This update is designed to help researchers investigate samples at cryogenic temperatures.
According to the company press release, Linkam Scientific Instruments’ CMS196V4 cryo-stage is a specialized tool designed for cryo-correlative light and electron microscopy (cryo-CLEM) (1). This advanced system enables researchers to analyze samples at cryogenic temperatures as low as <-195 °C, ensuring detailed and precise imaging workflows (1). The system uses fluorescence spectroscopy and electron microscopy and integrates light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at cryogenic temperatures. What this accomplishes is provide a combination of high-resolution imaging of SEM with fluorescence data from light microscopy at these low temperatures.
The press release states that the CMS196V4 underwent new improvements. Some of these enhancements include a touch-panel interface and joystick for user-friendly operation, along with an encoded and motorized XY stage that allows high-precision automated mapping of sample grids (1). This motorized XY stage also introduces interchangeable optical bridges with various sample holders and interface options, which allows for flexible imaging setups (1). Other improvements that were made to the CMS196V4 device include improving and enhancing cable management, installing a cordless magnetic heated lid, creating better drift performance by use of an objective lens heater, and incorporating an auto-fill dewar with a drip-feed system meant to simplify installation and operation (1).
Cryo-CLEM integrates fluorescence and electron microscopy, offering unparalleled insights into sample structures. With the CMS196V4, researchers benefit from a fully supported cryo-CLEM workflow, including robust sample handling mechanisms to prevent contamination during transfers.
Complementing the cryo-stage, Linkam has developed a Modular Imaging Platform that improves sample accessibility. Features like motorized Z-axis control and a sliding mechanism streamline sample access, while a modular design supports a variety of microscopy techniques.
Clara Ko, Sales and Marketing Director at Linkam Scientific Instruments, stated in the press release that the updated cryo-stage will meet the current needs of their users.
“These modifications provide researchers with a valuable tool to unlock new insights using Cryo-CLEM microscopy,” Ko said (1). “The new features will allow researchers to exert more control over their stage configuration, while also enjoying simplified set-up with improved topology and overall user experience.”
Linkam Scientific Instruments is a company specializing in designing and manufacturing scientific instruments for material characterization, ranging from polymers to biological tissues and metals to composites (2). Their instruments are used by scientific organizations and companies around the world.
Each instrument is developed in-house by an expert team of engineers and often originates from scientists seeking improved or novel solutions. The company collaborates closely with scientists to refine ideas into functional prototypes, leveraging its ability to quickly assess feasibility and deliver cost-effective prototypes (2). Linkam Scientific Instruments has offices in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, partnering with OEMs to create custom solutions for advanced analytical instrumentation, including AFM and Cryo-TEM systems (2).
Its diverse range of products supports applications in light microscopy and advanced analytical techniques such as Raman, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and small-angle X-ray scattering–wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS-WAXS).
For those interested in learning more about the CMS196V4, visit
