METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SAMPLE EXTRACTION AND HANDLING

An improved method and apparatus for extracting and handling samples for S/TEM analysis. Preferred embodiments of the present invention make use of a micromanipulator and a hollow microprobe probe using vacuum pressure to adhere the microprobe tip to the sample. By applying a small vacuum pressure t...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors ARJAVAC, Jason, AGORIO, Enrique, TANGUAY, Michael, HUDSON, James Edgar, GERHARD, Daniel
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
French
German
Published 22.02.2017
Subjects
BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
ELECTRICITY
INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
MEASURING
MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES
MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
PHYSICS
TESTING
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Summary:An improved method and apparatus for extracting and handling samples for S/TEM analysis. Preferred embodiments of the present invention make use of a micromanipulator and a hollow microprobe probe using vacuum pressure to adhere the microprobe tip to the sample. By applying a small vacuum pressure to the lamella through the microprobe tip, the lamella can be held more securely and its placement controlled more accurately than by using electrostatic force alone. By using a probe having a beveled tip and which can also be rotated around its long axis, the extracted sample can be placed down flat on a sample holder. This allows sample placement and orientation to be precisely controlled, thus greatly increasing predictability of analysis and throughput.
Bibliography:Application Number: EP20070863442