A novel device for the recovery of frozen crystals

In the field of macromolecular crystallography, X-ray diffraction data collection at temperatures close to that of liquid nitrogen is now widely used. Under these conditions, the severe problem of radiation damage is virtually eliminated. This allows the collection of one or more complete data sets from single crystals even using high-brilliance X-ray sources. Here is presented a simple device that is useful for the recovery and re-exposure of frozen crystals and for data collection from frozen crystals at different orientations, for use with a horizontal spindle axis.