Accomodating device for specimen slides

A receiving device for object holders comprises a base part. A plurality of centering elements are connected with the base part. The centering elements are arranged such that a plurality of receiving areas for receiving one object holder each are configured. The centering elements form a preferably circumferential centering frame around each receiving area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a receiving device for object holders.

2. Description of Related Art

Object holders are e. g. thin-glass plates upon which samples to be analyzed are arranged. Frequently, two such object holders are placed one upon the other such that the sample to be analyzed, which in particular is a sample liquid, is located between two object holders. Object holders may further be titer plates or similar plates provided with recesses for receiving individual samples.

For example, object holders are used for analyzing tissue samples. In this connection, DNA pieces, for example, i.e., gene fragments, are applied upon the surface of an object holder. Applying the DNA pieces is effected by dripping by means of a robot. Thus, the position of the individual DNA pieces on the object holder is known. The DNA pieces connect with the surface of the object holder and adhere thereto so that their positions do not change in the subsequent analyzing process.

From a tumor to be examined, for example, RNA is taken in the next step. By means of enzymes, the RNA is transformed into DNA and subsequently marked with suitable markers, particularly fluorescent color markers.

Additionally, a comparative sample with healthy tissue is produced. The healthy DNA is also marked with a suitable marker. Preferably, the marker is a fluorescent marker of another color so that the healthy tissue is marked with a greenly fluorescent marker and the tissue to be analyzed taken from the tumor, for example, with a red color marker.

Subsequently, both samples are applied onto the entire object holder. The DNA strands included in the two samples firmly connect to the counterparts, i.e., the DNA pieces present on the surface of the object holder. Connecting the DNA included in the samples with the DNA pieces adhering to the object holder is effected in a hybridization process. Subsequently, the object holder is washed so that only firmly adhering DNA pieces and chained-up DNA from the two samples is present on the object holder.

After the object support has been dried, it is put to a detecting process. Therein, the individual positions of the object holder to which DNA pieces adhere are analyzed by a suitable microscope. In doing so, the individual DNA pieces are stimulated by laser light, for example, so that the fluorescent markers fluoresce in the corresponding color. If a certain position to which a DNA piece adheres appears as a red spot, for example, it can be concluded therefrom that this gene was active in the tumor tissue but not in the healthy tissue. If a spot fluoresces greenly, it can be concluded. therefrom that this gene was only active in the healthy tissue. In the case of yellow fluorescence occurring, the corresponding gene was active in both tissues. By the above method, it can be diagnosed which genes are active in a tumor, for example. Therefrom, conclusions as to the kind of tissue change and the like can be drawn.

In such processes, in particular the handling of individual object holders is difficult. Particularly, object holders of thin glass can easily break. Further, when handling object holders, it must be ensured that areas to which samples are applied are not touched. For this reason object holders are difficult to align in the corresponding analyzing devices.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to improve the handling of object holder.

For improving the handling of object holders the invention provides a receiving device for object holders. Said receiving device comprises a base part onto which preferably a plurality of object holders can be placed side by side. According to the invention, centering elements are connected with the bottom part. Said centering elements are arranged such that a plurality of receiving areas for receiving one object holder each are configured.

Thus, one object holder to which DNA pieces already adhere at predetermined positions, for example, can be laid in the receiving areas of the receiving device, respectively. Then, the receiving device carrying several object holders can be easily handled by means of robot grip arms or the like, for example. Since the receiving device can be easily gripped at the centering elements or at the base part, for example, handling the object holder is easily possible. By the device according to the invention, it is particularly ensured that object holders of thin glass are not damaged during handling. Touching the samples already located on the object holders is avoided as well.

In a first preferred embodiment of the receiving device according to the invention, the base part is a bottom part which is preferably of continuous configuration. Centering elements are connected with the bottom part and define a plurality of receiving areas.

Preferably, the centering elements are configured like integral frame parts. Thus, each object holder is surrounded by a frame. This has the advantage that the object holder is disposed in the receiving area in a protected manner. Preferably, the frame part has a height higher than the thickness of the object holder so that the object holder is received completely within the frame part. Thereby, damaging the object holder upon handling the receiving device as well as touching the surface of the object holder are avoided. Preferably, several receiving areas are formed by a single frame part. In this case, each receiving area is completely surrounded by a frame. A wall of the frame part provided between two neighboring object supports thus serves as portion of the frame of two receiving areas.

Each of the above-described frame parts may surround a receiving area, preferably completely as a circumferential centering frame. But they may also be individual frame parts not surrounding the receiving areas but only serving, for example, to receive corners of the object holder to center the latter in the receiving device. In this case, inserting the object supports into the receiving device is possibly made easier. For making the insertion of the object holders into the receiving device easier, the centering elements may further be chamfered. The chamfer is configured such that the receiving area in which one object holder is respectively received is enlarged upwards to make the insertion of an object holder easier.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the bottom part is made, at least in the receiving area, of a flexible material. In particular the overall bottom part is made of a continuous flexible material. The object holders rest on this flexible material. The use of flexible material offers the advantage that, if e. g. the object holders are touched by pipettes or the like, a certain degree of resilience of the object holders is ensured. This reduces the risk of damage to the object holders during the analyzing process. Further, it is possible to align the object holder e. g. horizontally, wherein e. g. suitable aligning elements press from below against the diaphragm thus changing the position of the object holder. In this way a very accurate alignment of the object holder can be achieved without the need of touching the object holder. In particular, it is e. g. also possible to slightly lift the object holder from below with the aid of a suitable device and e. g. press the object holder against a second object holder plate.

The flexible material is particularly a diathermic diaphragm. Thereby, it is possible to provide heating elements, such as Peltier elements, below the individual receiving areas to heat individual object holders. By means of the receiving device according to the invention a very specific heating of possibly only individual partial regions of an object holder is possible without having to handle the object holder directly. In this case, damaging the object support is again avoided. Preferably, the diaphragm is designed such that temperatures of 4.degree. C. to 100.degree. C. can be transferred to the object support.

In another preferred embodiment the base part has a frame-shaped configuration. The base part comprises receiving areas for receiving a plurality of object holders. The base part is e. g. a rectangular frame divided into receiving areas by a plurality of intermediate webs. The receiving areas are essentially rectangular and have dimensions which are slightly smaller than the dimensions of standard object holders such that the object holders can be inserted into the receiving areas where they rest on the frame-shaped base part.

Preferably, centering element in the form of spring elements are provided on the frame-shaped base part for the purpose of supporting the object holders. Said spring elements serve for clamping the object holders and fixing them in their position. It is possible to configure all centering elements as spring elements such that the object holders are supported in one plane. In this case the object holders are clamped between the spring elements.

Preferably, only some of the centering elements are configured as spring elements. In this embodiment, the remaining centering elements are configured as stop elements. By cooperation of the spring elements with the stop elements the object holder is fixed in its position in the individual receiving areas. In this case the spring elements press the object holder against correspondingly arranged stop elements. For example, spring elements are provided which, in a horizontal plane, press the object holders in x- and y-direction against the stop elements which are essentially aligned perpendicularly to the x- and y-direction. In this case preferably one spring element for each direction and one stop element for each direction are provided. A more accurate and defined fixing in position can be attained if, in particular at the longitudinal side of rectangular object holders, two spring elements are provided which preferably press the object holder against two stop elements aligned perpendicularly to this direction.

The spring elements preferably are projections resiliently connected with the base part. In particular, the spring elements and the base part are integrally formed with each other, wherein said integral part preferably is an injection molded part. Said injection molded part preferably also comprises the stop elements.

To be able to use the receiving device according to the invention particularly in existing arrangements, the outer dimensions of the receiving device correspond to standard dimensions of microtiter plates. The receiving device has a width of 96.+−0.4 mm and a length of 148.+−0.4 mm in particular.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A receiving device10for several object holders12comprises a bottom part14(FIG. 2). The bottom part14is connected with centering elements16,18,20. In the illustrated embodiment, the centering elements16,18,20are arranged such that four rectangular receiving areas22are formed in each of which one object holder12can be arranged. The centering elements16,18,20have two opposing shorter side walls16and two also opposing longer side walls18arranged between the side walls16. In the illustrated embodiment, three partition walls20arranged in parallel to the shorter side walls18are provided between the side walls18.

At the undersides24of the centering elements16,18,20, the bottom part14configured as a diaphragm is mounted. The receiving areas22hence have a flexible diaphragm as a bottom on which one object holder12is respectively supported. Thus, it is possible to press from below against the diaphragm inFIG. 2in order to horizontally align the object holder, for example. Further, a heating element can be placed against the object support12from below. Due to the flexibility of the diaphragm, the object holder12flatly lays against the surface of a flat heating element. Thereby, a uniform and good heat transmission between the heating element and the object holder is ensured.

At their insides23, i.e. at the sides pointing toward the receiving areas22, the centering elements16,18,20are chamfered. Thereby, the opening of the individual receiving areas pointing upwards inFIG. 2is upwardly enlarged. This makes the insertion of the object holders12into the receiving areas22easier.

In the second preferred embodiment of the receiving device according to the invention shown inFIGS. 3 and 4identical or similar components are designated with the same reference numerals.

In the receiving device shown inFIGS. 3 and 4no object holders12are arranged in the individual receiving areas22. InFIG. 4these object holders12are placed from the top. For this purpose a frame-shaped base part30comprises a flat upper side32onto which the object holders12are placed. Supporting projections34are provided for reliably supporting the object holders, said supporting projections34projecting into the receiving areas22which are configured as through openings. Further supporting projections36are provided which, for reasons of manufacture, span over a corner area of the receiving area22. Said projections36may also be configured in accordance with the supporting projections34.

For accurately fixing an object holder12in position on the upper side32of the frame-shaped base part30the frame-shaped base part30comprises spring elements38as centering elements. Said spring elements38are integrally formed with the base part30. Since the base part30and the spring elements38are preferably made of a plastic material, in particular by applying the injection molding process, the spring elements38have a certain degree of resilience. Further, the spring elements38have a bevelled leading edge40by means of which the object holders resting on the upper side32are pressed downwards inFIG. 4. Thus the position of the object holders is also fixed in the z-direction inFIG. 4.

Further, for fixing the object holders in position on the upper side32of the base part30centering elements configured as stop elements42,44are provided. InFIG. 2the spring elements38press an object holder in x- and y-direction, wherein two spring elements38are provided at the longitudinal side of an object holder12. Opposite said spring elements38two stop elements44are provided against which the object holders are pressed in x-direction. InFIG. 3the lower spring element38presses the object holder in y-direction against the two stop elements42. The remaining stop elements42and44are safety stop elements which define, inter alia, the area onto which the object holders12are placed.

The individual object holders12serve, for example, for analyzing DNA samples. To this end, each object holder, as illustrated inFIG. 5, is divided into different areas. In an inner area46, sample droplets are applied, for example, which then firmly connect to the sample holder12. Thus, the area46serves as a surface for arranging an array. The area46is surrounded by a preferably 2.5 mm wide margin48. The margin48, for example, ensures that all the samples provided in the area46have a sufficient distance to the outer edges50of the object holder12. Further, seals of a washing head or the like lowered to the object holder12can e. g. be arranged in the area of the margin48. An area52separated from the margin48by the line54illustrated inFIG. 3serves to touch the sample holder. In this area, no samples are disposed so that the object holder can be handled in this area. The touch area is required, for example, to be able to insert the object holder into the receiving device according to the invention.

The receiving device10according to the invention can be inserted into an analyzing device56(FIG. 4) comprising e. g. an hybridization head. To this end, the analyzing device56comprises a drawer-like receiving means58for receiving the receiving device10. The drawer may be configured in correspondence with a drawer of a CD player or the like. When the drawer is open, the receiving device10supporting the object holders12is inserted into the drawer from above and then displaced into the analyzing device56.