NanoSoft clipping station and clipping tools

NanoSoft's Clipping Station provides unmatched ease of use and efficiency for the clipping of Cryo-EM grids (known as AutoGrids) for Thermo Fisher autoloader-based microscopes.

Clipping Station Features:

• High quality, durable, closed-cell polyethylene foam dewar
• Newly designed clipping hub for ease of use
• Clipping tool puck holds up to 33 clipping tools
• Easy to use lid separates clipping space from the ambient environment
• Silicone mat reduces station movement when rotating the lid
• Compatible with cryo grid box storage pucks,  grid boxes accessed without needing to transfer from alternate dewar

A high quality foam dewar integrates grid box and clipping tool access directly adjacent to the clipping space, increasing ease of use and reducing the potential for contamination. Furthermore, the Clipping Station comes with a puck sized holder for clipping tools, such that up to 33 tools can be pre-loaded with c-clips and placed in the holder to be cooled down while in a position that is easy to access, enabling seamless clipping of up to 33 samples at one time. A new Clipping Hub design makes the workflow easier, and a well-designed lid balances ease of use and protection. The opening in the lid provides the ideal amount of space to access the entire clipping hub without needing to rotate the lid, and while providing protection from ambient humidity. Knobs on the lid enable easy turning to access and transfer other grid boxes or clipping tools to the Hub, and a Lid insert can cover the entire opening so that the clipping space can be closed off from the ambient environment completely during cool down and as needed. 

Clipping Station is compatible with both NanoSoft and Thermo Fisher clipping tools.

The clipping hub utilises a ?seesaw' mechanism for moving the guidance cylinder in and out of position. This mechanism requires the user to push down on either side of the cantilever beam to move the guidance cylinder into the position for clipping or for placement/removal of the AutoGrid ring. The shallow hole where the AutoGrid ring is placed for clipping has a dark coloured surface to provide better contrast and tracking when placing an AutoGrid ring and picking up a clipped grid with AutoGrid tweezers.

Clipping Hub Features:

• Easy to use ?Seesaw' mechanism
• 4 built-in grid box pockets
• 4 "on-deck" positions for clipping tools
• High contrast AutoGrid ring cavity
• Grooves for inspection of clipped grids and cryo-ET/FIBSEM ring notch orientation

AutoGrid tweezers available: TTP47000-600 and TTP47000-605

NanoSoft's Clipping Tool is loaded with C-clips and clips grids the same way as the Thermo Fisher version, and is compatible with the Thermo Fisher clipping station. The difference is that instead of ejecting the C-clip by pressing a long plastic handle, you press on the tool with a pair of tweezers. This version has the advantage of a compact design so that when they are placed in LN2 in the clipping station to be cooled down, the entire body is deep enough inside the station that they are untouched by any frost from environmental moisture, even when left in the station at cryogenic temperature for long periods of time. Minimise contamination without the need to warm, re-load and re-cool clipping tools.

After loading the Clipping Tools with C-clips, place them into the Clipping Tool Rack, and then place the rack with Clipping Tools into a clipping station for cooling. These tools can be placed directly into the NanoSoft Clipping Station without the need for the supplemental rack. The clip is compatible with most tweezers, AutoGrid tweezers available. Place the Clipping Tool into position and press down on the top of the Clipping Tool to eject the C-clip and clip the grid, i.e. not while grasping the sides of the plunger with the tweezers.

The C-clip Bottoming Tool provides an easier and more efficient way to "bottom" the C-clip at the tip of the barrel of a clipping tool prior to clipping. After pressing the C-clip into the barrel of the tool, place the barrel into the Bottoming Tool and press the plunger of the tool to bottom the C-clip. The cylinder of the Bottoming Tool ensures that the barrel of the clipping tool is straight, eliminating mis-bottom of C-clips.

Clipping tool set includes:
4 Clipping Tools
1 Clipping Tool Rack
1 C-clip Bottoming Tool