Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A cryogenic imaging system, comprising:a kinematic base that receives cartridges on a cryogenic base, with each cartridge carrying a specimen and further includes a positioning stage and a warm-cold interface between the positioning stage and the cryogenic base;a flexible thermal linkage between the cryogenic base and a refrigeration source to provide conductive cooling;a robotic loading and transfer system that is able to accept one or more cartridges and load the cartridges onto the cryogenic base;a source for generating an x-ray beam that irradiates the cartridges on the cryogenic base; anda detector for detecting the x-ray beam from the cartridges. 2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positioning stage positions the cryogenic base along three axes. 3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positioning stage rotates the cryogenic base. 4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the warm-cold interface comprises a ball and groove configuration. 5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the warm-cold interface comprises a ball and cone configuration. 6. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible thermal linkage comprises one or more metal wires. 7. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising cryogenic shield surrounding the cryogenic base, the cryogenic shield being cooled by the refrigeration source. 8. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the flexible thermal linkage extends between the cryogenic base and the cryogenic shield. 9. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cryogenic shield comprises beam ports through which the x-ray beam passes. 10. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cryogenic shield comprises loading ports through which the robotic loading and transfer system transfers the cartridges. 11. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the robotic loading and transfer system comprises a shuttle holding multiple cartridges and a gripper for transferring cartridges between the shuttle and the cryogenic base.