Search Thermo Fisher Scientific
Expand your vision with Hydra Bio Plasma-FIB
With a state-of-the-art inductively coupled plasma (ICP) focused ion beam and four ion species, the Thermo Scientific Hydra Bio Plasma-FIB helps you find the right ion beam for all your samples. The four ion species (argon, nitrogen, oxygen, and xenon) are compatible with all commonly used sample-embedding media and protocols like high-pressure freezing.
With its advanced software suite, the Hydra Bio Plasma-FIB helps you gather consistent, high-quality, gallium-free data from volumes of biological specimens and high quality lamella creation from cell or tissue samples using cryo-lift-out.
Capture millimeter-scale analysis with Spin Mill Bio Method, benefit from exclusive AI-driven protocols for volume EM and enjoy array tomography, correlative light and electron microscopy, and lamellae cryo-lift-out—all in one system.
Hydra Bio Plasma-FIB benefits
Volume electron microscopy at cryogenic temperatures
Capture volumes of frozen-hydrated specimens with high-resolution serial plasma-FIB milling and high-contrast imaging in your sample’s native state. Benefit from AI-based dynamic auto functions that improve the workflow efficiency to facilitate reliable, automated high-resolution volume imaging.
Volume electron microscopy at room temperature
Optimize acquisition for each sample with multiple ion species (Xe, Ar, O, and N). Streamline your acquisitions using the exclusive Spin Mill Bio Method for large-area planar milling that yields similar sized imaging areas as microtome slicing. Significantly reduce both dose and scanning time using exclusive AI-driven acquisition protocols.
Cryo-lamellae for cryo-electron tomography
Prepare lamellae from within large high-pressure frozen volumes with plasma FIB, fluorescence localization through integrated light and electron imaging with the Thermo Scientific iFLM Correlative System, and cryo-lift-out with the Thermo Scientific Easylift Cryo Lift-Out System.
Hydra Bio Plasma-FIB features
3D imaging at cryogenic temperatures
The Hydra Bio Plasma-FIB Cryo Package includes a fully integrated 360° rotation cryo-stage to maintain sample temperature below –170°C and a cryo-sample loading system to ensure that samples remain at cryogenic temperatures during transfer in and out of the instrument. With the excellent contrast of the Hydra Bio SEM column, uncover sub-cellular details on high-pressure frozen and plunge frozen samples. No staining is required. Cryo-fixation avoids the artifacts that are usually associated with classic sample preparation steps, providing excellent contrast and minimal charging artifacts. The integrated Micro-Sputter Coater reduces charging under cryogenic conditions. Cryo-volume imaging is done using Thermo Scientific Auto Slice & View Software. Use the exclusive AI-guided dynamic auto functions to significantly enhance consistency and reliability of results. The AI-powered analysis adjusts the defined auto functions position to effectively mitigate the impact of sample variability and the challenges associated with cryo-prepared specimens. It provides valuable assistance in achieving successful, unattended cryo-volume acquisitions.
For cryo-lamella preparation, dedicated Thermo Scientific AutoTEM Cryo Software streamlines and supports your workflow.
Multiple ion options for optimized plasma-FIB results
The Hydra Bio Plasma-FIB features a unique multiple ion species plasma-FIB column with four ion species (Xe, Ar, O, N) with a patented, automated, and fast switching capability (<10 minutes). For example, O+ ion-plasma provides superior data acquisition efficiency and image quality for samples embedded in either epoxy- or acrylic-based resins. Unlike Ga-based FIBs, curtain-free surfaces are easily generated for a wide range of materials such as LR-White, HM20, EPON and Quetol resins.
Spin Mill Bio Method for millimeter-scale planar milling and imaging
The unique Thermo Scientific Spin Mill Bio Method on the Hydra Bio Plasma-FIB provides large-area planar milling up to 1 mm in diameter, with a geometry like microtome-based serial block face imaging but at a slice thickness as small as 5 nm. Uncover and visualize large sample areas with Spin Mill Bio Method, then focus in on your regions of interest. It is also ideal to prepare clean and smooth surfaces. The Spin Mill Bio Method is fully automated and easy to set up using guided software. Multiple areas for image acquisition within one experiment can be selected. Each area of interest can be imaged at different imaging settings based on the specificity of the experiment. Sparse features can easily be identified, and statistically relevant 3D data can be collected from multiple areas. Combine with Adaptive Scanning to reduce the time needed to capture your structures of interest.
Adaptive Scanning for AI-driven, high-resolution acquisition
Using Adaptive Scanning, the Hydra Bio Plasma-FIB uses AI to recognize features of interest in your specimen. Features of interest are annotated on the initial image prior to starting the volume acquisition. The features of interest are scanned in high resolution, while the “background” is scanned at lower resolution. This method significantly reduces the dose and scanning time while increasing throughput for volume EM of resin-embedded samples.
Cryo-lift-out of cryo-tomography lamellae
The Easylift Cryo Lift-Out System supports “on the grid” and bulk high pressure frozen (HPF) specimen techniques to help confirm regions of interest in the final lamella. Fluorescently labeled regions of interest are carefully localized using the iFLM Correlative System, and then extracted and thinned before transferring for tomographic data collection in a cryo-TEM.
Integrated light microscope for correlative imaging
The integrated iFLM Correlative System combines fluorescence and electron imaging with ion milling and guided lamella production and supports correlative (CLEM) workflows. Identify, target, and confirm regions of interest without the hassle of transferring between instruments. A suite of shuttles is available, including a Leica External CLEM shuttle, to support grid or common HPF specimen formats. The iFLM Correlative System has been optimized for low distortions across a large field of view and exceptionally low mismatch between color channels. For external data sources Thermo Scientific Maps Software is available for correlation.
Hydra Bio Plasma-FIB technical specifications
Header image courtesy of Tessa Burch-Smith, Kirk Czymmek and Lolita Rotkina, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.