# US 2004/0178355 A1 · Sample manipulation system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2004/0178355 A1 - Document ID: US20040178355A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 10/801,477 - Filed: 2004-03-12 - Published: 2004-09-16 - Earliest claimed: 2003-03-13 - Assignees: Ascend Instruments, LLC - Inventors: Jorgen Rasmussen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20040178355A1 ## CPC - H01J 37/20: Means for supporting or positioning the object or the material; Means for adjusting diaphragms or lenses associated with the support - G01N 1/04: in the solid state, e.g. by cutting - G01N 1/08: involving an extracting tool, e.g. core bit - G01N 1/286: {involving mechanical work, e.g. chopping, disintegrating, compacting, homogenising (microtomes G01N1/06; pulverising in general B02C; mixing in general B01F)} - G01N 2001/282: {with mapping; Identification of areas; Spatial correlated pattern} - H01J 2237/2007: Holding mechanisms - H01J 2237/204: Means for introducing and/or outputting objects - H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A sample manipulator that includes a shaft, a proximal end, a distal end that includes a sample holder and a support arm having both a retracted position and a deployed position. The support arm is configured to support a sample associated with the sample holder when the support arm is in the deployed position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A microsample manipulator, comprising: a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; a microsample holder coupled to the distal end; and a support arm coupled to the shaft having a retracted position and a deployed position, wherein the microsample holder is at least partially supported when the support arm is deployed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The microsample manipulator of claim 1, wherein the microsample holder is at least substantially accessible when the support arm is retracted. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The microsample manipulator of claim 1, wherein the microsample holder is removably coupled to the distal end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The microsample manipulator of claim 1, wherein the support arm is configured to permit analysis of a microsample in associated with the microsample holder when the support arm is deployed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The microsample manipulator of claim 4, wherein the support arm includes an aperture aligned with at least a portion of the microsample holder when the support arm is deployed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The microsample manipulator of claim 1, wherein the support arm may be deployed by one or more of sliding, rotating, and pivoting. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The microsample manipulator of claim 1, wherein the microsample holder includes a microsample platform and a clamp configured to reversibly affix the microsample platform to the shaft. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The microsample manipulator of claim 7, wherein the microsample platform is substantially planar. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The microsample manipulator of claim 7, wherein the microsample platform includes a grid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The microsample manipulator of claim 7, wherein the microsample platform includes a disk having a diameter of about 3 mm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The microsample manipulator of claim 10, wherein the microsample platform further includes a sample tip extending from the disk. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The microsample manipulator of claim 11, wherein the disk includes an aperture, and the sample tip is configured to be folded toward the disk to bring the sample tip into alignment with the aperture. ### Claim 13 A sample manipulation system, comprising: a microsample manipulator that includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a planar microsample platform affixed to the distal end, and a support arm coupled to the shaft having a retracted position and a deployed position; and a housing at least substantially enclosing the microsample manipulator, wherein the housing permits access to the microsample platform. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The sample manipulation system of claim 13, wherein the housing includes one or more mechanisms for manipulating the position or orientation of the microsample platform. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The sample manipulation system of claim 13, wherein the housing includes a vacuum valve configured to evacuate at least a portion of the housing when the microsample manipulator is inserted into the housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The sample manipulation system of claim 13, wherein the sample manipulation system includes one or more of tools, instruments, and detectors. ### Claim 17 A microsample manipulator, comprising: a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and a microsample holder removably coupled to the distal end; wherein the microsample holder is configured to be coupled to a plurality of distinct microsample manipulators. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The microsample manipulator of claim 17, wherein the microsample manipulator includes a support arm coupled to the shaft having a retracted position and a deployed position, wherein the support provides selective accessibility to the microsample holder. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The microsample manipulator of claim 17, wherein the microsample holder is axially removable from the shaft. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The microsample manipulator of claim 18, wherein the microsample holder is coupled via insertion of a portion of the microsample holder into a recess in the distal end of the shaft. ### Claim 21 A method of using a microsample manipulator that includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a microsample holder affixed to the distal end, and a support arm coupled to the shaft having a retracted position and a deployed position; comprising: associating a microsample with the microsample holder; and deploying the support arm to at least partially support the microsample holder. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising transporting the microsample to an analytical instrument. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, further comprising inserting the microsample into the analytical instrument. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising analyzing the microsample using the analytical instrument. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the analytical instrument is a transmission electron microscope. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising retracting the support arm before inserting the microsample into the analytical instrument. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the microsample is associated with the sample holder using a focused ion beam instrument.