# US 6,927,400 B2 · 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 6,927,400 B2 - Document ID: US6927400B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/801,477 - Filed: 2004-03-12 - Published: 2004-09-16 - Granted: 2005-08-09 - Earliest claimed: 2003-03-13 - Assignees: Ascend Instruments, LLC - Inventors: Jørgen Rasmussen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6927400B2 ## 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, wherein the microsample holder includes a microsample platform and a clamp configured to reversibly affix the microsample platform to the shaft. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The microsample manipulator of claim 1, wherein the microsample holder is removably coupled to the distal end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The microsample manipulator of claim 1, wherein the shaft may be deployed by one or more of sliding and rotating. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The microsample manipulator of claim 1, wherein the microsample platform is substantially planar. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The microsample manipulator of claim 1, wherein the microsample platform includes a grid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The microsample manipulator of claim 1, wherein the microsample platform includes a disk having a diameter of about 3 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The microsample manipulator of claim 6, wherein the microsample platform further includes a sample tip extending from the disk. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The microsample manipulator of claim 7, 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 9 A sample manipulation system, comprising: a microsample manipulator that includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a planar microsample platform, and a clamp removably affixed to the distal end of the shaft, the clamp being configured to reversibly affix the planar microsample platform to the distal end of the shaft; and a housing at least substantially enclosing the microsample manipulator, wherein the housing permits access to the microsample platform. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The sample manipulation system of claim 9, wherein the housing includes one or more mechanisms for manipulating the position or orientation of the microsample platform. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The sample manipulation system of claim 9, 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 12 (depends on 9) The sample manipulation system of claim 9, wherein the sample manipulation system includes one or more of tools, instruments, and detectors. ### Claim 13 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 includes a microsample platform and a clamp configured to reversibly affix the microsample platform to the shaft; and wherein the microsample holder is configured to be coupled to a plurality of distinct microsample manipulators. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The microsample manipulator of claim 13, 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 15 (depends on 13) The microsample manipulator of claim 13, wherein the microsample holder is axially removable from the shaft. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The microsample manipulator of claim 13, 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 17 A method of using a microsample manipulator that includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; the method comprising: coupling a removable microsample holder to the distal end of the shaft; clamping a microsample platform to the microsample holder reversibly affix the microsample platform to the shaft, the microsample platform including a disk with an aperture and a sample tip extending from the disk; associating a microsample with the sample tip of the microsample platform; and folding the sample tip toward the disk to bring the microsample into alignment with the aperture. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising transporting the microsample manipulator to an analytical instrument. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising inserting the microsample manipulator into the analytical instrument. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising analyzing the microsample using the analytical instrument. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the analytical instrument is a transmission electron microscope. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the microsample is associated with the sample holder using a focused ion beam instrument.