Xradia Receives $1.4 Million Grant for Nano-scale X-ray Microscope.CONCORD, Calif. -- Xradia, Inc., a developer and manufacturer of ultra-high-resolution x-ray imaging systems for 3D tomography and nanotechnology applications With nanotechnology, a large set of materials and improved products rely on a change in the physical properties when the feature sizes are shrunk. Nanoparticles for example take advantage of their dramatically increased surface area to volume ratio. Their optical properties, e.g. , today announced receipt of a $1.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH "Not invented here." See digispeak. NIH - The United States National Institutes of Health. ) for the development of an ultra-high-resolution x-ray microscope x-ray microscope n. An instrument using x-rays to render a highly magnified image. for the three-dimensional imaging of complex biological systems. Nanotechnology is emerging as a critical field essential to enabling fundamental breakthroughs in biomedicine biomedicine /bio·med·i·cine/ (bi?o-med´i-sin) clinical medicine based on the principles of the natural sciences (biology, biochemistry, etc.).biomed´ical bi·o·med·i·cine n. 1. and other disciplines. In this respect, single-cell tomography using x-rays has been identified as a major technology need by NIH. "With unique capabilities in developing ultra-high-resolution x-ray nano-tomography systems, Xradia is in an ideal position to meet this emerging need," said Dr. Michael Feser, engineering vice president at Xradia. The company will expand its product line by introducing a new x-ray tomography system designed specifically for biomedical bi·o·med·i·cal adj. 1. Of or relating to biomedicine. 2. Of, relating to, or involving biological, medical, and physical sciences. applications. This new product will include capabilities of automated 3D tomographic imaging with single cell or tissue sections at 30nm resolution, and high throughput. A cryogenic sample stage will preserve samples in a frozen-hydrated state, and enable simple preparation without the need for sectioning. "The new x-ray microscope developed with these funds will bridge the gap between visible light and electron microscopy, and will provide biologists with a powerful and unique vision tool offering new insights on the structure and behavior of cellular organelles," said Dr. Wenbing Yun, Xradia's founder and president. "Development of the new microscope is expected to be complete in less than 12 months." About Xradia, Inc. Xradia, Inc. is a privately held company privately held company A firm whose shares are held within a relatively small circle of owners and are not traded publicly. established in 2000 to commercialize high-resolution x-ray microscopes for nondestructive non·de·struc·tive adj. Of, relating to, or being a process that does not result in damage to the material under investigation or testing. non inspection and nano-scale imaging. Initially targeted at failure analysis in the semiconductor IC industry, subsequent developments have led to a suite of commercial x-ray imaging products that have permitted expansion into markets that include metrology in semiconductor IC production, scientific equipment, biomedical research and nanotechnology development. These advanced systems offer outstanding nondestructive imaging capabilities, including nanometer resolution 3D imaging of complex objects, such as IC chips and biological specimens, and element-specific imaging for process control and monitoring in IC manufacturing. The company also supplies advanced x-ray imaging components and state-of-the-art imaging systems to the synchrotron synchrotron: see particle accelerator. synchrotron Cyclic particle accelerator in which the particle is confined to its orbit by a magnetic field. The strength of the magnetic field increases as the particle's momentum increases. research community. The company is rapidly expanding in response to demand for its unique x-ray imaging products. |
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