Aquilos 2 Cryo FIB Focused Ion BeamCryo electron microscopy sample preparation tool with extended running time and enhanced automation

Thermo Scientific Aquilos 2 Cryo FIB is our next-generation cryo DualBeam system. It is specifically designed for preparing electron transparent thin films for high-resolution frozen electron tomography or microcrystalline MicroED.

With Aquilos 2 Cryo FIB, you can take a revolutionary step forward by automating workflow steps to generate multiple thinned sample areas from specific programmatic locations. Improved specialized refrigeration hardware helps to extend operating time with extremely low contamination rates. Learn how our latest cryo FIB platform determines the internal structure of cells.

The tomography of biomolecules in their cellular environment requires high-precision sample preparation using cryo FIB, which can be achieved using information from integrated fluorescence microscopy. The Thermo Scientific iFLM related system now available for Aquilos 2 Cryo FIB combines light and electron microscopy in one system. This avoids additional sample transfer steps and allows you to create a more streamlined freezing related solution for frozen tomography. The iFLM (Integrated Fluorescence Microscopy) related system locates the fluorescent target within the chamber, allowing you to correlate two imaging modes in one system to ensure that the sample is in the correct position.

Aquilos 2 Cryo FIB Focused Ion BeamKey Features:

Automatic batch freezing thin film thinning

Mark multiple target points (such as cells) for frozen thin section thinning. Cryo AutoTEM software is a guided solution that can automatically prepare multiple thin films under unattended operating conditions, thereby improving productivity.

Preparation of frozen extraction slices

Prepare thin films from specific target areas with nanometer level positional accuracy. The high-precision EasyLift micro manipulator option can even extract specific location areas, such as fluorescently labeled proteins, from high-pressure frozen samples. Subsequently, these thin films can be placed on AutoGrid for cryotransmission electron microscopy imaging and further protein structure and protein network imaging.

3D visualization

With our Cryo Auto Slice and View software, you can continuously thin and image the cross-section of the sample, and then capture 3D images from the vitrified sample. Before using cryo electron tomography technology to observe the ultrastructural details in cryo transmission electron microscopy, this process will help you stop thinning and prepare thin sections in the correct subcellular regions.

Linking light and electronics within a system

The iFLM related system allows samples to be directly imaged in the high vacuum of Aquilos 2 Cryo FIB without the need for additional transfer steps from an external cryogenic optical microscope. This saves time and reduces the risk of sample contamination. Fluorescent labeled cells can be directly located within Aquilos.

Acceleration and Advancement Service Package for Cryo Tomography

From the moment you purchase the Thermo Scientific Aquilos 2 Cryo FIB system, the acceleration and advancement service package for cryogenic tomography begins to support your success. From application support to remote system monitoring, to comprehensive maintenance, our combination of data-driven and practical services will help you quickly achieve the results you want.

Preparation of Cells for Cryo Electron Tomography

The Thermo Fisher cryo electron tomography workflow covers rapid freezing of cells to final 3D visualization. The internal cell regions were imaged at nanoscale resolution and collected from frozen sections precisely prepared using Aquilos 2 cryo FIB.