Specimen holder for a high-pressure freezing device

Abstract

A specimen holder ( 1 ) for water-containing specimens for high-pressure freezing is described, the specimen holder ( 1 ) comprising at least two shaped parts ( 2, 3 ) detachably joinable to one another, and the joined shaped parts ( 2, 3 ) forming a receptacle ( 6 ) for the specimen. At least one of the shaped parts ( 2; 3 ) comprises a diamond.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A specimen holder ( 1 ) for water-containing specimens for high-pressure freezing, the specimen holder ( 1 ) comprising at least two shaped parts ( 2 ,  3 ;  2 ,  4 ) detachably joinable to one another, and the joined shaped parts ( 2 ,  3 ;  2 ,  4 ) forming a receptacle ( 6 ) for the specimen, wherein at least one of the shaped parts ( 2 ;  3 ) comprises a diamond.  
     
     
         2 . The specimen holder ( 1 ) as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the shaped parts ( 2 ;  3 ) is of disk-shaped configuration.  
     
     
         3 . The specimen holder ( 1 ) as defined in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein a spacer ring ( 9 ) fabricated from metal is provided between the shaped parts ( 2 ;  3 ).  
     
     
         4 . The specimen holder ( 1 ) as defined in  claim 3 , wherein both shaped parts ( 2 ;  3 ) are configured as disk-shaped diamonds.  
     
     
         5 . The specimen holder ( 1 ) as defined in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the other shaped part ( 3 ) [is] fabricated from metal, [is] of disk-shaped configuration, and comprises a shaped-on bead ( 8 ) running around the rim.  
     
     
         6 . The specimen holder ( 1 ) as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the diamond comprises an orifice ( 10 ) for the delivery of high pressure.  
     
     
         7 . The specimen holder ( 1 ) as defined in  claim 3  or  5 , wherein gold or aluminum or copper is used the metal.  
     
     
         8 . The specimen holder ( 1 ) as defined in  claim 1 , wherein both shaped parts ( 2 ;  3 ) are of planar configuration on their inwardly directed surfaces, and a spacer ( 9 ) running around the surfaces is arranged between those surfaces as a seal and in order to constitute the specimen receptacle ( 6 ).  
     
     
         9 . The specimen holder ( 1 ) as defined in at least one of the foregoing claims, wherein the diamond is configured as polycrystalline CVD diamond.  
     
     
         10 . The specimen holder ( 1 ) as defined in at least one of the foregoing claims, wherein at least one of the shaped parts ( 2 ,  3 ,  4 ) is configured with an irregularly shaped surface.