UK Develops Game-Changing Detector for Electron Cryo-Microscopy
A groundbreaking new balance, set to revolutionize electron cryo-microscopy (cryoEM), has been developed in the UK. This innovation promises to make advanced imaging techniques more accessible to a wider range of laboratories.
The Quantum C100 detector, based on innovative work at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), operates at a much lower energy of 100keV compared to the industry standard of 300keV. This significant reduction in energy will radically simplify microscope design, making the technique more accessible to non-specialist laboratories.
The detector, brought to market by Quantum Detectors Ltd in partnership with the Rosalind Franklin Institute and the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, is expected to democratize cryoEM technology. Dr Hazel Housden, the Rosalind Franklin Institute's Innovation and Translation Manager, praised the collaboration between research and industry, stating that it has led to a new generation of detector that will transform the field.
The new detector, optimized for 100 keV, will enable specialist laboratories to undertake more complex work. With its simplified design and lower energy requirements, it promises to make advanced imaging techniques available to a broader range of researchers, accelerating scientific discovery and innovation.
