Smart EPU Software

Cryo-EM data collection software solution for single particle analysis

Thermo Scientific Smart EPU Software is an AI-powered, cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) software platform that automates data acquisition, optimizes grid screening, and seamlessly integrates with your hardware for accelerated single particle analysis data workflow. 

 

Compatible with all Thermo Scientific TEMs, the integrated components like Thermo Scientific Smart EPU Plugins, EPU Multigrid Software, and Embedded CryoSPARC Live Software, work together to support autonomous screening and yield results with high throughput.

Software portfolio for SPA data collection

Whether you need end-to-end autonomous screening and real-time quality monitoring or standard automated image acquisition, Thermo Fisher Scientific offers a breadth of solutions to accelerate your single particle analysis data collection.

 

Feature EPU Software Smart EPU Software Smart EPU Software with Embedded CryoSPARC Live
Automated image acquisition
Automated screening
  
Image quality monitoring  
Sample quality monitoring    

Smart EPU Software features

Smart technology optimizes decision-making in SPA data collection

Plug into AI-based algorithms, faster screening, and workflow automation with Smart EPU Plugins.

 

Decision-making can be made easier with:

  • Smart Grid Square Selection for an AI-driven selection and categorization of grid squares 
  • Smart Hole Finder for input-free identification of foil holes, even on challenging grids 
  • Smart Filter for automatic selection of the best quality holes 
  • Smart Ice Thickness Prediction for automated classification of foil holes depending on predicted ice thickness 5. 
  • Smart Focus for auto-focus stabilization using a real-time CTF 
  • Smart Grid Skip for automated grid-square skipping with a real-time contrast transfer function (CTF)
  • Smart Stage Time for stage waiting time optimization

Additionally, advanced users have the opportunity to develop and share their own plugins through an open application programming interface (API). 

Enhanced data quality monitoring

Embedded CryoSPARC Live Software is fully compatible with Smart EPU Software and analyzes data in real-time for on-the-fly feedback about image and sample quality.

  • Supports a growing set of automations
  • Simplified parametrization including automatic configuration of settings
  • Automated screening support
  • Integration with EPU Multigrid and Cryoflow Software

 

Hardware installation, as well as on-site service updates and training, is provided by the Thermo Fisher Scientific service team. 

Maximized scheduling efficiency

EPU Multigrid Software enables sample screening and data acquisition for multiple grids, increasing the number of datasets you can generate in each working day, including in overnight and weekend runs.

  • Faster time to data and screening
  • Less microscope idle time 
  • Intuitive interface facilitates new user training

Achieve a fully connected single particle analysis workflow

Compatible with all Thermo Scientific cryo-TEMs, Thermo Scientific CryoFlow Software is a platform that seamlessly integrates Smart EPU Software components, including EPU Multigrid, EPU Quality Monitor, and Embedded CryoSPARC Live Software, along with AI-powered Smart EPU Plugins. It allows paperless data exchange among collaborating users and enables filtering and export functions to further process the highest quality data.

 

CryoFlow Software enables a specialized viewer, the Discovery Viewer, to:

  • Navigate between associated atlases, squares, and high-magnification images
  • Access image quality data from trackable images
  • Screen for high-quality data acquisitions quickly and easily

Benefits of screening with Smart EPU Software

Easy adoption 

A user-friendly interface enable fast training and setup, requiring no expertise to identify and exclude bad foil holes.

Maximized efficiency

An autonomous sequence for grid screening uses AI-driven algorithms to reduces microscope time spent assessing sample quality samples.

Workflow optimization

The ability to screen two full cassettes per day accelerates time to results and increases cost savings.

High data quality

Automatically excludes sub-optimal areas for more reliable results.

Resources

Featured resource

Technical specifications for Smart EPU Software

Dive deeper into the innovations behind Smart EPU Software and see how it can enable a more automated experience for cryo-EM single particle analysis data acquisition.

Additional resources

Webinars

What’s new in Smart EPU Software?

This tutorial introduces two new features now available in Smart EPU Software:

  1. A targeting correction routine for the improvement of atlas-tile stitching
  2. A beam-centering sequence option for Thermo Scientific Glacios Cryo-TEMs with FFI, which maintains the beam center without user supervision during EPU session runs 

Additional Smart EPU Software tutorials

Software updates

Release management

Thermo Fisher Scientific offers a constant stream of software improvements and updates, ensuring you can achieve your goals as quickly and easily as possible. 

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.