for the presence of crystal formation. An x-ray source is directed toward a sample under investigation, and a two-dimensional x-ray detector is located to receive any diffracted x-ray energy. A positioning apparatus allows the different sample containers of a tray to be sequentially aligned with the source and detector, allowing each to be examined. The sample container is arranged such that a sample is located relative to the well solution so that the x-ray beam is directed to the sample without being incident on the well solution.
Claims24
A sample container for containing a sample during monitoring of crystal formation in a crystal growth medium by transmission of x-ray energy from an x-ray source on a first side of the container to the sample, presence of crystalline material resulting in diffraction of the x-ray energy toward a detector located on a second side of the container opposite the first side, the sample container comprising:
- a reservoir region within the container in which a well solution may be located for inducing evaporation of a liquid portion of the sample by vapor diffusion;
- and
- a sample location within the container in which the sample is retained during monitoring, wherein the reservoir region and the sample location are arranged such that a beam of said x-ray energy travels from the x-ray source to the sample location without being incident on the well solution.
A sample container for containing a sample during monitoring of crystal formation in a crystal growth medium by transmission of x-ray energy from an x-ray source on a first side of the container to the sample, presence of crystalline material resulting in diffraction of the x-ray energy toward a detector located on a second side of the container opposite the first side, the sample container comprising:
- a reservoir region within the container in which a well solution may be located for inducing evaporation of a liquid portion of the sample by vapor diffusion;
- and
- a sample location within the container in which the sample is retained during monitoring, wherein the reservoir region and the sample location are arranged such that a beam of said x-ray energy travels from the x-ray source to the sample location without being incident on the well solution, wherein the sample location comprises a platform upon which the sample resides under the force of gravity, and wherein a dimension of the platform perpendicular to a primary direction of travel of the x-ray energy is smaller within a portion of the platform through which a maximum amount of x-ray energy passes than in surrounding portions of the platform.
A screening apparatus for use in monitoring crystal formation in a crystal growth medium, the apparatus comprising:
- a sample container within which a sample may be located, the sample container including a reservoir region in which a well solution may be located for inducing evaporation of a liquid portion of the sample by vapor diffusion and a sample location within the container in which the sample is retained during monitoring, wherein the reservoir region and the sample location are arranged such that a beam of said x-ray energy travels from the x-ray source to the sample location without being incident on the well solution;
- an x-ray source that outputs x-ray energy that is incident on the sample and that undergoes diffraction in the presence of a crystal structure in the sample container;
- and
- an x-ray detector that receives x-ray energy diffracted from said crystal structure and provides a signal indicative of the presence of the crystal structure in the sample container.
A method of monitoring of crystal formation in a crystal growth medium by transmission of x-ray energy from an x-ray source to a sample under test, presence of crystalline material in the sample resulting in diffraction of the x-ray energy toward a detector located on a second side of the container opposite the first side, the method comprising:
- providing a sample container having a reservoir region in which a well solution may be located that is capable of inducing evaporation of a liquid portion of the sample by vapor diffusion;
- and
- locating a sample at a sample location within the container such that the sample location and reservoir are arranged so that a beam of said x-ray energy travels from the x-ray source to the sample location without being incident on the well solution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.