This technology is an insert that fits within a standard 50 mL conical Falcon tube for easy organization of cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM) grid boxes.
CryoEM samples are usually frozen onto grids to enable imaging and are stored in liquid nitrogen. Typically, several small grids will be stored within grid boxes, which can then stored in 50 mL Falcon tubes. However, samples stored in this way are easily mislabeled and can be cumbersome to retrieve. While improved grid holders have been developed, they are not as ubiquitous, economical, or as portable as Falcon tubes, which can be easily transported between laboratories and facilities. As such, there is a need for an insert that easily fits into Falcon tubes for easy storage and organization of cryoEM grid boxes.
This technology is an insert that fits within a standard 50 mL Falcon conical tube for simple cryoEM grid box organization. The insert allows for easy sample labeling, storage, and retrieval, which ensures accurate management of samples. Consequently, this technology will improve the transportation and storage of cryoEM samples, potentially reducing the potential misplacement of precious samples.
A prototype of the device has been produced using 3D printing to successfully improve the storage of cryoEM grid boxes.
Oliver Clark, Ph.D.
IR CU17346
Licensing Contact: Sara Gusik