Just wanted to clarify the history of the foam Dewars for posterity: - they were developed at the ALS when Gerry McDermott was head of the BCSB group here, and Jon Spear was a member of the group (Gerry was his supervisor at that time)
- after we had several glass Dewars implode, Gerry asked Jon specifically to try to make a Dewar out of a different material. Gerry might even have suggested trying the foam (they were originally made from the same material as is used in Yoga mats) - Gerry gave Jon a Spot Award (an internal LBL award) for his efforts - Jon then applied for a patent on the foam Dewars and started his own company to sell them and has done very well (personally, I find them an excellent alternative to the glass dewars) Corie ----- Original Message ----- From: Thomas Earnest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Thursday, October 9, 2008 4:08 am Subject: Re: [ccp4bb] foam dewar usage ? To: CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK > Jean-Baptiste, > > Since these were conceived and developed by Jon Spear when he was a > member of my > group (at the ALS at the time), I know a bit about these Dewars, > their > intended usage, and relative benefits. > When Jon first made them, the beamline users and staff quickly > realized > the advantages, they spread around > the ALS, and then to other sources. My guess is that for other > beamlines > that have both these and > vacuum-jacketed Dewars, the users prefer these over other options. > > As with all things, the advantages and disadvantages must be viewed > in > context of what the use is. The > fact that these will not shatter, can be shaped to whatever the > needed > dimensions are and pockets can be > machined in to allow for transport pucks, cryo-tools, etc., they > cool > and warm rapidly and are inexpensive, are all distinct advantages. > Thus > for freezing and manipulating crystals at home or the beamline, > they are > excellent and > inexpensive options. > > Regarding the two comments that followed your post from Uwe and James: > > Uwe: When using Berkeley-style pucks or Unipucks (which replicated > the > Berkeley form factor), these > are sufficiently dimensioned, and I believe there is a version that > accommodates the SSRL cassette. If > you want another dimension, I suggest contacting Jon directly and > discuss this with him. > > James: I'm not sure why you think that chemical resistance or > autoclaving are relevant to the discussion, as these > are for holding and transporting liquid nitrogen and sample > cryo-transport units. Also they are machined > with a bit more precision than a "carpet knife" would give, and > this > eliminates the burrs or other bits that > may tend to flake off, as well as allowing for shaping to need. > > > - Thomas > > > Thomas Earnest, Ph.D. > Senior Scientist and Group Leader > Structural Proteomics Development Group > Physical Biosciences Division > MS64R0121 > Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory > Berkeley CA 94720 > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > 510 486 4603 > > > > Jean-Baptiste REISER wrote: > > Dear all, > > > > Does anyone in the biocrystallogaphy community use foam dewars > for > > handly liquid nitrogen and freezing/manipulating frozen protein > crystals ? > > > > We are interested in the following dewar package from Hampton > Research > > : > > > http://www.hamptonresearch.com/products/ProductDetails.aspx?cid=24&sid=187&pid=559> > > But before purchasing, we would like to have any comments on the > > advantages and drawbacks from people who already tried those dewars. > > > > Thanks in advance for your help and advices. > > > > -- > > > > *Dr JEAN-BAPTISTE REISER - Chargé de recherche CNRS* > > > > > ******************************************************************************************> > > *Laboratoire de Cristallographie et Cristallogenèse des Protéines > (LCCP)*> > > *et Partnership for Structural Biology (PSB)* > > > > *Institut de Biologie Structural Jean-Pierre Ebel (IBS) - CNRS - > CEA - > > UJF* > > > > 41, rue Jules Horowitz > > > > 38027 Grenoble - France > > > > Phone : +33 (0)4 76 20 94 49 > > > > Fax : +33 (0)4 76 20 94 80 > > > > E-mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > Web sites : http://www.ibs.fr ; http://psb.esrf.fr > > > > > ******************************************************************************************> >
