Stackable Slide Holder Structure for Multi-Slide Microscope Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional metallic slide holders are not designed for stacking, limiting the number of slide holders that can be mounted inside a microscope and are expensive, making long-term storage impractical due to the need for frequent glass slide attachment.
Innovation Solution
A stackable slide holder design with elastic portions and tapered surfaces that securely hold multiple glass slides, allowing for efficient stacking and integration with a support structure that aligns with a microscope stage, enhancing compatibility and reducing the need for frequent slide attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional metallic slide holders are used, then glass slides can be held securely, but the number of slide holders that can be stacked inside the microscope is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The slide holder is designed with an outer peripheral surface that fits into recesses of another slide holder, enabling nested stacking. Multiple slide holders can be stacked vertically inside the microscope apparatus, increasing the quantity of slide holders that can be stored without increasing the horizontal footprint or device complexity.
2Productivity
If slide holders are designed for stacking, then storage efficiency improves, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The slide holder structure is segmented into distinct functional parts: a body portion for holding slides, an outer peripheral surface for stacking, and recesses for receiving other holders. This segmentation allows the stacking function to be added without fundamentally redesigning the entire holder structure, thus improving storage efficiency while minimizing structural complexity.
3Reliability
If glass slides are attached to slide holders for storage, then slides are protected, but the cost increases due to frequent reattachment
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple glass slides are pre-attached to a single slide holder in different compartments. The holder is designed to hold multiple slides simultaneously, allowing users to prepare multiple slides in advance and store them together. This eliminates the need for frequent reattachment of individual slides, reducing time loss while maintaining slide protection during storage and transport.
4Quantity of substance
If multiple slide holders are stacked, then storage capacity increases, but light interference may affect imaging quality
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom surface of each slide holder is designed with specific optical properties (e.g., reflective or absorptive characteristics) to minimize light interference. The tapered outer peripheral surface and recess design also help direct light away from the imaging path. This local optimization of surface properties allows multiple holders to be stacked for increased storage capacity while maintaining imaging quality by reducing light interference.
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
Enables efficient storage and use of multiple slide holders, reducing costs by allowing for bulk storage and minimizing the need for repeated slide attachment, while maintaining effective imaging quality by minimizing light interference.
Implementation Method 1
a first longer side portion that has elastic portions that fix the glass slides
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are stackable slide holders and a stage on which the slide holders can be placed. A slide holder that can hold a plurality of glass slides has: a first longer side portion that has elastic portions that fix glass slides, and has a tapered surface on the inner periphery side of the bottom surface; a second longer side portion that is positioned opposite the first longer side portion; and a first shorter side portion and a second shorter side portion that connect ends of the first longer side portion and second longer side portion, and are positioned opposite to each other.