Optical Microscopy Sample Holder with Replaceable Membrane Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sample holders for optical microscopy, particularly in biological applications, are expensive, not versatile, and often designed for single-use, limiting imaging modalities and requiring adaptation of optics to curved membrane surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A sample holder assembly comprising complementary first and second members with a deformable transparent membrane, allowing for a liquid-tight seal and versatile use in various microscopy applications, including digital light sheet microscopy, with components that can be repeatedly assembled and disassembled without gluing or welding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flexible membrane is glued to the walls of the sample holder to create a liquid-tight seal, then sealing reliability is improved, but the sample holder becomes designed for one-time use only and cannot be reused
Solution Approach 1:
The sample holder is divided into separate components: a base member with circumferential walls, a separate membrane, and a lid member. The membrane is not permanently attached but can be removed and replaced, allowing the holder to be disassembled, cleaned, and reused multiple times while maintaining sealing reliability when properly assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane is designed as a consumable component that can be discarded after use and replaced with a fresh membrane for subsequent use of the sample holder. This allows the expensive holder structure to be recovered and reused while only the inexpensive membrane is replaced, achieving both cost-effectiveness and reusability.
2Reliability
If a curved membrane surface is used in the sample holder, then liquid-tight sealing is achieved, but optical adaptation becomes complex and requires specific optical adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is made flat in the region where imaging occurs (the bottom surface in contact with the sample) to provide a uniform optical interface, while still maintaining curvature or flexibility in other regions to achieve liquid-tight sealing against the holder walls. This local differentiation allows both sealing and simple optical imaging.
3Measurement precision
If expensive high-grade optical microscopy slides are integrated into culture dishes for direct imaging, then imaging quality is improved, but versatility across different microscopy modes is limited and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sample holder uses a universal flat transparent bottom made of standard materials that can accommodate multiple microscopy modes (widefield, confocal, light sheet, etc.) without requiring mode-specific optimization. The flat surface provides a universal interface that works across different imaging techniques, replacing the need for expensive specialized slides for each microscopy type.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The assembly provides a cost-effective, multi-use solution that adapts to different microscopy modalities, reduces the need for optical adjustments, and maintains a stable imaging environment while allowing for compartmentalization and efficient sample handling.
Implementation Method 1
A deformable transparent membrane having a first side for supporting a sample, wherein the sample holder assembly is configured to adopt an assembled state, wherein in the assembled state, the membrane extends between the outward facing side of the wall portion of the first member, the inward facing side of the wall portion of second member
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
Figure 2A
AI summary
The invention relates to a sample holder assembly (1) for microscopy comprising at least the following components: - A first member (10) having a first opening (14) on a first side of the first member (10), and a circumferential wall portion (12) having an inward facing side (12-1) that faces toward the first volume (V1) and an outward facing side (12-2) opposite the inward facing side (12-1), - A second member (20) having a first opening (24) at a first side of the second member (20), and a circumferential wall portion (22) having an inward facing side (22-1) facing toward the second volume (V2), wherein a shape of the outward facing side (12-2) of the wall portion (12) of the first member (10) is complementary to the inward facing side (22-1) of the wall portion (22) of the second member (20), such that the wall portion (12) of the first member (10) can be inserted in the second volume (V2), such that the first volume (V1) is at least partially comprised by the second volume (V2), - A transparent membrane (30) having a first side (30-1) for supporting a sample (100), wherein the sample holder assembly (1) is configured to adopt an assembled state, wherein in the assembled state, the membrane (30) extends between the outward facing side (12-2) of the wall portion (12) of the first member (10), the inward facing side (22-1) of the wall portion (22) of second member (20), and covers the first opening (14) of the first member (10), thereby forming a liquid-tight seal between the wall portions (12, 22) of the first and the second member (10, 20).