W.S.G. Isaac Newton

DESIGNING A UNIVERSALLY ADAPTABLE CRYO-EM SAMPLE HOLDER

Daan Kuiphuis

During my internship at Demcon Kryoz, I had the opportunity to delve into the design of a universally adaptable sample holder. Demcon Kryoz, in collaboration with one of their clients, developed the CryoCooler, a groundbreaking miniature cryogenic cooler for Cryo-EM applications. However, the existing sample holder did not align with industry standards, and my task was to address this issue while preserving the CryoCooler's performance.

I began by conducting a review of the Cryo-EM market, identifying key players, and understanding the industry's current state. Subsequently, I created four design concepts, each tailored to meet the industry's standards. These concepts were evaluated based on various factors, including clamping ability, thermal performance, mechanical robustness, wear resistance, workspace, and manufacturability.

The evaluation revealed exciting possibilities, for example, the choice of employing a leaf spring in the base design yielded the lowest thermal resistance which had a significant impact on the performance of the design. In the end, I recommended two final designs, each with unique strengths. These designs are illustrated in the figure below. One design offers lower total heat capacity and enhanced mechanical robustness, while the other design excels in workspace efficiency. Additionally, as an additional feature during my internship, I worked on the design of a mechanical shield to safeguard against unexpected loads and maintain thermal stability. This endeavor was aimed at aligning the sample holder with industry standards, thereby enhancing its performance and usability in Cryo-EM applications