Company: Leica Microsystems
Model: AF

• Dehydration of frozen biological samples at low temperature.
• Dehydration of chemically fixed biological samples at subzero temperatures according to the PLT technique (progressive dehydration).
• Infiltration of dehydrated samples with embedding media at subzero and higher temperatures.
• UV- polymerisation of embedded biological samples at subzero temperatures in capsules of various kinds or in flat embedding moulds.
• Conventional dehydration, embedding and heat polymerisation used for biological samples.

Leica Freeze Substitution Automate System

Company: Leica Microsystems
Model: Leica VT1200

• The Leica VT1200S automatic vibrating blade microtome (vibratome) is designed to section fixed or unfixed tissue at a thickness ranging between 30 and 400µm.
• The vertical deflection can be adusted using the “vibrocheck”, providing best results.
• A “minichiller” controls the temperature of the buffer during sectioning.

Vibratome VT1200S

Company: Quorum Technologies
Model: Q150T

The Q150T E is a high vacuum carbon coater, ideal to obtain highly stable carbon films allowing a better adhesion of the specimen to the grid, before examination under the electron microscope (TEM).

• High vacuum carbon coating ideal for transmission electron microscopy.
• Precise thickness control using the film thickness monitor option.
• “Intelligent” recognition system, automatically detects the type of coating.
• Simple, fast and reproductible.
• Suitable for carbon coating and other metal evaporation.

Carbon Evaporator Q150T E

Company: FEI Company
Model: Vitrobot Mark IV

The Vitrobot is an automated vitrification device for plunge-freezing of aqueous suspensions. A controlled environment prevents artefacts. Grids transfer from the vitrification medium into liquid nitrogen is automatic, ensuring reproducible sample freezing and high sample throughput.

• Temperature, number of blottings, blotting pressure, and drain time can be programmed.
• Easy and flexible instrument control.
• Semi-automated grid transfer.
• Frozen samples can be stored at the NEUROPHOTONICS CENTRE in the cryo-biological storage system.

Vitrobot Mark IV

Company: Leica Microsystems
Model: EM PACT2 and EM RTS

The high-pressure freezer is used to prepare biological samples by cryo-fixation (samples up to 200µm in thickness).

• Live cell carrier is available for cell cultures. Cells can be first examined with a light microscope and then rapidly frozen (in only five seconds) with the EM PACT2-EM RTS.
• A microbiopsy system is available for rapid transfer of tissue into the EMPACT2.
• The EM PACT2 can be easily transported.
• Frozen samples can be stored at the Neurophotonics Centre in the cryo-biological storage system.

EMPACT2-EM RST

Company: Leica Microsystems
Ultramicrotome models: Leica Ultracut EM UCT Leica Ultracut EM UC7
Cryo-Chamber: Leica EM FC

Ultramicrotomes are used to prepare semi and ultra-thin sections of biological samples (thickness ranging between 50-200 nm) that can be examined under the electron microscope

Leica Ultracut UCT

A cryo-chamber is available to cut biological samples at low temperature (-15°C to – 185°C).  Frozen ultra and semi-thin sections can be stored at the Neurophotonics Centre in a cryo-biological storage system.

Leica Ultracut UC7 and Cryo-chamber FC7

Company: Philips
Model: Tecnai 12, 120 kV
Magnification: 19.5 X à 300 000 X
Acquisition software: Tecnai UI version 2.1.8, FEI company
Analysis software: AnalySIS version 3.2, Soft Imaging System GmbH Digital
Camera: Mega View I