The Proven High Pressure Freezing Machine
全球装机*多的高压冷冻装置

With over 100 installations world-wide, and more than 400 scientific publications to its credit, the HPM-010 is not only the pioneer of HP freezing, but the instrument of choice which allows freezing of aqueous samples up to 200µm thickness without visible ice crystal damage and without the use of cryoprotectants.

Features

• Freezing of specimens up to 200µm thickness and 2mm diameter without visible ice crystal damage

• No need for cryoprotectants

• Cryofixation of suspensions, monolayer cell cultures and tissue

• Short handling time before freezing

• Reproducible freezing

• Easy one button operation

• Large base of application know-how available

Features / Benefits

• Highest quality freezing of tissue samples in thickness ranges of up to 0.2mm without requiring freeze protective additives.

• Array of specimen carriers available, i.e. for suspensions (capillary tubes), tissue extracted by fine needle biopsy and carriers for monolayer cell cultures.

• In situ real time measurement of temperature and pressure.

• Fast 90 second process cycle allows expeditious application.

• Automatic, microprocessor controlled operation for routine work.

• Compact, sturdy unit with soundproof and vibration-free housing.

• Simple and safe operation due to quick-locking action of specimen holder and clearly arranged operational controls.

• Processing data are recorded on digital display, such as the actual
  temperature, time and pressure, thus allowing the user to exactly evaluate current operational status (sample quality control).

• Officially approved materials and high pressure components, as well as twice controlled sample holders with quick-lock action ensure highest level of safety for user.

• Simple maintenance with removable cover plates and rack system for control units.

• Extensive accessory program.

• Large number of publications documenting high performance of HPM 010

Applications

• Freezing of large tissue specimens without requiring structure-altering freeze protective additives.

• Ideally suited for subsequent replication by freeze fracturing in a freeze etching system for TEM applications or subsequent cryo sectioning for cryo SEM and TEM investigations.

• Best suited in conjunction with subsequent freeze substitution, followed by low temperature embedding and polymerization for sectioning in a conventional ultramicrotome.

• Suitable for samples destined for subsequent thin sectioning in their frozen state by cryo ultramicrotome for cryo TEM analyses.

• For samples intended for subsequent freeze drying and SEM or TEM investigations.

The High Pressure Freezing Method

Excellent freezing of the specimens intended for examination in the electron
microscope is one of the most important prerequisites for achieving
reproducible results from the various subsequent cryopreparation methods.

The conventional freezing methods in use are plunge freezing, jet spray and
cold block (slamming) cryo fixation. However, due to the poor heat
conductance of water, these methods can only satisfactorily freeze specimens
measuring up to between 10 and 20µm.

Thicker specimens (such as tissue samples) could only be frozen in the past, if
a cryoprotectant was added to lower the freezing point of the water in the
specimen. The disadvantage of chemical cryoprotectants is that they often
affect certain cell structures, causing different types of undesirable artefacts.

By using the high pressure freezing method developed by Prof. Moor (ETH
Zurich) these artefacts can be eliminated. The high pressure method is based
on an entirely physical phenomenon that lowers the freezing point of water.
This method functions as follows: At 2,100 bar the melting point of water
drops from 0C to -22C. Under normal atmospheric conditions homogeneous
nucleation (supercooling) begins at -40C. Under high pressure this nucleation
doesn’t begin until the water has reached -90C (see H2O Phase Diagram).

At 2,100 bar water is 1,500 times more viscous than at atmospheric pressure, which drastically reduces the nucleation and thus the crystal growth rate. This means that the extremely high freezing rate (min. 10,000C/s required for satisfactory freezing by the methods previously mentioned) is not necessary with the high pressure method. The high pressure method allows specimens up to 0.2mm thickness with a total volume of approx. 1mm3 to be vitrified or up to 0.5mm thickness to be adequately frozen at a low freezing rate of 200C/s without requiring the addition of cryoprotectants.

Supplied complete with the following:

• Instrument cabinet containing high & low pressure generation system

• Specimen pressure chamber

• Temperature & pressure control system

• Specimen holder with hinged tip recessed for 3mm dia. X 0.5mm deep sample carriers

• Test probe

• Operating & display panel

• Heating thermostat with stainless steel water bath and control head

• Set of spares, P/N 690069, consisting of spare gaskets, o-ring seals, piston seals, slide rings and springs

• Set of tools, P/N 690070, consisting of high pressure N2 gas charging adapter, hook spanner and expanding mandrel

• Specimen unloading device with insulated chamber

• 50 each type A & type B aluminum specimen carriers

• Dimensions: 1682mm high x 1010mm wide x 700mm deep,  weight 450kg

Specifications:

Working Data
Working pressure     2300 – 2600 bar
Maximum pressure     2800 bar
Duration of working pressure, at least     500 ms
Cooling time from 0C to -50C
(measured between 3 mm copper disc)    10 ms

Specimen Dimensions
Sample size, up to max. of 200µm thickness and 2mm diameter
Connection Data
Voltages, frequencies     3 x 380/220 V, 50 Hz or 3 x 208 V, 60 Hz
Power input, approx.     3kVA
Compressed air (5 bar)     G 1/4” outer thread
LN2 (1 bar excess pressure)     G 1/4” outer thread
Heating water (rubber hose)     Ø 7/14mm
Operational Data
Hydraulic oil reservoir     40 liters
Hydraulic oil bias pressure     140 – 250 bar
LN2 Dewar (in system)     7 liters
LN2 consumption     10 – 20liters/hour
Initial system cooling, approx.     15 min.
Max. processing sequence, approx.     40 shots/hour
lsopropyl alcohol reservoir, approx.     0.5liters