This x-ray microscope is capable of yielding high resolution, high con- trast images of carbon structures within biological specimens. The microscope is unique because of the wavelength at which it operates that makes the water within the biological specimens become transparent.

Potential Commercial Uses

This x-ray microscope is ideally suited for investigations in the medical and microbiological research areas especially in DNA and RNA research, as well as in cancer and AIDS research.

Benefits

The microscope provides high-quality images of small carbon based structures in an aqueous environment, providing researchers with a unique understanding of the important carbon constituents of microscopic structures, their nature inside cells and their characteristics.

The Technology

By selecting a wavelength above the 23.3 angstrom K absorption edge where water is quite transparent, this microscope is able to selectively image carbon based structures. The optics consist of two concave, highly polished multicoated mirrors, which focus the x rays that have gone through the biological specimen on to the image plane, where a camera is mounted. In order to reduce x-ray absorption in air, the entire apparatus is mounted in a vacuum chamber.

Options for Commercialization

Licensed manufacturing rights for this device may be secured through NASA's Technology Transfer Program. A patent has been issued to Marshall Space Flight Center.

Patent Number

5,107,526

Contact for Licensing Information

Technology Transfer Office
Patent Licensing Information
Mail Code CD30
Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812

Key Words

X-Ray Microscope
Carbon Imaging
Microscopic Structures

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