IP Library Granted Patent US 8,823,942
Granted Patent B1
US 8,823,942 · App. 13/835,005 · Granted Sep 2, 2014

Environmental cell assembly for use in for use in spectroscopy and microscopy applications

Inventors: Ashley Clinton Stowe (Knoxville, TN); Norman Smyrl (Knoxville, TN); Russell L. Hallman, Jr. (Knoxville, TN)
Assignee: Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,823,942
App. No.
13/835,005
Granted
Sep 2, 2014
Kind
B1
Abstract

An environmental cell assembly for use in microscopy and spectroscopy applications, including: an environmentally sealed body assembly configured to selectively hold and contain a sample; a plurality of ports manufactured into one or more surfaces of the body assembly for one or more of evacuating the body assembly and injecting a gas into or removing a gas from the body assembly; a port manufactured into a surface of the body assembly for receiving a translating stage configured to move the sample within the body assembly; and a port manufactured into a surface of the body assembly for receiving one or more lenses utilized in a microscopy or spectroscopy application; wherein the one or more lenses are disposed adjacent the sample without intervening structures disposed there between. The cell assembly also includes a port manufactured into a surface of the body assembly for retaining a window and providing visualization of the sample.

Claims (34)

1. An environmental cell assembly for use in microscopy and spectroscopy applications, comprising:

an environmentally sealed body assembly configured to selectively hold a sample;

a plurality of ports manufactured into one or more surfaces of the environmentally sealed body assembly for one or more of evacuating the environmentally sealed body assembly and injecting a gas into or removing a gas from the environmentally sealed body assembly;

a port manufactured into a surface of the environmentally sealed body assembly for receiving a translating stage configured to move the sample within the environmentally sealed body assembly; and

a port manufactured into a surface of the environmentally sealed body assembly for receiving one or more lenses utilized in a microscopy or spectroscopy application;

wherein the one or more lenses are disposed adjacent the sample without intervening structures disposed there between.

2. The environmental cell assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a port manufactured into a surface of the environmentally sealed body assembly for retaining a window and providing visualization of the sample.

3. The environmental cell assembly of claim 1 , wherein the environmentally sealed body assembly comprises a plurality of sides that are one or more of fixedly attached to one another and integrally formed with one another.

4. The environmental cell assembly of claim 1 , wherein the translating stage is operable for moving the sample vertically within the environmentally sealed body assembly.

5. The environmental cell assembly of claim 1 , wherein the translating stage is operable for moving the sample horizontally within the environmentally sealed body assembly.

6. The environmental cell assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a heating device disposed within or adjacent and in thermal communication with the environmentally sealed body assembly for selectively heating the sample.

7. The environmental cell assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a sample holding device selectively disposed within the environmentally sealed body assembly.

8. A method for providing an environmental cell assembly for use in microscopy and spectroscopy applications, comprising:

providing an environmentally sealed body assembly configured to selectively hold a sample;

providing a plurality of ports manufactured into one or more surfaces of the environmentally sealed body assembly for one or more of evacuating the environmentally sealed body assembly and injecting a gas into or removing a gas from the environmentally sealed body assembly;

providing a port manufactured into a surface of the environmentally sealed body assembly for receiving a translating stage configured to move the sample within the environmentally sealed body assembly; and

providing a port manufactured into a surface of the environmentally sealed body assembly for receiving one or more lenses utilized in a microscopy or spectroscopy application;

wherein the one or more lenses are disposed adjacent the sample without intervening structures disposed there between.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising providing a port manufactured into a surface of the environmentally sealed body assembly for retaining a window and providing visualization of the sample.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the environmentally sealed body assembly comprises a plurality of sides that are one or more of fixedly attached to one another and integrally formed with one another.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the translating stage is operable for moving the sample vertically within the environmentally sealed body assembly.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the translating stage is operable for moving the sample horizontally within the environmentally sealed body assembly.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising providing a heating device disposed within or adjacent and in thermal communication with the environmentally sealed body assembly for selectively heating the sample.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising providing a sample holding device selectively disposed within the environmentally sealed body assembly.

15. An environmental cell assembly for use in microscopy and spectroscopy applications, comprising:

an environmentally sealed body assembly configured to selectively hold a sample;

a plurality of ports manufactured into one or more surfaces of the environmentally sealed body assembly for one or more of evacuating the environmentally sealed body assembly and injecting a gas into or removing a gas from the environmentally sealed body assembly;

a port manufactured into a surface of the environmentally sealed body assembly for receiving a translating stage configured to move the sample within the environmentally sealed body assembly; and

a port manufactured into a surface of the environmentally sealed body assembly for receiving an objective utilized in a microscopy or spectroscopy application, wherein at least a portion of the objective protrudes into the environmentally sealed body assembly;

wherein the one or more lenses are disposed adjacent the sample without intervening structures disposed there between.

16. The environmental cell assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a port manufactured into a surface of the environmentally sealed body assembly for retaining a window and providing visualization of the sample.

17. The environmental cell assembly of claim 15 , wherein the environmentally sealed body assembly comprises a plurality of sides that are one or more of fixedly attached to one another and integrally formed with one another.

18. The environmental cell assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a heating device disposed within or adjacent and in thermal communication with the environmentally sealed body assembly for selectively heating the sample.

19. The environmental cell assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a sample holding device selectively disposed within the environmentally sealed body assembly.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2015
From: BABCOCK & WILCOX TECHNICAL SERVICES Y-12, LLC
To: CONSOLIDATED NUCLEAR SECURITY, LLC
Reel/Frame 035252/0604 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Oct 28, 2013
From: B&W Y-12, LLC
To: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 031499/0610 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2013
From: STOWE, ASHLEY C.; SMYRL, NORMAN R.; HALLMAN, RUSSELL L., JR.
To: BABCOCK AND WILCOX TECHNICAL SERVICES Y-12, LLC
Reel/Frame 030341/0739 →