Array tomography

Array Tomography is a method using backscattered electron images to three-dimensionally reconstruct the internal structure (such as the membrane structure in a cell) of a biological specimen stained with a heavy metal and resin-embedded. The method is also called the serially sliced SEM method.
In the method, ultra-thin sections are made serially using an ultra-microtome. The sections are arrayed on a substrate such as a Si wafer. Backscattered electron images (2D images) are taken from the same fields of view of each section. By stacking the 2D images, a 3D reconstruction image is obtained.
Unlike Serial Block Face SEM or Dual Beam FIB, the ultra-thin sections can be preserved even after obtaining a 3D image for repeated observation of the sections. The arrayed ultra-thin sections can also be used for 3D elemental mapping using EDS.

Related Term(s)