Cryo-EM Sample Preparation
The Cryo-EM sample preparation process has multiple workflows, each with their own intricacies and potential problem points. These tools are designed to improve the efficiency of process, resulting in a higher yield of high quality samples, and to make steps of the workflows more ergonomic, and your life generally easier.
Grid Boxes designed to eradicate the long felt drawbacks of conventional grid boxes that hold either 4 unclipped grids or 4 autogrids.
Tools that improve the efficiency of the Vitrification workflow with the Vitrobot, by providing higher quality grids and by making the manual steps easier.
Products that enable the clipping of grids and their manipulation and ensure the quality of the clipping.
Items that are useful for the general workflows of cryoEM sample preparation.
Safe and secure cryogenic grid storage, shipping, and tracking using a cryo-EM puck system.
Holders for cryoEM samples for insertion into electron microscopes and the tools and accessories for their operation and sample transfers.
Repair services for tools used in the cryoEM sample preparation workflows, providing "like-new" tools for a significantly cheaper price and in a sustainable fashion. Furthermore, NanoSoft offers materials characterization services with cryoEM.
Grid Boxes
Hybrid Grid Box
Hybrid Grid Box's patented design has separate pockets for unclipped grids and autogrids, securely cradling samples while allowing for unmatched ease in placement and removal. Makes for easier workflow with fewer grid boxes needed and easier traceability of samples from vitrification through imaging.
Bulk Storage Grid Box
The Bulk Storage Grid Box's patented design stores 12 autogrids optimally, and can also hold 12 unclipped grids comfortably in the same slots. Storage for an entire cassette of grids from vitrification through to data acquisition. Optimal storage density and sample traceability in one grid box.​
Metal Universal HPF & Grid Box
The Metal Universal HPF & Grid Box holds HPF hats, bare grids and autogrids all in 1 pocket. The first storage box to hold 3mm HPF hats. The flat sides make for easy screwing in and out of a lid in HPF workstations without cut-outs to hold grid boxes. Furthermore, the anodized aluminum material is robust and can be autoclaved.
Low Profile Lid
The Low Profile Lid has a thickness that is small enough that 2 grid boxes can be stacked in 1 pocket of a cryoEM storage puck. Furthermore, the anodized aluminum has lower susceptibility to static electricity than plastic lids.
Vitrification
Cryo-Tweezers
The Cryo-Tweezers have modified reverse-action tweezers so that you don't have to fight with the Vitrobot tweezers and the black clip to hold grids. Plus the spring-loaded clamp makes placing and removing the tweezers from the plunge arm much smoother, making your life easier and reducing the number of wasted grids.
Igloo
The Igloo interfaces with the Vitrobot vitrification dewar to reduce cryoEM sample contamination through multiple features, and creates an overall easier sample preparation process, leading to improved sample preparation efficiency.
Vitrobot Foam Dewar & Metal Parts
The foam Vitrification Dewar and Metal Parts are compatible with the Vitrobot, and all of the parts are interchangeable with FEI versions of the foam dewar and metal parts. Furthermore, the dewar design provides an improved interface with the Igloo, creating a better seal to contain cold nitrogen gas.
Ethane Condenser
Quick Lid
Easy to place condenser cap interfaces securely with the Vitrobot spider enabling "one-handed" ethane condensing, where the user can focus solely on controlling the ethane flow rate and the level of liquid ethane.
Easy to place lid can be quickly placed onto grid boxes during vitrification sessions to protect already frozen grids while they wait for the session to be complete. The weight of the stainless steel part keeps it securely in place.
Clipping
Reverse Action Autogrid Tweezers
Clipping Tool
The Clipping Tool is compatible with Thermo Fisher's clipping station. Its compact design means when placed into the clipping station, it stays deep enough to remain free from ice contamination condensing onto the Clipping Tool. It is easy to move the Clipping Tool and eject the c-clip with a pair of tweezers.
A reverse-action version of our Autogrid Tweezers, with the same notched tips but with the convenience and security of reverse-action tweezers.
Clipping Station
Our Clipping Station is the first station to provide a high quality foam dewar that integrates storage puck access, clipping and cassette loading in one system. Furthermore, a new clipping design utilizing a downward press with tweezers rather than twisting of Thermo's brass cylinder is much more natural, and along with a usable, efficient lid, provides a top-of-class clipping system.
C-Clip Bottoming Tool
The C-Clip Bottoming Tool provides a more efficient and convenient way to push C-Clips to the tip of the barrel of your clipping tools. It works with NanoSoft or Thermo Fisher clipping tools. It ensures your tool stays straight so that your C-Clip is positioned appropriately and can't fly out of the barrel.
Autogrid Tweezers
Autogrid Inspection Tool
Autogrid tweezers for manipulation of autogrid cartridges, with same dimensions as the Thermo Fisher version, but with a significantly lower price.
Tool enables a final check of clipping quality before loading autogrids into the autoloader cassette, potentially saving weeks in TEM down time, which is likely in the case of loading a poorly clipped grid that comes unclipped in the autoloader or column.
Cryo Stages & Holders
Gatan 626 Accessories
Tools that work with the Gatan 626 cryo-holder, enabling the operation of the stage - all from an easy to source supplier. Always in stock and pricing better than from the OEM.
Linkam/Leica CryoCLEM Cartridge Adapter
The CryoCLEM Cartridge Adaptor enables you to place a Linkam cartridge for cryoCLEM imaging of TEM grids/autogrids directly into the shuttle of the Leica VCT500 transfer system for FIB-milling/imaging in Zeiss FIBSEMs, reducing the need for additional manual manipulation of fragile, valuable cryoET grids.
CryoEM Storage, Shipping and Cassette Pucks
MiTeGen Gen 2 CryoEM Storage Puck Systems
Use MiTeGen storage pucks to organize, track, and ship your samples on grids for single particle analysis and other Cryogenic Electron Microscopy (CryoEM) applications. They remain fully compatible with the existing tools, shipping, and storage canes used with Unipucks for crystallography.
MiTeGen Casssette Puck
The AutoGrid Cassette puck allows users to screen on a Glacios and ship the same AutoGrid cassette puck to a collection facility, or allow facilities to store their cassettes in the puck canes, etc.
Puck Tools and Accessories
Tools and accessories that enable the use of cryoEM storage, transport and cassette pucks in the cryoEM workflows.
General Cryo & Sample Preparation
Spearlab Tall Dewar
Spearlab Standard Vessel
Pin Lid Tool Manipulator
Spearlab Tall Dewar is a foam vessel capable of holding LN2 and is perfectly sized to slip cryoEM puck canes into to place into/remove from transport/storage dewars at cryo temperature during sample retrieval
Spearlab Standard Vessel is a foam container capable of holding LN2 and the perfect size for any grid box or grid workflow steps/processing necessary
The Pin Lid Manipulator Tool is designed to have 2 slots in the tip so that the tip flexes when the user pushes it down onto a pin lid. This results in a tighter grip on the pin lid, without needing to press down so hard. Furthermore, the thoughtful design results in the tip not unscrewing when screwing pin lids into grid boxes - and not freezing your fingers.
CryoEM Grid Box Tweezer
The Grid Box Tweezer allows for quick and easy handling of grid boxes by grasping a pin lid or center screw.
LN2 Storage Dewars & Dry Shippers
Dewars for storing cryoEM samples in LN2 and dry shippers for shipping cryoEM samples in cryogenic vapor.
Services
Clipping Tool Repair
Cryo-Tweezer/Vitrobot Tweezer Repair
The inside barrel of the clipping tool will wear over time. This cumulative damage often results in difficulty seating C-clips at the tip of the tool without them popping out prematurely. Our service makes the barrel like new.
Tweezer tips are delicate and can easily be damaged with normal laboratory use. Rather than discard a tweezer with damaged tips, we can repair them and send them back to you in like-new condition.
Cryo-TEM Materials Characterization
We utilize nanomaterials expertise and state-of-the-art instrumentation to characterize nanomaterials, including polymer nanoparticles, liposomes, vesicles, micelles and any type of particle architecture.