TEM Liquid Sample Device with Vent Apertures for Gas Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current TEM liquid sample holders are not compatible with standard TEM chips and holders, require custom sealing, and suffer from liquid sample bulging due to gas buildup, leading to poor image resolution and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A TEM liquid sample device with a sample chamber formed by a pair of membranes, featuring non-opaque windows and vent apertures to vent internal gases, allowing for imaging without O-ring seals and compatibility with standard holders, enabling static and dynamic imaging and multimodal analyses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If custom sealing approaches with O-ring seals are used, then liquid sample containment is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the O-ring seal component from the liquid sample holder design, eliminating the need for custom sealing mechanisms. By removing this complex sealing element, the device achieves simpler construction while maintaining liquid containment through alternative means such as integrated sealing structures or surface tension-based containment in the microfluidic channels.
2Reliability
If sealed sample holders are used to contain liquid samples, then liquid containment is improved, but gas buildup causes sample bulging and image resolution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous materials or porous structures in the sample holder design that allow gas permeation while maintaining liquid containment. This enables gas built-up to pass through the porous walls of the sample holder, preventing sample bulging and maintaining flat sample geometry for high-resolution imaging, while still effectively containing the liquid sample.
3Adaptability or versatility
If specialized liquid sample holders are designed, then liquid imaging capability is improved, but fabrication cost increases up to 8 times greater than standard chips
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the liquid sample holder design with standard TEM chip and holder structures, combining functionalities that previously required separate specialized components. By integrating liquid containment features into standard platform-compatible designs, the fabrication process can leverage existing manufacturing infrastructure and materials, significantly reducing costs compared to entirely custom specialized holders.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device provides enhanced image resolution, reduced costs, and compatibility with standard TEM equipment, addressing the issues of sample bulging and high costs associated with specialized holders, while enabling multimodal analyses and dynamic imaging.
Implementation Method 1
At least one membrane includes a vent aperture... internal gases are vented through the vent aperture... delivering the gases to the TEM vacuum when the TEM vacuum is applied
Implementation Method 2
a probe beam passes through the window and internal gases are vented through the vent aperture... probe beam passes through the window and through the liquid sample
Implementation Method 3
when the TEM vacuum is applied... delivering the gases to the TEM vacuum when the TEM vacuum is applied
Data Source
AI summary
Liquid sample imaging devices and processes are disclosed for high resolution TEM imaging and multimodal analyses of liquid sample materials in situ under high vacuum that are compatible with standard type TEM chip membranes and TEM sample holders allowing TEM liquid sample imaging to be performed wherever a TEM instrument is accessible and at a substantially reduced cost compared to prior art systems and approaches.