The Aquilos 2 (focused ion beam – scanning electron microscope) from Thermo Fisher Scientific enables the preparation of cellular lamellae from vitreous samples suitable for high-resolution cryo-electron tomography analyses. Plunge frozen as well as high-pressure frozen (HPF) samples can be processed at cryo temperature by standard FIB milling and cryo-lift out approaches, respectively. The lamellae production and lift out process can be guided with fluorescence signal, either performed on a cryo-light microscope prior to the session, or with integrated fluorescence microscope in Aquilos 2. Automated FIB milling routines based on commercial and in-house developed software packages enable unsupervised overnight operations for high-throughput milling.

Important specifications

• Serial-FIB and AutoTEM software for automated lamella preparation
• EasyLift NanoManipulator
• Integrated Fluorescence Light Microscope (iFLM)

Offered workflows

• Automated over-night lamella preparation on plunge frozen samples.
• Waffle milling on HPF waffle grids.
• Serial lift out on HPF waffle or planchette carriers, followed with automated lamellae prepraration.