Method for embedding a biological sample in a transparent matrix for analysis using single plane illumination microscopy

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9733160-B2
Application number	US-201314132988-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2013
Priority date	Jun 11, 2008
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

The invention is directed to method for positioning and aligning a preferably biological sample in the detection area of the objective of a microscope arrangement. According to the invention, the method mentioned above has the following method steps: a sample is introduced into a transparent medium, preferably agarose gel, which is initially liquid; the medium is changed from the liquid state to the solid state, wherein the sample is fixated within the medium, but the transparency of the medium is retained; the solidified medium is positioned in the microscope arrangement in such a way that the sample enclosed therein is situated in the detection area of the objective. Further, a device is proposed for positioning and aligning a preferably biological sample in the detection area of the objective of a microscope arrangement.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for introducing a sample into a detection area of an objective of a microscope arrangement, comprising:
a reservoir for a transparent medium which is initially still liquid;
a needle-piston unit comprising:
a hollow needle; and
a suction and delivery piston which is movably guided in the needle for sucking a partial amount of the medium into the hollow needle or ejecting it from the hollow needle; and

a manipulating unit comprising:
a receptacle configured to receive the needle-piston unit; and
a connection portion configured to connect to a holder of the microscope arrangement;

wherein the manipulating unit is configured to manipulate the needle-piston unit so as to:
position and align the partial amount of medium, after the partial amount of medium is solidified within the needle, in the microscope arrangement in such a way that a sample contained in the solidified partial amount of medium is situated in the detection area of the objective; and
change a position of the sample along a coordinate X, a coordinate Y, and a coordinate Z; and
rotate the sample around a longitudinal direction of the hollow needle by an angle φ;

wherein the needle-piston unit is fastened to the manipulating unit by means of connection elements configured to be manually disconnected from the hollow needle;
wherein the hollow needle of the needle-piston unit is in the form of a capillary or a cannula.

2. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a means for introducing the sample into the partial amount medium after the partial amount of medium is arranged in the needle.

Assignees

• Zeiss Carl Microscopy Gmbh

Inventors

• Hellmich Wibke
• Radt Benno
• Lippert Helmut
• Selchow Olaf
• Wolf Uwe
• Haese Juergen

Classifications

• G01N1/28 Primary

  Preparing specimens for investigation {including physical details of (bio-)chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Q}(mounting specimens on microscopic slides G02B21/34; means for supporting the objects or the materials to be analysed in electron microscopes H01J37/20 {; laboratory gas handling apparatus B01L5/00}) · CPC title

• G02B21/32 Primary

  Micromanipulators structurally combined with microscopes · CPC title

• G02B21/34

  Microscope slides, e.g. mounting specimens on microscope slides · CPC title