Microscope Slide Holder With Adjustable U-Shaped Recesses
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microscope slide holders and cover plates face issues such as cover plate crushing during objective movement and uneven liquid filling between the slide and cover plate, especially when examining larger or thicker objects.
Innovation Solution
A holder with adjustable rails having U-shaped recesses to accommodate slides and cover plates, allowing for customizable gap adjustment and mechanical stability, along with closure rails to create a sealed reaction space for observation or experimentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a thin cover plate is used on a microscope slide, then the light emerges evenly from the object and enters the microscope objective, but the cover plate becomes crushed by the movement of the microscope lens when adjusting magnification and depth of field
Solution Approach 1:
The holder divides the support structure into multiple segments: a first support element holding the specimen slide and a second support element holding the cover plate, with a defined gap between them. This segmentation prevents the cover plate from being crushed by distributing mechanical stress and maintaining structural independence between the slide and cover plate support systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder acts as an intermediary structure between the specimen slide and cover plate, providing a rigid framework that maintains the correct spacing and prevents direct transmission of crushing forces from the microscope lens to the thin cover plate during focus adjustment.
2Volume of moving object
If a large gap remains between the cover plate and slide for larger and thicker objects, then the objects can be accommodated, but the gap cannot be evenly and completely filled with liquid or reaction solution
Solution Approach 1:
The holder allows for adjustable gap dimensions between the specimen slide and cover plate, enabling the gap size to be dynamically adapted to accommodate objects of varying sizes while maintaining controlled spacing that facilitates complete and uniform filling with liquid or reaction solution.
Solution Approach 2:
The distance A between the first and second support elements can be varied to change the gap size, allowing optimization of both object accommodation and liquid filling characteristics by adjusting this critical parameter according to the specific examination requirements.
3Device complexity
If the gap between specimen slide and cover plate is fixed, then the structure is simple, but the gap cannot be adjusted for different application requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is designed with adjustable characteristics that enable it to serve multiple functions: it can accommodate different object sizes, adjust gap dimensions for various applications, and maintain structural integrity. This multi-functionality is achieved through the adjustable distance A between support elements while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
4Reliability
If the holder allows complete closing of openings in the gap to create a closed observation system, then a sealed reaction space is created, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system is segmented into a first closure element for the specimen slide and a second closure element for the cover plate, each independently sealable. This segmentation allows creation of a reliable closed observation system while keeping each individual closure mechanism relatively simple in structure.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
Holder for microscope slides and cover plate for holding objects for examination by means of light microscopy, comprising two rails for holding at least one microscope slide and at least one cover plate each, wherein each rail has at least two U-shaped recesses extending laterally along the longitudinal side of the respective rail, wherein one recess of each of the two rails has a height H1 corresponding to the thickness of the microscope slide to be held and one recess of each of the two rails has a height H2 corresponding to the thickness of the cover plate to be held, wherein the two recesses of the rails have a distance A from each other which is at least equal to the height of the object to be held.