Smart EPU Software

Single particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) uses the particles extracted from thousands of images to reconstruct 3D structures of macromolecules. The yield of an acquisition session at the microscope depends on the time needed to set up the run and the speed of the acquisition itself. Thermo Scientific Smart EPU Software is an innovative, easy-to-use data acquisition solution for single particle analysis that focuses on automation and user guidance to increase throughput and deliver reproducible results. Available on all our transmission electron microscopy (TEM) platforms, Smart EPU Software allows you to focus more on your research and make efficient use of your microscope.

Smart EPU Software is an ecosystem of multiple interactive software components that work together to drive automation of the data acquisition steps. The software enables advanced AI-guided decisions.

• EPU 3 Software: enables both new and experienced microscopists to set up their experiments more quickly and easier with this latest version of our EPU software.
• EPU Multigrid Software: maximizes microscope efficiency by setting up a queue of automated acquisitions across multiple grids.
• EPU Quality Monitor (EQM): Determine the quality of your data in real-time.
• Embedded CryoSPARC Live:Integrated real-time data analysis to monitor image and sample quality.
• Smart Plugins: provide on-the-fly decision algorithms that automatically adjust EPU settings based on output from real-time image analysis.
• Open Application Programming Interface (API): allows you to develop your own customized decision algorithms and automation routines for EPU Software.

EPU 3 Software has been reimagined to allow both new and experienced microscopists to set up their experiments more quickly and easily. Features include:

• Predefined experiment templates to facilitate experiment setup
• Automatic precheck and reporting of microscope status with clear visual indications
• Automated repair of system status available on the following cryo-TEMs: the Thermo Scientific Tundra Cryo-TEM, Glacios Cryo-TEM, and Krios Cryo-TEM
• Evolving suite of automation algorithms, simplifying screening and data collection e.g., algorithm that auto-selects grid squares based on one user-selected candidate grid square
• Intuitive user interface, which facilitates training of new users

EPU Multigrid Software allows users to take full advantage of their autoloader by enabling them to setup and queue multiple data acquisition experiments to run unattended and overnight. Features include:

• Efficient microscope utilization — for less microscope idle time, with no need to switch manual grids in the middle of the night
• Faster time to data — for scheduling and running multiple single particle analysis screening sessions, either unattended or overnight
• Efficient grid screening — for setting up new and more efficient screening workflows

Get an overview of Smart EPU Software and its components for scheduling, data acquisition, and decision algorithms.

EPU Quality Monitor (EQM) Software analyzes and visualizes images on-the-fly, enabling users to judge image quality of running or completed acquisitions remotely. The combination of EPU Software, EQM Software, and smart plugins helps to generate high-quality results quickly and with confidence. Features of EQM Software include:

• Real-time 2D processing of data — motion correction and CTF calculations
• Flawless interface with smart plugins to adjust data collection settings automatically
• Ability to let users immediately identify problematic acquisitions and fix or skip them by EPU setting adjustments
• Full integration with Thermo Scientific Athena Software, our data management platform that allows you to filter and export only quality data, expediting post-processing with the built-in multilayer filter

What’s new on Smart EPU update: Discovery Viewer

Demonstrate how to use Discovery Viewer to identify grid areas for high-quality data acquisition.

What’s new on Smart EPU update: EPU Multigrid Software

Get an overview of Smart EPU Software and its components for scheduling, data acquisition, and decision algorithms.

What’s new on Smart EPU update: Smart Filter, Fast Screening and Auto-create sessions

This tutorial demonstrates how to use Smart Filter, Fast Screening and Auto-create sessions to facilitate sample screening in single particle analysis.

After one year with Smart EPU Software, what’s new?

In this Ask the Experts webinar, we reviewed the capabilities that have since been added to Smart EPU Software. Our panel also discusses how these improvements and features help them streamline their cryo-EM single particle analysis (SPA) workflow.

What’s new on Smart EPU update: Image Shift Calibration

This tutorial demonstrates the latest features of Smart EPU Software for SPA included: TIFF LZW output for Falcon-4i cameras, guided Image Shift Calibration, and clean up functions.

How to get started with Smart EPU Software with Embedded CryoSPARC Live

This tutorial demonstrates how to get started with Smart EPU Software with Embedded CryoSPARC Live. This software enables users processes images on the fly to assess sample quality and accelerate structural determination.

How to get started with Smart EPU Software (EPU 3.6) with Embedded CryoSPARC Live-Nov 2023

This tutorial demonstrates how to get started with Smart EPU Software (EPU 3.6) with Embedded CryoSPARC Live. This software enables users processes images on the fly to assess sample quality and accelerate structural determination.

What’s new on Smart EPU update Smart Selection of Grid Squares

This tutorial demonstrates the latest features of Smart EPU Software including the new Athena selection window, Smart Selection of grid squares, and automatic placement of the autofocus area.