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Vitrobot™ Mark IV System


Movie (Windows media - 10MB)

The next-generation Vitrobot™ Mark IV, a fully automated vitrification device for plunge-freezing of aqueous (colloidal) suspensions, meets the demands of modern science. Its newly designed touch-screen user interface is robust and easy to use and its robotics guarantee high-quality, reproducible sample freezing and a high sample throughput.

Its controlled-environment key technology prevents cooling and concentration artifacts that are inevitable in other 'open-space' freezing methods. The transfer from the vitrification medium into the liquid nitrogen atmosphere has been automated, thereby ensuring an even more consistent and high-yield sample output. It is a vital specimen preparation tool used in many cryo TEM labs.

Advantages and Capabilities

Fully automated, reproducible vitrification of suspensions
High vitrification quality through controlled environment
Enclosed process chamber
High sample throughput
Easy and flexible instrument control
Semi-automated grid transfer

Applications with Vitrobot™ Mark IV

The new Vitrobot™ Mark IV is a state-of-the-art specimen preparation unit that offers great value to the demanding scientific areas of cell biology and molecular imaging as well as being very suitable for food, industrial, pharmaceutical and nanotechnological applications - where the true colloidal structure needs to be viewed. The following illustrations show some applications examples of suspensions that can and have been vitrified with the Vitrobot™ (click thumbnail to enlarge):

	3D model of Cowpea Mosaic Virus (CPMV) visualized by single particle reconstruction. The radial color distribution represents the topology of the viral capsid.
	Cryo-Tomogram of Vitrobot frozen liposomes containing the anti-cancer drug Doxil (Nature Medicine, 2003) Sample courtesy of Dr. P. Frederik and Mr. P. Bomans, University of Maastricht, The Netherlands
	Cryo TEM can be used to validate the various production phases of Personal Care products as in this image of Vitrobot frozen shampoo/conditioner. Image shows the homogeneous dispersion of liposome particles.
	3D cryo tomographic reconstruction of vesicles conceded with cadherin arrays. Sample courtesy of: Dr. O. Lambert IECB, University of Bordeaux, France

Vitrification as Easy as 1, 2, 3

With the Vitrobot™ Mark IV, all essential vitrification parameters, such as temperature, relative humidity, the number of blottings, blotting pressure, and drain time can be programmed for each individual application and set for automatic retrieval. In fact, once the proper specimen-specific freezing parameters are set, the plunge-freezing session can be performed almost fully automatically and reproducibly. Additionally, the liquid coolant container - with anti-contamination ring - minimizes the contamination risk during the grid transfer while the optimally isolated container ensures better temperature conditions and a lower consumption rate of the liquid coolant. Finally, the grid transfer from the vitrification medium toward the grid storage box has been largely automated in order to further facilitate the sample throughput and vitrification quality.

For Domestic Sales Only.

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote

47000
Vitrobot™ Mark IV System
each
P.O.R.

Qty:

Consumables and options for the Vitrobot Mark IV system

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote

160-40
Cryo grid box with lid, round
each
$9.25

Qty:

160-41
Cryo grid box, round
each
6.90

Qty:

160-46
Cryo grid box, handling tool
each
19.50

Qty:

47000-100

47000-110

47000-120

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote

47000-100
Filter paper, round
pkg/100
$65.00

Qty:

47000-110
Syringe, 60ml
each
29.00

Qty:

47000-120
Plastic mounting clip for blot paper
each
49.00

Qty:

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote

47000-500
Replacement tweezers assembly
each
$980.00

Qty:

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote

47000-550
Ethane Container with assembly parts
each
$1,301.00

Qty:

47000-520
Ethane Container w/o assembly parts
each
310.00

Qty:

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote

47000-530
Foot pedal assembly
each
$352.00

Qty:

47000-540
Touch Screen stylus
each
29.00

Qty:

Technical Specifications

Weight	31 kg
Dimensions	413/260/890 mm (L/W/H)
Power supply	Voltage 110-230 V 50-60 Hz Fuse 4 AT (110 V USA)
Operating parameters	Working temperature 4 - 60° C (at an ambient temperature range between 18 - 25° C) Peltier controlled heating/cooling Relative humidity ambient humidity - 100% (no condensation at an RH < 85%) Ultrasonic controlled humidification
Instrument control	Linux operating system Touch screen control and set-up. Mouse and foot pedal controls also available
Sample application	Small sample volumes can be applied manually with a pipette through a small side port on the left and the right side of the climate chamber Both application time and wait time (between application and blotting) are software controlled and can be set in the user interface Precisely timed control of multiple sample applications, blotting actions, and vitrification enables time resolved analysis of interactions among separately applied components.
Blotting device	Excess fluid is removed from the grid by (repeated) blotting with filter paper on rotating foam pad Number of blotting actions (max. 16 times for one grid) and duration of blotting are software controlled and can be set in the user interface Longitudinal grid positioning ('blot offset') and wait time between blotting and vitrification ('drain time') are user definable
Vitrification process	Automated shutter control allows smooth, instant injection of the sample grid into the coolant (liquid ethane or propane). A lift for the container brings the coolant close to the shutter to ensure optimal vitrification Synchronous lowering of the coolant container and the grid holder keeps the grid submerged in the coolant and minimizes the risk of contamination prior to transferring the sample into a storage box or cryo holder Coolant container including an integrated anti-contamination ring Grid transfer from the coolant towards a grid box in the liquid nitrogen environment is semi-automated