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Improved specimen support cups and auxiliary devices for the Balzers high pressure freezing apparatus
Author(s) -
Craig Stuart,
Gilkey John C.,
Staehelin L. Andrew
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1987.tb02857.x
Subject(s) - cabin pressurization , materials science , wedge (geometry) , high pressure , interlocking , composite material , optics , mechanical engineering , mechanics , engineering , physics
SUMMARY A new design for interlocking specimen support cups that permits reliable and reproducible freezing under high pressures of a range of different biological specimens is described. A stronger holder in which the support cups are tightly held during pressurization and freezing, and a sliding wedge for separating the cups after freezing are also described. Used in conjunction with the Balzers HPM 010 high pressure freezing apparatus, these modifications permit routine freezing of tissue for freeze‐fracture and freeze‐substitution for electron microscopy.