Specimen holder used for mounting samples in electron microscopes
AssigneeProtochips, Inc.
InventorsDavid P. Nackashi, John Damiano, Jr., Stephen E. Mick, Thomas G. Schmelzer, Michael Zapata, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A novel specimen holder for specimen support devices for insertion in electron microscopes. The novel specimen holder of the invention provides mechanical support for specimen support devices and as well as electrical contacts to the specimens or specimen support devices.
Claims19
An electron microscope specimen holder comprising a body, a clipping means, and an interchangeable specimen support device, wherein the clipping means comprise an article of manufacture having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end, a securing means, a second end, and at least one electrical contact integrated on and/or in the bottom surface of the article, wherein the interchangeable specimen support device is mechanically secured between the bottom surface of the clipping means and the body, and wherein the interchangeable specimen support device is selected from the group consisting of a window device and a temperature control device.
A method of repeatedly mounting and exchanging interchangeable specimen support devices in an electron microscope specimen holder, wherein said electron microscope specimen holder comprises a body, a clipping means, and the specimen support device, wherein the clipping means comprise an article of manufacture having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end, a securing means, a second end, and at least one electrical contact integrated on and/or in the bottom surface of the article, and wherein the interchangeable specimen support device is selected from the group consisting of a window device and a temperature control device, said method comprising:
- inserting and mechanically securing the specimen support device between the bottom surface of the clipping means and the body without disassembly of or soldering of the specimen holder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.