Sample manipulation system
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.
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.
2. The microsample manipulator of claim 1 , wherein the microsample holder is removably coupled to the distal end.
3. The microsample manipulator of claim 1 , wherein the shaft may be deployed by one or more of sliding and rotating.
4. The microsample manipulator of claim 1 , wherein the microsample platform is substantially planar.
5. The microsample manipulator of claim 1 , wherein the microsample platform includes a grid.
6. The microsample manipulator of claim 1 , wherein the microsample platform includes a disk having a diameter of about 3 mm.
7. The microsample manipulator of claim 6 , wherein the microsample platform further includes a sample tip extending from the disk.
8. 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.
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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. The sample manipulation system of claim 9 , wherein the sample manipulation system includes one or more of tools, instruments, and detectors.
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.
14. 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.
15. The microsample manipulator of claim 13 , wherein the microsample holder is axially removable from the shaft.
16. 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.
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.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising transporting the microsample manipulator to an analytical instrument.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising inserting the microsample manipulator into the analytical instrument.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising analyzing the microsample using the analytical instrument.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the analytical instrument is a transmission electron microscope.
22. The method of claim 17 , wherein the microsample is associated with the sample holder using a focused ion beam instrument.