August 1, 2022 – Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, today unveiled the Thermo Scientific Arctis Cryo-Plasma Focused Ion Beam (Cryo-PFIB), a new connected and automated microscope designed to advance the pace of cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) research.
Cryo-ET makes it possible to study how proteins and other molecules operate together in a cellular context, at resolutions unsurpassed by other microscopy techniques, and has enormous potential for cell biology research, including the study of infectious disease, neurodegenerative disease, and other globally impactful structural biology applications. However, the process of preparing optimal samples for cryo-ET is still time-consuming and complex.
The Arctis Cryo-PFIB helps users address these challenges with advanced automation and new connectivity capabilities within the workflow, significantly increasing throughput compared to other commercially available solutions for fast, reproducible production of samples for cryo-ET.
The system is designed to provide high-quality samples with consistent thickness while minimizing sample contamination risks. Users will benefit from integrated correlative microscopy, dedicated Plasma FIB technology, advanced automation and new connectivity capabilities, including simplified sample loading and transfer. Highlights include:
- Integrated correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) for quick targeting of the area of biological interest.
- Plasma FIB technology for rapid removal of large sample volumes and quick access to areas of biological interest.
- Automation capabilities to simplify sample preparation and enable remote operation, allowing for long automated runs, reproducible results and higher throughput compared to current gallium-based cryo-FIB solutions.
- Connectivity in the workflow for simplifying the transfer of samples to the Thermo Scientific Krios or Glacios Cryo-TEMs. The Arctis Cryo-PFIB comes with Thermo Fisher’s industry-leading Autoloader which robotically loads cassettes with up to 12 grids. New dedicated TomoGrids are designed to achieve optimal alignment of the lamella to the TEM tilt axis.
Thermo Fisher Scientific and The Rosalind Franklin Institute began working together in 2019, using existing technology to understand and determine what’s next for cryo-EM, and where innovation would be needed to create the next generation of instrumentation.