Patent ID: 8164072

Claim:
An automated method for preparing cryofixed specimens embedded in a sample liquid for a cryo-electron microscope, comprising: fixing a carrier to a holder that is located in an environmental chamber, applying a sample liquid on the carrier for wetting the surface of the carrier with sample liquid, automatically moving a blotting device by a motor driven mechanism for absorbing the sample liquid by an absorbing medium towards the carrier by means of a closed-loop control, removing excess sample liquid present on the carrier by means of the absorbing medium arranged on the blotting device and absorbing the sample liquid into the absorbing medium, illuminating the absorbing medium by means of a light source, detecting the change in the optical properties of the absorbing medium resulting from the absorption of the excess sample liquid into the absorbing medium by means of an optical sensor device having a receiver, feeding the change in the optical properties of the absorbing medium as a controlling parameter to the closed-loop control, moving away the blotting device by a motor driven mechanism from the carrier controlled by the change in the optical properties of the absorbing medium detected by the sensor device and fed to the control that controls the motor driven mechanism.