Products: MicroLoops™

MicroLoops™ provide a superior tool for retrieving and mounting small samples of all sorts including crystals, single cells and tissues. In protein and small molecule crystallography, they provide much lower background X-ray scatter than any other loop-style mount. Unique designs are optimized for challenging applications. Polymer tips are attached to beveled non-magnetic 0.025" (0.64 mm) diameter stainless steel rods. Compatible with all standard X-ray hardware, and can be inserted in 0.7 mm mechanical pencils or >micromanipulators for easy handling.

Available in Three Designs:

			Dual-Thickness MicroLoops™
			Dual-Thickness MicroLoops™LD
			MicroLoops™E

Compared with other loop-style mounts, MicroLoops™ provide:

• A more convenient and efficient scoop-like action in retrieving crystals that minimizes the chance of crystal loss or damage.
• Excellent rigidity during sample retrieval and in cold gas streams.
• Excellent tip visibility at large inclination angles (important when retrieving samples from small wells) due to beveling of the supporting rod. Rods can be cut using cutters or bent using pliers.
• Much lower background X-ray scatter (roughly 1/3 that of mylar mounts).
• Much more accurate and reproducible sample positioning in the X-ray beam.

Dual-Thickness MicroLoops™

A general purpose economical loop with circular sample apertures in 10 sizes from 50 to 1000 μm.

Dual-Thickness MicroLoops™ LD

- computer-optimized design with longer, thinner necks to minimize disturbance when inserted and withdrawn from small liquid drops, and to reduce turbulence in cold gas streams. Ideal for retrieving samples from sub-microliter drops in high throughput applications, and from microfluidic crystallization cards and chips. The skinny necks can puncture protein skins, allowing you to retrieve the crystal without removing the skin.

Thick polymer in the neck region makes these mounts rigid in, e.g., liquid drops and cold gas streams. Thin polymer in the loop region ensures the lowest possible background scatter in X-ray diffraction applications. The world’s most advanced loop design.

MicroLoops™ E

- with elongated apertures, for needle or rod-shaped samples. The small fingers projecting into the aperture gently support your sample. Use inclined apertures to improve crystal orientation for the most efficient data collection.