Simple Origin – Optimize Your Research

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions about our cryogenic TEM holders

The holder has a tip thickness of 1.5 mm and width of 4.5 mm. It is designed for an alpha tilt of ±70°. The maximum tilt is mainly determined by the pole pieces of your TEM. Please consult with your TEM manufacturer (providing the 1.5 mm value for our tip height) and/or Simple Origin for specific information.

Please use an oil-free pumping system that includes a turbo pump. A desired dewar vacuum is in the low 10^-6 torr range. It is usually recommended to pump the dewar overnight before using it. The activated charcoal regeneration is required less often and is typically performed once per week to once per month (if the dewar is vented accidentally, longer pumping and multiple activated charcoal regenerations are required). A clear indication of required pumping and/or activated charcoal regeneration is noticeable condensation on the outer dewar surface.

Dual Grid/Autogrid Cryo Transfer Holders are designed to achieve steady-state drift values below 3 nm/min with a resolution better than 2 Å during regular operation. Drift and resolution depend on various parameters such as TEM performance, objective lens, sample, and camera conditions. The overall baseline reference for the achievable values is usually set by the performance of the TEM’s standard single-tilt holder at room temperature.

The Dual Grid/Autogrid Cryo Transfer Holder has a steady-state holding time of ~10 hours.

The workstation is typically filled with liquid nitrogen up to the holder tip. The tip is surrounded by cold nitrogen gas during sample loading.

In the Dual Grid/Autogrid Cryo Transfer Holder we use a calibrated silicon diode that is located ~25 mm away from the sample position.

We usually achieve transfer temperatures < −175 °C, which is sufficient to prevent recrystallization of amorphous ice.

Typical steady-state tip temperatures are below −175 °C.

It takes 15–30 minutes to achieve temperatures below −175 °C independent of tip extraction. Allowing enough time for that cool-down process is recommended to maintain good sample quality.

It is recommended to store the holder under vacuum on the pumping station.

To warm up the workstation and the Dual Grid/Autogrid Cryo Transfer Holder it is recommended to:

Pour out the liquid nitrogen from the workstation and the holder dewar.
Switch on the workstation built-in heater (a hair dryer can be used to speed up the process).
Connect the controller to the holder and begin the warm-up cycle.
Flowing dry nitrogen gas in the workstation and holder dewar helps keep the moisture out.
If the holder is on the pumping station it can be positioned upside down with the dewar opening facing downwards.

Before using the workstation/holder again, please make sure that they are completely dry.

Using appropriate plasma cleaners enables the removal of hydrocarbons from the holder tip.

Place the Cryogenic Inert Gas/Vacuum Transfer Holder in a glovebox that is either evacuated or filled with an inert gas such as argon. Load the sample in the glovebox. Once the sample is loaded into the holder, retract the holder tip into the barrel. This seals the sample in the inert gas or vacuum environment with the help of the O-ring on the tip. Transfer the holder to the TEM and place it in the TEM’s pre-pump position. Extract the holder tip and wait until the inert gas is pumped out. Insert the holder completely into the TEM column and then cool it.

Having the O-ring on the tip makes it easier to inspect and replace if required.

Usually an inert gas is preferred in terms of maintaining a non-oxidizing atmosphere around the sample for an extended time. Due to the pressure differential, use of vacuum reduces the duration for which the sample is protected.

After loading the sample in an inert gas atmosphere within the glovebox, you can cool the holder in the TEM pre-pump position with the sample tip sealed in the retracted position in the presence of the inert gas. You can extract the tip once the sample is cold and then insert the holder into the TEM column.

Please contact us to discuss your application: support@simpleorigin.us.

The holder is designed to make this process user-friendly. For convenience, the sample clamp can be opened outside the glovebox. Closing the clamp is assisted by a movable bar. After inserting the grid in the holder, simply flip the clamp over using a tweezer and then move the bar over the clamp and press down with your finger or a tool.

The pump-down time may vary based on the type of inert gas used. It is recommended to discuss the specific gas with the TEM manufacturer so that they can install the appropriate pump.

Without using the optional heater at the tip, the LN₂ holding time for our cryogenic inert gas/vacuum transfer and cryo transfer holders is more than 10 hours when the holder is cold, inside the TEM vacuum, and the dewar is filled with liquid nitrogen.

When using the optional tip heater, the holding time is reduced depending on the selected temperature setpoint. Although the heater location is optimized to regulate the tip temperature rather than directly boiling off LN₂ from the dewar, the overall cryogenic holding time will decrease accordingly.

When the sample is kept in a vacuum environment inside the cryogenic inert gas/vacuum transfer holder, the workflow is generally straightforward.

The holder can be cooled in the pre-pump position or fully inserted in the TEM. Filling the LN₂ dewar in the pre-pump position can be slightly more difficult due to the dewar opening orientation, but this can usually be addressed by pre-tilting the goniometer.

Cooling can also occur with the tip in the retracted or extracted position. When filling LN₂ with the tip retracted, the sample typically cools to about −80 °C to −100 °C due to heat transfer through the tip O-ring. To cool the sample further, the tip must be in the extracted position.

When the sample is surrounded by a gaseous environment such as argon or nitrogen, cooling is usually performed with the tip retracted while the holder is in the pre-pump position.

The detailed workflow depends on the sample requirements, microscope setup, gas type used, and the overall system configuration. Consulting with Simple Origin is recommended to optimize the workflow.

The achievable tilt range mainly depends on the pole piece gap of your electron microscope. The cryogenic inert gas/vacuum transfer holder tip has a thickness of 1.9 mm and a width of 5.4 mm.

The inert gas/vacuum workstation enables safe sample loading into the cryogenic inert gas/vacuum transfer holder without exposing the sample to ambient air and without requiring a large glovebox.

The workstation can be connected to a pumping system and an additional gas supply such as argon or nitrogen.

An integral component is the O-ring sealed vacuum container, which can be loaded with up to six samples inside a glovebox and transferred to the workstation. This allows controlled opening and safe transfer into the cryogenic inert gas/vacuum transfer holder.

Heating from −160 °C to −150 °C takes just a few seconds. Allow a few minutes for stable temperature regulation (to minimize specimen drift).

Yes. The design of the clamp and the required tools are identical to those used for our other cryo holders.

About Us

Simple Origin is an engineering-driven company building precision tools for cryo-EM and TEM workflows. We partner with scientists at electron micoscopy research centers to design instruments that make complex experiments more reliable, repeatable, and practical.

Who We Are

Simple Origin improves how researchers prepare, transfer, and image samples inside transmission electron microscopes. For nearly a decade, our team has designed and supported advanced tools for cryo-EM and TEM workflows.

Our product work spans cryogenic transfer holders, inert gas/vacuum holders, pumping assemblies, and high-performance imaging solutions.

We build for real lab conditions. Close collaboration with scientists, engineers, and microscopy facilities helps ensure our designs are practical, durable, and ready for daily use.

Our Approach

Electron microscopy and semiconductor research demand equipment that is precise, reliable, and safe. We believe instrumentation should reduce workflow friction, not add to it. Our work is guided by three core commitments:

Precision Engineering: Built for long-term stability, safety, and technical accuracy.
Collaboration & Partnership: Developed with labs to reflect real-world constraints, from microscope models to cryogenic workflows.
Practical Solutions: Engineering that delivers measurable results, including safer transfers, longer unattended imaging, improved sample stability, and higher throughput.

What We Build

We design and manufacture cryogenic TEM specimen holders, inert gas/vacuum transfer holders, variable-temperature holders, pumping assemblies, and supporting accessories. Simple Origin is the exclusive representative of TVIPS TEM cameras and Bestron science and technology in North America, providing high-performance digital imaging and instrumentation that integrate with our cryo-EM and materials science workflows.

Our Story

Simple Origin began by solving specific engineering challenges for individual research labs. That hands-on, problem-driven work grew into a full product line now used by leading universities, research centers, and industry partners.

Today, we continue to grow through innovation, long-term collaborations, and a focus on solving the real challenges scientists face every day.

Our Team

Simple Origin is led by a small, hands-on team that spans mechanical engineering, production, and operations. We work closely with our partners and customers to turn ideas from the lab into reliable instrumentation.

Dr. Pushkarraj Deshmukh, PhD, MBA

Founder & President

Leads Simple Origin with deep expertise in in-situ TEM, advanced manufacturing, and engineering design, driving innovation and global growth.

Jake Schade

Production Manager · Co-Founder

Oversees production and manufacturing, translating new designs into reliable, high-quality products through hands-on engineering expertise.

Francesca Sacchet

Procurement Manager

Manages purchasing, inventory, logistics, and invoicing to keep daily operations running smoothly and efficiently.

Nick Zurawsky

Mechanical Engineer

Focuses on mechanical design and product development, combining technical precision with creative problem-solving.

Aaron Evangelista

Precision Assembly Tech

Supports fabrication and precision assembly, bringing extensive experience in advanced manufacturing and prototyping.

Advisors

Our advisors bring deep expertise in electron microscopy and instrumentation, helping guide product strategy and long-term technical direction.

Hans Tietz

Advisor | Pioneer in Electron Microscopy Imaging

Founder of TVIPS and a pioneer in electron microscopy imaging, providing strategic and technical guidance rooted in decades of innovation.

Dr. Matthias Stumpf

Advisor | Scientific & Strategic Leadership

Brings over 20 years of experience in electron microscopy across life and materials sciences, supporting strategy and European engagement.

Dr. Shinji Aaramki

Advisor | Cryo-EM

Expert in cryo-electron microscopy and tomography, contributing deep scientific insight and field experience to Simple Origin.

Join Our Team

We’re always looking for people who enjoy solving engineering and laboratory challenges. If you’re passionate about precision instrumentation and want to contribute to tools used by scientists worldwide, explore open opportunities on our Careers page.

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Frequently Asked Questions