Sample preparation for cryo-electron microscopy by plunge-freezing involves a few steps: application of the sample to a specimen grid, blotting away excess liquid and dropping the thin (about 100 nm) sample into liquid ethane for rapid cooling into a glass-like frozen hydrated state.
The Vitrobot (Vitrification Robot) is a fully PC-controlled device for vitrification (rapid cooling to a glass-like state) of aqueous samples. Environmental parameters relevant to sample vitrification are strictly controllable by dedicated hardware and software, enabling accurate and reproducible results. This level of automation is conducive to high throughput of vitrified samples with easy and straightforward control of the vitrification process through its intuitive user interface. Prior to plunging, loaded samples are maintained inside an environmentally closed enclosure, allowing for control of the following vitrification parameters:

• Temperature (4 - 60°C).

• Humidity (0 - 100%).

• Blot Time (sec).

• Wait Time (sec).

• Drain Time (sec).

• Blot Force.

• Blot process (# repetitions).