Sample Preparation & Ancillary Equipment

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Snyder Hall

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Snyder Hall

Cressington 108 Auto Sputter Coater

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The Cressington 108 Auto Sputter Coater deposits a thin layer of metal (60% gold / 40% palladium) on mounted samples for improved signal in the SEM.  The coater is equipped with a rotating-tilting stage for better sample coverage, and a thickness detector for controlled metal deposition.

Leica CM1800 Cryostat

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Leica CM1800 Cryostat utilizes up-to-date microprocessor technology ensuring easy operation. All functions are protected against dirt and humidity by a plastic foil. It features an easily readable display including an automatic display of errors and a motorized coarse feed which enables rapid trimming and sectioning.

Leica Tissue Processor

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Tissues can be processed into a variety of resins for subsequent electron and light microscopy analysis. The pre-heat system allows the correct reagent temperature to be maintained throughout processing. Small vials are available for EM processing and larger for LM which can also be used for high throughput sample processing runs where over 150 EM samples can be processed in one run.

Leica Ultracut UCT Ultramicrotome

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The ultramicrotome is an instrument commonly used to prepare TEM samples. It uses either a glass or diamond knife to cut ultra thin sections of specimens embedded in epoxy. The sections are approximately 60 to 100 nanometers in thickness and 0.5 to 3 mm in width and can be stained and mounted onto TEM grids for viewing. The ultramicrotome is also used to create mirror-smooth surfaces on samples mounted in epoxy, the applications for which include secondary imaging on the SEM and nanoindentation. Preparation on smooth samples for surface analysis need not always be of samples that are embedded, as sometimes bulk will work.

Tousimis Autosamdri-814 Critical Point Dryer

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The Tousimis AUTOSAMDRI-814 critical point dryer dehydrates samples prior to examination under the SEM.  It uses liquid carbon dioxide at a specific temperature and pressure to significantly reduce drying artifacts due to liquid surface tension.  The 815 has a 1.25”-diam, 1.25” depth chamber with an optional chamber extender. Multiple specimen holder sizes are available.

Cancer & Cardiovascular Research Building (CCRB)

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Cancer & Cardiovascular Research Building (CCRB)

PELCO easiSlicer Vibratome

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The PELCO vibratome provides exceptional stability and perfect control of section thickness down to 40 microns, with minimal z-axis vibration.


  • Precision design for accurate, high quality sections with minimal z-axis vibration
  • Novel bath design utilizes unique easy-locking base making it simple to clean
  • Anodized specimen tray magnetically locks onto bath
  • Optional magnetic base for tissue mounts available
  • Cuts sections to 40 microns
  • LED lights indicate active vibratory status and cutting window boundaries
  • Standard removable blade holder securely holds Feather® blades at a 15º 
    preset angle; other optional angles available

Maximum Specimen Size

40 x 40mm (1.58" x 1.58")

Maximum Specimen Height

15mm (0.6")

Specimen Bath

Spring-loaded; polypropylene

Specimen Tray

Rectangular with magnet release.

Blade Type

Feather® blades recommended

Blade Angle

15° standard; 18°, 21° available

Sectioning Window

10 - 40mm (0.4" - 1.58")

Specimen Height Adjustment (Z-Axis)

15mm (0.59") total travel in 1μm increments; tactile click stops at 5μm

Cutting Arm Speed (Y-Axis)

Forward: 0 - 2.0mm/sec (0 - 0.08"/sec)

Reverse: 5mm/sec (0.2"/sec) 

Travel: 40mm (1.58”) total

Vibratory Amplitude (X-Axis)

0 - 1.00mm (0.04") total; continuously adjustable

Cutting Arm Frequency

50Hz ±5 factory set

Magnification

2X magnifier

Illumination

LED illumination; LOW/OFF/HIGH

Dimensions

535 x 300 x 290mm (21.1" x 11.8" x 11.4")

Weight

16.8 kg (37lbs)

Utility Requirements

100 - 240V; 50/60 Hz; 345VA

PELCO BioWave Pro Microwave Processor

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Sample preparation methodology for light and electron microscopy for live and fixed cell and tissue imaging. 

  • Variable power
  • ColdSpot with temperature controlled chiller
  • Vacuum chamber

ONIX Microfluidic Perfusion Platform

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The ONIX Microfluidic Perfusion Platform delivers unprecedented control for live cell imaging experiments and enables dynamic time-lapse experiments.

CellASIC ONIX Manual

The UIC stocks a moderate supply of MS04S (mammalian cells), Y04C (yeast haploid cells), B04A (bacterial cells), and C04A (Chlamydomonas cells) plates. Users may purchase their own plates if other designs are desired (gradient, yeast diploid, open top,...).

Countess Automated Cell Counter

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The Countess Automated Cell Counter offers easy and accurate cell counting and viability counts. You can get all the data you need about your cell cultures in just 30 seconds without using a hemocytometer.

The Countess automated cell counter is designed to read samples from 1 × 104 cells/mL to 1 × 107cells/mL, with the highest accuracy between 1 × 105 cells/mL and 4 × 106 cells/mL

 

  • What size cells does it count? - 5 um cells to 60 um cells
  • What does it use to distinguish live and dead cells? - Dye exclusion using 0.2% Trypan Blue dye.  Live cells exclude the dye.  Dead cells take it up into their cytoplasm.
  • How does it count the cells? - A sophisticated image analysis algorithm identifies objects, classifies cells by roundness and size and then distinguishes live cells from dead cells by their staining pattern.
  • Does it measure cell size? - Yes.  It measures the size of both the live cells and the dead cells and reports the average size of each cell population.