Hitachi High-Technologies' SU6600 variable pressure field emission SEM

Hitachi High-Technologies' SU6600 variable pressure field emission SEM, further increases its range of high performance electron microscopes. The SU6600 is characterized by a host of features which allow rapid & accurate analysis with exceptional flexibility. Key to the performance of the SU6600 is the combination of the advanced new electron gun and novel vacuum control system.

The newly developed Schottky field emission electron gun can deliver in excess of 200 nA probe current to give outstanding analytical results with excellent stability and sensitivity. The analytical chamber allows the simultaneous accommodation of EDX, WDX and EBSD (electron backscatter diffraction) systems with optimum geometry for comprehensive materials characterization.

The SU6600 also features a unique Automated Differential Aperture (ADAPT) system, which automatically inserts a differential pumping aperture for variable pressure operation - maintaining maximum flexibility in high vacuum mode and ensuring there is no manual intervention required when switching to low vacuum mode. ADAPT operates with a simple mouse click and the system is designed to ensure that there is no field of view restriction even when the aperture is in place - to aide low magnification navigation and imaging. 

The highly efficient differential pumping system also ensures that the SU6600 can be operated in low vacuum mode for a whole day without gun vacuum degradation, so there is no vacuum recovery time to interrupt your work. Additionally, the standard specimen exchange chamber ensures the fastest pump down time - to enable you to spend more time on the science and less time waiting for the instrument.

Versatile imaging and measurement capabilities include Hitachi's high=sensitivity, tV -rate 5-segment BSE detector, environmental secondary electron detector (ESED) and an automated 3-D measurement system. The 3-D measurement software enables fast 3-D visualization of the specimen along with industry standard height, area and surface roughness measurement.

Hitachi integrated two beam FIB-SEM
Hitachi High-Technologies introduced its first integrated two beam FIB-SEM instrument, the nanoDUE'T NB5000 at the MICROSCIENCE exhibition last year. Hitachi have taken a new approach to the needs of FIB-SEM users and developed a system which distinguishes itself significantly from previous instruments of this type.

Key to the exceptional performance of the NB5000 is Hitachi's advanced, low aberration FIB column. The low Cs optics and operation up to 40kV maximize the ion current density making ultra-high current, high-speed milling a practical reality. Milling speed not only far exceeds the best available to date, but also provides smaller overall spot size for better control and lower unwanted milling in peripheral areas. This FIB performance also means that large area milling (>200um) is now practically achievable in a timely manner. (Refer to picture below: Hitachi's integrated two beam nanoDUE'T NB5000 FIB-SEM instrument).

The vertical FIB column and inclined SEM column also result in significant advantages for many applications. No tilt is required for FIB milling and the high stability stage coupled with enhanced small spot size milling makes ultra-thin sectioning straightforward (with <2nm slices). End point detection is therefore more precise, ultra-thin TEM sample preparation is straightforward and higher spatial resolution serial sectioning is achievable.

The integrated TEM compatible holder and Hitachi patented micro-sampling system further simplifies sample preparation and makes repeated milling fast and simple, without the need for any manual specimen handling.

The automated "Mill and Monitor" system full automates serial sectioning work for simultaneous or alternating FIB and SEM operation. Additionally, fully automated EDX mapping acquisition enables element-resolved 3D visualization.

While the exceptional FIB performance characterizes this instrument, it is not at the expense of SEM imaging capability - the NB-5000 features advanced electron optics with the in-lens detection technology already proven on Hitachi's highly successful range of FE-SEMs.

For further information contact Mike Dixon, e-mail: info@hitachi-hitec-uk.com or view website: http://www.hitachi-hitec-uk.com

Thermo Fisher Scientific UHPLC enables enhanced
resolution separations of complex drug mixtures

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has issued a new application note to demonstrate superior ultra high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) capabilities for the separation of drugs of abuse in complex drug mixtures. Illustrated in the application note is the advanced ability of the Thermo Scientific Accela UHPLC system to perform efficient, improved resolution separations using a unique quaternary UHP mixing pump. The new application note, entitled "A Comparison of Binary and Ternary Gradients Using Stage 1 Illicit Drugs," is available for download via: www.thermo.com/accela

When using an HPLC method to separate a complex drug mixture, a simple binary solvent gradient can often fail to provide sufficient resolution of all analytes. In order to improve the resolution, the separation factor has to be manipulated by using a third solvent. However, this approach is not possible with typical high-pressure binary solvent mixing equipment. The Accela UHPLC system overcomes this limitation, featuring a newly introduced quaternary mixing pump that facilitates the use of up to four solvents for convenient method development, system flushing and eluent preparation. Changing of solvents, buffers and pH values is quick and easy, greatly simplifying the method development process.

The new application note describes an effective method for the separation of drugs using the Accela UHPLC in conjunction with the Thermo Scientific MSQ Plus Mass Detector, a fast-scanning single quadrupole mass spectrometer (MS). A mixture of 14 drugs is separated and baseline resolved by UHPLC/MS within eight minutes on a Thermo Scientific Hypersil GOLD PFP column using a ternary solvent gradient, which is not possible using a conventional binary solvent gradient. Methanol was found to provide improved resolution for most of the drug compounds compared with other eluents.

For further information about the Thermo Scientific Accela UHPLC or to obtain a copy of the application note 522, e-mail: natalie.dalecky@thermofisher.com or view website: www.thermo.com   Refer to page 269

A new clinical integration system from HD Clinical

HD Clinical, one of the country's leading clinical software development companies, now offer its latest product 'Solus'.
 
Solus is regarded as the next-generation web-based information system for bringing integrated health records to life. Solus provides the tracking, reporting and access to this information that other systems can't or don't have the facilities to allow. Solus interfaces to medical data sources and devices across a wide range of clinical activity. Images, waveforms, numeric data and reports are integrated into the clinical record with links to PACS, RIS, pathology, PAS, clinical information portals and other applications.

Solus Enterprise is the core structure on which all other Solus functions are based and operate.  Clinical modules and electronic prescribing can be added as and when required, integrating fully with all other Solus modules, while allowing comprehensive access to the patients' medical records as the system is expanded.
 
Solus Stroke is the first clinical module to be released and handles acute stroke management with built-in monitoring of targets and real-time decision support. Modules for respiratory medicine, cardiology, cardiac surgery and thoracic surgery will follow in the near future with a comprehensive maternity system scheduled as well. Extension into all other clinical areas is included in the ongoing development plan.
 
Clinical modules can be built to handle any specified departmental dataset. A generic module is available for those departments that do not require a specified dataset and for which there are currently no national data collection requirements.
 
HD Clinical has a proven track record with products installed in over 110 NHS Trusts, Northern Ireland Health Boards and in the Republic of Ireland. As a major innovator in the field of integrated clinical records and clinical audit the company currently has products in place covering a wide range of specialties.
 
HD Clinical products are fully compliant with national data reporting requirements and have been extensively tried and tested in live environments. Typical installations may handle several hundred thousand clinical events each year with reliability that is second to none. Extensive audit and backup capability means that data is held safely and securely, providing an excellent alternative to the holding of paper records.

For further information, email: enquiries@hd-clinical.com or view website: www.hd-clinical.com

JPK launches QI™ - quantitative imaging
mode for the most challenging of AFM samples

QI™ is the new quantitative imaging mode from JPK. It has been developed to make AFM imaging easier than ever before. With QI™, a force curve-based imaging mode, the user has the full control over the tip-sample force at every pixel of the image. There is no need for setpoint or gain adjustment while scanning. Applying JPK's ForceWatch™ technology, QI™ delivers outstanding results on challenging samples such as soft (hydrogels or biomolecules), sticky (polymers or bacteria), loosely attached samples (nanotubes or virus particles in fluid) or samples with steep edges (powders, MEMS structures). QI™ mode is particularly useful in areas that demand both high resolution and force sensitivity such as biology, polymers and surface science.

Image shows: 168 bp DNA nano-rings on Poly-L-Ornithine protein layer in buffer solution and force distance curve at the marked point. Scan size: 80 x 80 nm. Z-range: 2.5 nm. Sample imaged in closed-loop with QI capability. Sample courtesy of Dr Damian Ackermann, LIMES, University of Bonn, Germany.

The newly developed QI™ and QI™-Advanced modes make the NanoWizard® AFM the most versatile instrument for both high-end research and routine use. Compared to other imaging modes, QI™ delivers real quantitative data. AFM moves from purely imaging to deliver quantitative measurement. To measure a real and complete force distance curve at every pixel of the image gives all information about the local tip-sample interaction with high spatial resolution.

The QI™-Advanced software package is an extension of the standard QI™ version enabling quantitative measurement of nano-scale material properties such as stiffness, adhesion, dissipation and more. Once again, the imaging data is both quantitative and has high spatial resolution.

Speaking about the new QI™ capability, head of applications and customer support, Heiko Haschke, said: "We designed this software to be straightforward for a beginner to use while also having advanced options to meet the needs of the user who likes to apply their own data processing routines. It is the fact that we are measuring complete force curves at each pixel that provides real utility for the user - easy-to-produce quantitative data."

For further information, view website: www.jpk.com or Facebook: www.jpk.com/facebook  Refer to page 286