Gatan, Inc. Alto 1000

ALTO 1000 Cryo-transfer for SEM

ALTO 1000 is an exciting new concept in cryo-SEM.

Depending on the user’s applications and requirements, exactly the correct configuration of cryo-system can be specified.

ALTO 1000 is a new, compact, easy to use cryo-system, designed to give optimum results with tungsten SEM and combined SEM-FIB microscopes at both high- and low-vacuum conditions.

The guiding principals of the ALTO range have been followed i.e. unrivalled visibility and convenience in use, plus high performance due to excellent temperature control, anti-contamination, fracturing and coating facilities.

The ALTO 1000 system is sold as a configurable product to meet the microscopist’s needs and budget. The main versions of the system are given below.

System version	SEM cooling stage and anti- contaminator	Airlock sample transfer to SEM	Cold stage and fracture knife in Preparation Chamber	Slushing station and vacuum transfer device	Sputter coating*
ALTO1000A			O	O	O
ALTO1000B			O		O
ALTO1000C				O	O
ALTO1000D					O
ALTO1000E

= included, O = option, *requires cold stage and knife in preparation chamber

Alto 1000

ALTO 1000A Preparation chamber

Alto 1000E

ALTO 1000E Preparation chamber and keypad

Applications guide

Every cryo-system user has different applications and detailed requirements, so this table should only be used as a guide. To fine tune your system specification and to consider the wide range of accessories on offer, please contact us to discuss.

System version	Typical applications
ALTO1000A	Polymers, other beam sensitive materials, surface studies of low water content materials, requires imaging of uncoated specimens
ALTO1000B	All life science materials, soft solids, surface studies, requires imaging of uncoated specimens
ALTO1000C	Plant surface studies, low water content materials and soft solids including fracture surfaces, requires imaging of uncoated specimens
ALTO1000D	All life science materials, soft solids, suspensions, emulsions, including fracture surfaces, requires imaging of uncoated specimens
ALTO1000E	All life science materials, soft solids, suspensions, emulsions, including fracture surfaces, additional imaging performance available from coated material

Fractured plant epidermal cell

Soybean root nodule bacteria, BSED image
    at 30Pa and 15kV using Hitachi S-3400N,
    courtesy of Dr. Y Kaneko, Saitama
    University, Japan

Options and Accessories

A comprehensive range of options and accessories is available for ALTO 1000. To download a datasheet click here

New ALT 327 Impact Freezer option, for improved cryo preparation of liquids, liquid-based colloids, suspensions and some biological specimens click here

Applications Support

To download the Application Note, "Imaging colloids with ALTO cryo-SEM" click here

To download the Application Note, "Visualisation of Surfactants using Cryo-electron Microscopy" click here

To download the Application Note, "The use of cryo-SEM to Study nematodes', click here

To download the Application Note, Cryo techniques using low vacuum SEM', click here

To download the Application Note, "Observation of foods using cryo-SEM ', click here

To download the poster: "Low temperature scanning electron microscopy of cryo-planed and ion milled block faces", click here

To download the Application Note, "Investigations of Cementitious Materials with Low Temperature SEM', click here

To download the Application Note, "Cryo_SEM imaging with Gatan ALTO tilting, rotating sample holder', click here

For more Cryo-SEM images taken with ALTO systems please see our Image Galleries

For further Cryo-SEM applications advice please contact our Product Specialist, Marilyn Carey mcarey@gatan.com

If your Cryo-SEM requirement is for use with Field Emission SEM (FE SEM) please see ALTO 2500