A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
A Computer-Vision-Guided Robot Arm for Automatically Placing Grids in Pioloform Film Preparation
Authors: Peurla Markus, Hänninen Pekka, Eskelinen Eeva-Liisa
Publisher: M D P I AG
Publication year: 2019
Journal: Methods and Protocols
Article number: 9
Volume: 2
Issue: 1
eISSN: 2409-9279
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/mps2010009(external)
Web address : https://doi.org/10.3390/mps2010009(external)
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/40226644(external)
Preparing pioloform/formvar support films on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) grids is a routine laboratory procedure in practically all electron microscopy units. In current practice, these grids are manually placed on the support film one by one using special tweezers, a process requiring a steady hand. The work is often ergonomically awkward to continue for a longer period of time. In this article, we describe a low-cost, computer vision-guided robot arm that automatically places the grids on the film. The success rate of the prototype robot is 90%, which is comparable to an experienced laboratory technician.
Downloadable publication This is an electronic reprint of the original article. |