Vitrobot |
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The Vitrobot is a sample preparation robot for Cryo Transmission Electron Microscopy (Cryo-TEM). With the help of the Vitrobot, biological structures like proteins, viruses, or e.g. lipid vesicles, are frozen in their 'natural habitat', usually a watery solution Freezing of the samples takes place in liquid ethane, at a rate of 10.000º/sec, which makes the watery solution glaze or vitrificate without forming ice crystals. Before the sample can be frozen, it will be applied to a copper grid, and overspill removed. The entire preparation process takes place in a temperature- and humidity controlled climate chamber. The Vitrobot has been developed for Dr. Peter Frederik of the Electron Microscopic Department of Maastricht University. Maastricht Instruments and FEI Company Eindhoven have signed an exclusive licence agreement regarding the commercial sales of the Vitrobot. More information can be found at www.fei.com/vitrobot     In August 2007 FEI Company launched the newly developed by Maastricht Instruments, Vitrobot Mk.4 at the Microscopy & Microanalysis Meeting in Florida. The Mk.4 is the newest version in the successful Vitrobot series, provided with numerous improvements. With this a new step has been taken in the area of sample preparation for Cryo-TEM. More information can be found at www.fei.com/vitrobot |
