Volume Electron Microscopy Techniques

Volume electron microscopy techniques and tools

Volume EM datasets can be captured using diverse techniques, with each providing its own benefits for particular sample types and experiments. Explore cellular ultrastructure, tissue, and small modal organisms in 3D at micron to millimeter volume scale, down to nanometer-level resolutions, and even in near-native state under cryogenic conditions. Choose the right solution for your experimental needs.

Thermo Scientific Hydra Bio Plasma-FIB SEM compatible sample types and applications.

Serial block-face imaging

Serial block face imaging

Unraveling the complex 3D architecture of cells and tissues in their natural context is crucial for structure-function correlation in biological systems and soft materials. Serial block-face SEM (SBF-SEM) combines in situ sectioning and imaging of plastic-embedded tissue blocks within the SEM vacuum chamber for automated, 3D reconstruction of large tissue volumes. 

Thermo Scientific Volumescope 2 SEM

The Volumescope 2 SEMs offer a novel serial block-face imaging solution with excellent Z-resolution that combines multi-energy deconvolution scanning electron microscopy (MED-SEM) with in-situ sectioning. The automation and ease-of-use of these instruments increases your productivity regardless of your level of expertise, granting isotropic resolution for your large volume samples.

Thermo Scientific Volumescope 2 SEM for serial block-face imaging.

Array tomography

Serial block face imaging

Array tomography is a versatile microscopy method that offers the ability to explore cell and tissue architectures in three dimensions. It combines imaging of large tissue volumes in extremely fine structural and high molecular detail. With the largest imaging field, array tomography is ideal for tissue histology and can be added to a range of SEM platforms to enable volume EM.

Thermo Scientific Apreo 2 SEM

Thermo Scientific Quattro Scanning Electron Microscope

Thermo Scientific Verios 5 XHR SEM

Thermo Scientific Verios 5 XHR Scanning electron microscope

Plasma focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy

Serial block face imaging

Plasma FIB-SEM uses iterative and automated cycles of milling and imaging to obtain 3D visualization at resolutions of tens of nanometers or less in resin-embedded or cryo-preserved samples. Using interchangeable plasma ion sources, plasma FIB provides fast milling rates, large area coverage, and minimal artifacts, making this technology ideal for detailed structural analysis of cells, tissues, and organisms.

Thermo Scientific Hydra Bio Plasma-FIB

The Thermo Scientific Hydra Bio Plasma-FIB (PFIB) is a focused ion beam scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM) designed for volumetric imaging of frozen-hydrated and plastic-embedded biological samples. The Hydra Bio Plasma FIB also features automation, AI-driven workflows, and cryo-technologies for versatile cryo-electron tomography lamella preparation.

Thermo Scientific Hydra Bio Plasma focused ion beam scanning electron microscope

TEM tomography

Serial block face imaging

3D electron tomography delivers structural information about pleiomorphic samples such as enveloped viruses or lipid nanoparticles. Images in a tomographic series are acquired by tilting the sample in known increments. Individual projection images are then computationally combined in a procedure known as back-projection, which creates the 3D tomographic volume.

Thermo Scientific Talos L120C G2 (S)TEM

The Thermo Scientific Talos L120C G2 (S)TEM enables the visualization of biological samples including sections of resin-embedded cells and tissues or isolated particles of protein complexes and viral assemblies as well, as other materials down to sub nanometer resolutions.

Volume EM data acquisition, processing and visualization

Serial block face imaging

Generating quantifiable insights from your volume EM data is crucial. From robust acquisition to correlation, visualization, segmentation and analysis, each step in the workflow needs to be optimal. Thermo Fisher software solutions provide a comprehensive, multimodal toolbox for advanced acquisition, correlation and 2D–5D biological characterization. 

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.