Instruments for sample preparation

Instruments needed/offered for sample preparation

Instrument for metal and carbon coating the samples Leica EM ACE 200 (Sputter/Carbon Thread

allows changing the non-conductive surface of the samples to a conductive one, which is desirable for observing the sample in high vacuum
includes a standard flat and inclined table with planetary rotation (for coating the sample at an angle - especially for volumetric and topographic samples)
coating with: gold, gold/palladium, silver or carbon fiber
argon working gas, the possibility of precise setting of coating thickness, software control

CO₂ critical point dryer (Leica EM CPD 300 - Critical point dryer) semi-automatic

final drying of samples (displacement of alcohol after dehydration in the process of processing hydrated biological samples) without morphological collapse, drying is at the critical point of CO₂
software setting of pressure, temperature, manual control of the number of flushes
the possibility of drying samples in holders for cover slides or in separate porous baskets (4 samples in one drying process)

Dry ice maker (solid CO₂) INNOVECO Dry Ice Machine

Ultrasonic bath (BANDELIN Sonorex super)

possibility of gentle mechanical cleaning of samples in a bath (e.g. from mucus) at different temperatures

Desiccator with diaphragm pump (Laboport N86 KNF)

Stereomicroscope (MOTIC)

Leica EM UC7 Ultramicrotome for cutting ultrathin sections for TEM and T-SEM

preparation of semi-thin and ultra-thin sections (up to approx. 30 nm) for transmission observations in SEM, or for preparation of samples for observation in TEM
precise cutting of tissues and other non-metallic materials in capsules of polymerized resins at room temperature
sample processing for TEM observation up to the resin polymerization step is part of the preparation process at our workplace before cutting on the ultramicrotome