Patent ID: 6184973
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: G01N,G02B

Abstract:
A laser capture microdissection method, comprising:providing a sample that is to undergo laser capture microdissection;positioning said sample within an optical axis of a laser capture microdissection instrument;providing a transfer film carrier removably positioned in a transfer film carrier handling subsystem, said transfer film carrier having a substrate surface and a laser capture microdissection transfer film coupled to said substrate surface; and thenplacing said laser capture microdissection transfer film in juxtaposition with said sample by moving said transfer film carrier handling subsystem, said laser capture microdissection transfer film being placed in juxtaposition with a pressure sufficient to allow laser capture microdissection transfer of a portion of said sample to said laser capture microdissection transfer film, without forcing nonspecific transfer of a remainder of said sample to said laser capture microdissection film; and thentransferring a portion of said sample to said laser capture microdissection transfer film, without forcing nonspecific transfer of a remainder of said sample to said laser capture microdissection transfer film,wherein transferring includesmoving said laser capture microdissection transfer film and said portion of said sample away from said remainder of said sample with said transfer film carrier handling subsystem,wherein placing includesswinging said transfer film carrier handling subsystem toward said optical axis; and thenlowering both said transfer film carrier and said transfer film carrier handling subsystem toward said sample along a direction substantially parallel to said axis, andwherein lowering includescontacting said sample with said laser capture microdissection transfer film; and thencontacting said transfer film carrier with a weight as to exert said pressure,wherein contacting said sample with said laser capture microdissection transfer film includesretarding vertical motion of said transfer film carrier handling subsystem andlowering said transfer film carrier at a reproducible rate so that said transfer film carrier undergoes a self-leveling step; andcontacting said transfer film carrier with said weight includesretarding vertical motion of the transfer film carrier handling subsystem; andlowering said weight at approximately said reproducible rate so that said weight undergoes a self-leveling step.