System Environmental Metrics Collector for EM facilities

Abstract

Recent developments in cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM) have led to the routine determination of structures at near atomic resolution and greatly increased the number of biomedical researchers wanting access to high-end cryoEM instrumentation. The high costs and long wait times for gaining access encourages facilities to maximize instrument uptime for data collection. To support these goals, we developed a System Environmental Metrics Collector for facilities (SEMCf) that serves as a laboratory performance and management tool. SEMCf consists of an architecture of automated and robust sensors that track, organize and report key facility metrics. The individual sensors are connected to Raspberry Pi (RPi) single board computers installed in close proximity to the input metrics being measured. The system is controlled by a central server that may be installed on a RPi or existing microscope support PC. Tracking the system and the environment provides feedback of imminent issues, suggestions for interventions that are needed to optimize data production, and indications as to when preventative maintenance should be scheduled. The sensor components are relatively inexpensive and widely commercially available, and the open-source design and software enables straightforward implementation, customization, and optimization by any facility that would benefit from real time environmental monitoring and reporting.

Better, Faster, Cheaper: Recent Advances in Cryo–Electron Microscopy

“…Given the high operating costs of cryo-EM laboratories and 300-keV microscopes ($4-10 million), there is a need to ensure efficient use of instrumentation (81). Facility monitoring to track the health and status of the systems is crucial, as well as the ability to handle high volume and throughput through the development of metrics and infrastructure specialized for the cryo-EM field (82,83). Home source 100-keV screening microscopes are sufficient for initial sample characterization, but for high-resolution results, 300-keV microscopes with direct detectors are required, which may necessitate funding by large research institutes.…”

Multi-species cryoEM calibration and workflow verification standard

“…Microscope builds can feature different gun sources, accelerating voltages, condenser systems, aberration correctors and filters, and camera types. Each microscope is affected by its local environment such as temperature, humidity, vibrations and electromagnetic fields, all of which influence data quality 1,2 . To ensure optimal performance, cryoEM practitioners rely on workflow validation tests using an analytical benchmark standard [3][4][5] .…”