Aquilos 2 Cryo-FIB
Dedicated cryo-FIB microscope to prepare cryo-lamellas for cryo-electron tomography
Features
Automation and extended run time
Run the system overnight, allowing it to automatically produce multiple lamellas for you with Thermo Scientific AutoTEM Software. Your samples remain at vitreous temperatures, even for overnight runs. Cryo-hardware and a fully rotatable cryo-stage protect the frozen samples from contamination and ensure they stay vitrified for the duration of your experiments.
Target and extract your structure of interest with the Thermo Scientific EasyLift NanoManipulator, our high-precision cryo-lift-out solution. Extract site-specific regions, such as fluorescently labeled proteins, even from high-pressure frozen samples. These lamellas can subsequently be placed inside Autogrids for cryo-TEM and further imaging of protein structures and protein networks.
3D visualization
View the native subcellular structure with ultrastructural detail below the surface using charging contrast and identify features for high-resolution tomography in cryo-TEM with Thermo Scientific Auto Slice and View Software. Aquire 3D images from vitrified samples by sequential milling and then imaging of the cross-section of a defined volume of the sample.
Specifications
• Source lifetime: 1,300 hours
• Voltage: 500 V to 30 kV
• Beam current: 1.5 pA – 65 nA in 15 steps
• Drift suppression mode as standard for non-conductive samples
• Resolution (with cryo-stage): 7.0 nm* at 30 kV
*Cryo-imaging conditions subject to gas flow rates used.
• High-stability Schottky field emission gun
• Minimum source lifetime: 12 months
• Easy gun installation and maintenance: auto bakeout, auto start and no mechanical alignments
• Continuous beam current control and optimized aperture angle
• Double stage scanning deflection
• Dual objective lens, combining electromagnetic and electrostatic lenses
• User guidance and column presets
• Beam current range: 1.5 pA to 400 nA
• Accelerating voltage range: 200 V – 30 kV
• Resolution (with cryo-stage): 1.6 nm at 30 kV, 2.6 nm at 2 kV (at room temperature), 6.0 nm* at 2kV (at cryo-temperature)
*Cryo-imaging conditions subject to gas flow rates used.
• Integrated rotatable cryo-stage
• Rotation: 360° (endless)
• Compucentric rotation and tilt
• Cooldown time: <20 minutes
• XY range: 110 mm
• Z range: 65 mm
• Tilt range at cryo (eucentric WD): -15° to +55°
• Complete cryo-infrastructure: large-capacity liquid nitrogen Dewar for extended runtimes, heat exchanger, flow controller, load-lock system, sample preparation station, controller, and transfer device
• Fully rotatable cryo-stage (<-170°C at the sample), keeping samples at vitreous temperatures
• Special sample holders customized for shallow-angle milling of EM grids, referred to as Cryo-FIB AutoGrids (autoloader approved)
• Sample shuttle for AutoGrids: Cryo-FIB shuttle with integrated shutter system during cryo-transfers
• In-chamber retractable sputter coater for applying conductive coatings
• Gas injection system (GIS) for applying protective coatings
• Includes cryo-FIB consumables kit: tweezers, clipping and grid box tools, AutoGrid boxes, C-Clips and Cryo-FIB AutoGrids
• Seamless compatibility and connectivity with our cryotomography workflow
• Optional EasyLift NanoManipulator for cryo-lift-out
• Maps Software, including image correlation and lamella preparation functions
• AutoTEM Cryo Software for milling automation
• AutoScript Software for custom scripting
• Auto Slice and View Software for 3D volume imaging