IP Library Granted Patent US 10,144,010
Granted Patent B2
US 10,144,010 · App. 14/804,942 · Granted Dec 4, 2018

Manipulation holder for cryomicroscopy

Inventors: Reinhard Lihl (Vienna, AT); Leander Gaechter (Oberriet SG, CH); John Briggs (Heidelberg, DE); Martin Schorb (Ladenburg, DE)
Assignees: Leica Mikrosysteme GmbH; European Molecular Biology Laboratory
B01L9/00B01L7/50B01L9/50B01L2200/025B01L2200/087B01L2200/185B01L2300/041B01L2300/0609
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,144,010
App. No.
14/804,942
Granted
Dec 4, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a manipulation container ( 1 ) for cryomicroscopy, having at least one holder ( 9 ) for a sample carrier mount ( 7 ) and at least one manipulation opening ( 2 ) for manipulating sample carriers or sample carrier mounts ( 7 ), the holder ( 9 ) for a sample carrier mount ( 7 ) is movable into a displacement path ( 11 ), passing completely through the manipulation container ( 1 ), of a displacement apparatus ( 3 ) for the sample carrier mount ( 7 ).

Claims (31)

1. A manipulation container apparatus for cryomicroscopy, the manipulation container apparatus comprising:

a manipulation container ( 1 );

a holder ( 9 ) for holding a sample carrier mount ( 7 );

at least one manipulation opening ( 2 ) for permitting manipulation of a sample carrier mount ( 7 ) received in the manipulation container ( 1 ); and

a displacement apparatus ( 3 ) for displacing a sample carrier mount ( 7 ) received in the manipulation container ( 1 ), the displacement apparatus ( 3 ) having a displacement path ( 11 ) passing completely through the manipulation container ( 1 );

wherein the holder ( 9 ) is movable into the displacement path ( 11 ); and

wherein the manipulation container ( 1 ) comprises a track ( 10 ) crossing the displacement path ( 11 ) of the displacement apparatus ( 3 ), and the holder ( 9 ) is displaceable along the track ( 10 );

the manipulation container apparatus further comprising a support ( 8 ) configured to support a sample carrier mount ( 7 ), wherein a first rest position for the holder ( 9 ) is defined along the track ( 10 ) such that the holder ( 9 ) is located in the displacement path ( 11 ) when the holder ( 9 ) is at the first rest position, and wherein a second rest position for the holder ( 9 ) is defined along the track ( 10 ) such that the holder ( 9 ) abuts in planar fashion against the support ( 8 ) so that a sample carrier mount ( 7 ) can be displaced from the support ( 8 ) onto the holder ( 9 ) when the holder ( 9 ) is at the second rest position.

2. The manipulation container apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second rest positions are defined by the action of magnetic force provided by magnet elements integrated into the holder ( 9 ) and into the manipulation container ( 1 ).

3. The manipulation container apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the holder ( 9 ) comprises at least two mutually independent clip elements ( 13 ) for holding a sample carrier mount ( 7 ) by frictional engagement.

4. A manipulation container apparatus for cryomicroscopy, the manipulation container apparatus comprising:

a manipulation container ( 1 );

a holder ( 9 ) for holding a sample carrier mount ( 7 );

at least one manipulation opening ( 2 ) for permitting manipulation of a sample carrier mount ( 7 ) received in the manipulation container ( 1 ); and

a displacement apparatus ( 3 ) for displacing a sample carrier mount ( 7 ) received in the manipulation container ( 1 ), the displacement apparatus ( 3 ) having a displacement path ( 11 ) passing completely through the manipulation container ( 1 );

wherein the holder ( 9 ) is movable into the displacement path ( 11 );

wherein the holder ( 9 ) comprises at least two mutually independent clip elements ( 13 ) for holding a sample carrier mount ( 7 ) by frictional engagement; and

wherein the holder ( 9 ) comprises a spring-loaded plunger ( 14 ) projecting at least into a working plane of the clip elements ( 13 ) for actuation of a sample carrier mount ( 7 ).

5. The manipulation container apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the displacement apparatus ( 3 ) includes a hollow shaft ( 22 ), a first tube ( 20 ) placed externally on the manipulation container ( 1 ) to guide the hollow shaft ( 22 ) into an interior of the manipulation container ( 1 ), and a gripper ( 23 ) actuated by a pushrod guided by the hollow shaft ( 22 ).

6. The manipulation container apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising a second tube ( 21 ) located oppositely to the first tube ( 20 ) and placed externally on the manipulation container ( 1 ), wherein the gripper ( 23 ) is guidable out of the manipulation container ( 1 ) through the second tube ( 21 ).

7. A manipulation container apparatus for cryomicroscopy, the manipulation container apparatus comprising:

a manipulation container ( 1 );

a holder ( 9 ) for holding a sample carrier mount ( 7 );

at least one manipulation opening ( 2 ) for permitting manipulation of a sample carrier mount ( 7 ) received in the manipulation container ( 1 ); and

a displacement apparatus ( 3 ) for displacing a sample carrier mount ( 7 ) received in the manipulation container ( 1 ), the displacement apparatus ( 3 ) having a displacement path ( 11 ) passing completely through the manipulation container ( 1 );

wherein the holder ( 9 ) is movable into the displacement path ( 11 ); and

wherein the displacement apparatus ( 3 ) includes a hollow shaft ( 22 ), a first tube ( 20 ) placed externally on the manipulation container ( 1 ) to guide the hollow shaft ( 22 ) into an interior of the manipulation container ( 1 ), and a gripper ( 23 ) actuated by a pushrod guided by the hollow shaft ( 22 );

the manipulation container apparatus further comprising a second tube ( 21 ) located oppositely to the first tube ( 20 ) and placed externally on the manipulation container ( 1 ), wherein the gripper ( 23 ) is guidable out of the manipulation container ( 1 ) through the second tube ( 21 );

wherein the second tube ( 21 ) includes attachment means for attaching the second tube ( 21 ) to a microscope stage.

8. The manipulation container apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the second tube ( 21 ) includes a closure device ( 25 ) operable to selectively close the second tube ( 21 ).

9. The manipulation container apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a transparent cover ( 4 ) held on the manipulation container ( 1 ) by spacing pins ( 5 ).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 21, 2015
From: LIHL, REINHARD; GAECHTER, LEANDER; BRIGGS, JOHN; SCHORB, MARTIN
To: LEICA MIKROSYSTEME GMBH; EUROPEAN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY
Reel/Frame 036145/0058 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2014 110 724 · Jul 29, 2014 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160030941A1 · Feb 4, 2016
Cited By (4)
US 12,292,365 US 12,343,727 US 12,429,403 US 12,431,321