Multiple specimen cryotransfer holder for electron microscopes

Claim 1

A specimen cooling holder for a transmission electron microscope including: a cooling means for cooling the high thermal conductivity tip of said specimen cooling holder, a low thermal conductivity bearing between said tip and a transmission electron microscope stage, a recess within said tip, said recess being trough-shaped proximal to said low thermal conductivity conductivity bearing and being tube-shaped distal from said low thermal conductivity conductivity bearing, an opening interconnecting the two sections of said recess, a specimen cartridge dimensioned to fit closely within said recess and constructed from a material of high thermal conductivity, a plurality of holes passing completely through said specimen cartridge, securing means for securing specimens within said holes, and a translating means for moving said specimen cartridge within said recess such that said specimen cartridge can be withdrawn inside the tube-shaped portion of said recess or positioned at any point within said recess, whereby a plurality of specimens may be positioned in the tube-shaped part of said recess and thereby kept cold and shielded from frosting during transfer into said transmission electron microscope.