A method for analyzing a sample for the manufacture of integrated circuits, e.g., dynamic random access memory devices, commonly called DRAMS. The method also provides an integrated chip including a thickness, a width, and a length. In a specific embodiment, the integrated chip has at least one elongated structure through a portion of the thickness, while being normal to the width and the length. In a specific embodiment, the elongated structure has a structure width and a structure length that extends through a vertical portion of the thickness. The method includes removing a slice of the integrated chip from a portion of the thickness in a directional manner normal to the structure length. In a specific embodiment, the slice is provided through an entirety of the one elongated structure along the structure length to cause a portion of a thickness of the slice providing the elongated structure to be of a substantially uniform sample thickness. The method also includes capturing one or more images through a portion of the slice using a transmission electron microscope.