Apparatus for preparing a cryogenic TEM specimen

摘要

Apparatus (100) for preparing a cryogenic TEM specimen on a specimen carrier (102), the apparatus comprising a plunger (105), blotters (106 a , 106 b ), a container (108) for holding a cryogenic liquid (110), the plunger moving the specimen carrier to an applicator position for applying a liquid, blotting the specimen carrier, and plunging the specimen carrier in the cryogenic liquid. The apparatus is characterized in that it shows a first acceptor (114) for holding a first storage capsule (112) equipped to store one or more specimen carriers (126-i), the plunger is equipped with a gripper (104) for gripping the specimen carrier; a second acceptor (118) for holding a second storage capsule (116) at a cryogenic temperature to store one or more specimen carriers (128-i) at a cryogenic temperature; and the apparatus is equipped to move the specimen carrier automatically from the first storage capsule via the applicator position and the blotting position to the second storage capsule.