# NOVEL SOFT X-RAY MICROSCROPE FOR BIOMEDICAL USE

> **NIH NIH R44** · HIRSCH SCIENTIFIC · 1994 · $185,242

## Abstract

DESCRIPTION:  (Adapted from Applicant's Abstract)  The objective of this
proposal is to demonstrate biologically significant images of wet,
unsectioned  and unstained specimens with a new type of microscope of a
novel and very  simple design.  In general, this microscope uses soft x-
rays as the imaging  radiation.  The geometry of the microscope is very
similar to the field  emission microscope.  Instead of using a solid
emitter, the instrument uses a  special cone-like, hollow emitter.   The
application describes that the  specimen to be examined will be placed
inside the hemispherical emitter tip,  and soft x-rays are beamed through
the specimen and onto the tip membrane.  Since the tip membrane is
transparent to x-rays and is coated with a high efficiency photoemitter,
photoelectrons are liberated into the vacuum, outside  the emitter tip,
in a pattern corresponding to the x-ray absorption of the  specimen
(contact image).  The photoelectrons are accelerated radially to a
detector by a high voltage on the emitter.  Thus, a magnified, high
resolution  (100-1000 angstrom), real time image is expected to result.
The applicant  claims this instrument has the potential for valuable use
in biomedicine as  specimens can be examined wet, unstained, and
unsectioned.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2190352
- **Project number:** 9R44GM051669-02
- **Recipient organization:** HIRSCH SCIENTIFIC
- **SAM.gov UEI:** M7WMP3LZCFK7
- **Principal Investigator:** GREGORY HIRSCH
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1994
- **Award amount:** $185,242
- **Award type:** 9
- **Project period:** 1994-03-01 → 1996-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2190352

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2190352, NOVEL SOFT X-RAY MICROSCROPE FOR BIOMEDICAL USE (9R44GM051669-02). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-26 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2190352. Licensed CC0.

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