Abstract:
A holding device for at least one object carrier, the object carrier being suitable to receive one or more organic and/or inorganic samples and comprising materials such as glass, plastic, silicon, pyrolytic graphite, and/or metal, this holding device being configured to be gripped by grippers of a robot. The holding device comprising two essentially parallel lengthwise walls and two essentially parallel transverse walls which extend substantially at right angles from the lengthwise walls. Holding devices according to preferred embodiments are constructed in a frame shape, wherein the lengthwise and transverse walls define a frame surrounding at least one opening which completely transverses the device. Holding devices according to further embodiments are constructed a plate shape, in that the region between the lengthwise walls and transverse walls is implemented as a carrying surface. All embodiments comprising gripping surfaces on the external surface profile of the lengthwise and transverse walls.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of PCT/CH02/00012, filed on Jan. 10, 2002; which application claims the benefit of the priority of Swiss patent applications Nos. CH 0144/01 filed on Jan. 26, 2001 and CH 0969/01 filed May 25, 2001. 
     The entire disclosure of each of the above-mentioned application is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a holding device for at least one carrier—particularly for an essentially plate-shaped object carrier which includes materials such as glass, plastic, silicon, pyrolytic graphite, and/or metal—the carrier being suitable to receive one or more organic and/or inorganic samples. 
     In laboratory analysis, the use of carriers for objects or samples, i.e., of object carriers, has been known for a long time. Depending on the type of sample which is to be examined, processed, and/or stored, essentially flat, plate-shaped object carriers are often suitable, e.g., for immobilized cells or tissue sections. If the samples include a liquid, the samples are, for example, dissolved or suspended in a liquid, then rather trough-shaped object carriers have proven themselves. 
     The type of treatment or examination of the samples also has an influence on the design and material of the object carrier. Therefore, glass object carriers are traditionally used for light microscopy and object carriers made of single-crystal silicon are used for scanning electron microscopy or those made of pyrolytic graphite for scanning tunneling microscopy. The use of carriers made of plastic (e.g. polycarbonate, polystyrene, or polyolefin) is also known. From biosciences, the use of plates, which have a flat or structured surface, on which biological and/or organic molecules are immobilized, as “biochips” is known. Metal plates are often used as object carriers for “MALDI TOF-MS” (Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization—Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry). 
     PROBLEMS RELATED TO PRIOR ART 
     Many laboratory processes work with samples which are immobilized on an object carrier, i.e., held by it. Such laboratory processes are known in, among other things, the fields of genomics or proteomics, which include the processing and examination of genetic substances, such as DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), RNA (ribonucleic acid), and/or their parts in the form of oligonucleotides or proteins (proteins, e.g., in the form of antigens or antibodies and/or their parts in the form of polypeptides). Such processes and similar processes may include many working steps in various working stations: e.g., for the hybridization of DNA, first a sample array, i.e., a flat, uniform arrangement of samples, is produced using “spotting” or “arraying” on a glass object carrier for light microscopy. The samples are then typically subjected to one or more “linker and/or blocking steps”. Subsequently, the actual hybridization step is performed, which is typically terminated with a washing procedure. Subsequently, the sample may be examined using a fluorescence microscope or other special detection devices. 
     It has proven very time-consuming and cumbersome to attach the sample carrier and/or object carrier in an appropriate processing station by hand every time for a working step and to remove it from this processing station by hand again after the working step is completed. In addition, such manipulations using the object carriers represent a source of damage and/or confusion of object carriers or even of the samples themselves. In addition, a danger of contamination of other samples or even a danger of infection for the laboratory workers may arise through repeated manipulation. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to suggest a device which simplifies the insertion and transfer of object carriers and minimizes the risk of damage or confusion of the samples and/or contamination or infection. 
     Such a holding device has the advantage that multiple samples may also be held and transported and/or stored simultaneously. Through the special grip surfaces for the gripper of a robot, such holding devices may be positioned automatically, i.e., by a robot controlled by a processor, in a processing, examination, or storage station, or removed there from. Once the object carriers have been attached to the holding device, the holding device is preferably always moved with the object carriers. The repeated manual manipulation of the object carriers may thus be dispensed with and the risky operations using the object carriers described above may also be dispensed with. 
     In addition to the many materials, the object carrier may also have many sizes, shapes, and surface structures. Thus, microplates having depressions, the “wells”, are particularly suitable as trough-shaped object carriers for liquid samples or samples including a liquid. For automated handling of such microplates, which are also known as microtitration plates™ (trademark of Beckman Coulter, Inc., 4300 N. Harbor Blvd. P.O. Box 3100, Fullerton, Calif. 92834, USA), greatly differing devices already exist. 
     A preferred embodiment of the holding device according to the present invention is therefore distinguished in that it is implemented as an adapter whose external surface profile, height, and stackability—for placement in a microplate station of a sample analysis, sample processing, and/or sample storage system—essentially correspond to the external surface profile, the height, and the stackability of a microplate. Such a holding device is preferably constructed in a frame shape and includes two lengthwise walls running essentially parallel to one another and two transverse walls running essentially parallel to one another. In addition, it may include intermediate walls, which run essentially parallel to the lengthwise walls and/or transverse walls. Another preferred embodiment of the holding device according to the present invention is constructed in a plate shape. 
     If such holding devices, which are equipped with object carriers, have the shape of a standardized microplate, then they may be used as an adapter between object carriers, having practically any desired shape, size, and material, and the microplate handling robots and/or microplate stations of a sample analysis, sample processing, and/or sample storage system. 
     In the following, the microtitration plate™ already cited or also the SBS-Standard (Society for Biomolecular Screening, 36 Tamarack Ave. Suite 348, Danbury, Conn. 06811, USA): “Proposed SBS Standard 96 Well Microplate SBS 1a”, Drawing No. 102005, Sheets 1-5 (Internet address: sbsonline.com/disgrps/platestd/details. htm) are referred to as a microplate. Microplates having a higher number of wells (e.g., 384, 1536, etc. wells per microplate) are also referred to here as microplates, which are suggested and/or whose standard is being prepared, for example, having different overall heights, different capacities of the wells, and different angles of inclination of the side walls and/or of the external profile. It is essential in any case that the holding device according to the present invention is tailored to the shape and external dimensions of a typical microplate. 
     Holding devices having the shape of such microplates make the handling of the object carriers secured thereon easier, which must no longer be grasped directly between the process steps to be performed in the devices for automated handling of microplates. A further advantage of the use of such holding devices and/or adapters is that a significantly larger surface of the object carrier may be used for loading with samples, and therefore a further increase of the capacity in the processing and/or examination and/or storage of samples results. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred and exemplary embodiments of the holding device according to the present invention are described in more detail in the following with reference to schematic drawings—which merely illustrate the invention, but do not restrict its extent. 
         FIG. 1  shows a top view of a holding device, according to a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  shows a top view of a holding device, according to a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  shows a vertical longitudinal section through the holding device in  FIG. 1 , according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  shows a vertical cross-section of the holding device in  FIG. 1 , according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  shows a vertical longitudinal section through the holding device in  FIG. 2 , according to the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  shows a top view of the holding device, according to a third embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  shows a top view of a holding device, according to a fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  shows a top view of a holding device, according to a fifth embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  shows a top view of a holding device, according to a sixth embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  shows a first 3-D illustration of the holding device, according to a seventh embodiment; 
         FIG. 11  shows a second 3-D illustration of the holding device, according to the seventh embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a holding device  1  according to the present invention according to a first, frame-shaped embodiment. The four carriers  2  inserted in the holding device are glass object carriers for light microscopy in this case. Holding device  1  includes grip surfaces  4 —for being gripped by a robot, particularly by a microplate handling robot—which may have grippers of this robot applied to them. 
     These grip surfaces  4  are preferably each located opposite one another on both lengthwise walls  7  or on both transverse walls  8 . It is especially preferred for one grip surface  4  to be positioned in the region of external surface profile  5  of each lengthwise wall  7  or each transverse wall  8  of holding device  1 . This external surface profile  5  (cf.  FIGS. 3 to 5 ) of holding device  1  essentially corresponds to the external surface profile of microplates, as described in more detail above. Using this arrangement a microplate handling robot (not shown), which is typically equipped with two grippers, may apply its grippers to this holding device  1  in the region of gripping surface  4  and, thanks to the friction lock thus generated, pick up the holding device perfectly and transport it safely. 
     Applying a vacuum to gripping surfaces  4  may allow even more careful receiving by a handling robot. An alternative application of the gripping surfaces using form fit is, for example, made possible in that a four-armed robot is moved over the center of a microplate and grips the holding device in the region of its four corners, in that it uses each of its four grippers, which are tailored to the corner geometry of microplates for this purpose, and moves each of them toward the center of holding device  1 . 
     Holding of holding devices  1  according to the present invention on and/or in microplate stations without play may be very important—particularly for microplates having, for example, 1536 wells or for fine arrays—so that the position of the wells and/or of the sample points may be arrived at again unequivocally. This holding without play may be produced via gripping tools which are applied to holding device  1  in the region of the corners and/or external and/or internal surfaces. The necessary gripping tools are preferably arranged in this case on or in the microplate stations. As an alternative to gripping tools, such a microplate station/holding device combination may—for holding of holding device  1  in relation to the microplate station without play —be equipped with a pushbutton-latch mechanism known per se, having retaining springs (preferably made of metal) or pressure pins. 
     Another preferred alternative is the arrangement of these grip surfaces  4  on the bottom of holding device  1 , so that the robot may receive the holder plate like a forklift. This receiving is made easier by an entry opening  17  (cf.  FIGS. 3 to 5 ). This entry opening  17  also makes stacking of holding devices  1  according to the present invention easier, as is described in more detail below. 
     A microplate handling robot may be used not only to receive the holding device and simply lay it down somewhere on a table; it may also be used to place a holding device  1  in a targeted way in a microplate station of a sample analysis and/or sample processing and/or sample storage system. For this purpose, holding device  1  according to the present invention includes a stacking surface profile  6  (cf.  FIGS. 3 to 5 ), which essentially corresponds to the stacking surface profile of a microplate. 
     Through the extensive correspondence of external surface profile  5  and stacking surface profile  6  to the corresponding dimensions of a microplate, holding device  1  according to the present invention becomes an adapter between practically any desired carrier of objects (whether they are more plate-shaped or trough-shaped) and all devices vices and systems (whether or not they are equipped with a handling robot and/or a computer control system) for analysis and/or processing and/or storage of samples in microplates. 
     Frame-shaped holding device  1  shown in  FIG. 1  includes two lengthwise walls  7 , two transverse walls  8 , and three intermediate walls  9 , which run essentially parallel to transverse walls  8 . All of these components have an offset  10  on which at least part of a carrier  2  may be laid. The size of a carrier  2  (third from left) is emphasized by slanted hatching and the region of carrier  2  (first from left) occupied by samples  3  is shown dotted. Carrier  2  used has a spring element  12  applied to it approximately in the middle of its transverse side  19  in this case. In this case, spring element  12  exercises a spring force on this carrier  2  which is directed in the direction essentially parallel and/or perpendicular to surface  14  of the carrier and through which this carrier  2  is pressed against a stop  13  arranged on both sides of a grip opening  15 . These spring elements  12  are capable of compensating all typical manufacturing tolerances or standard variations in glass object carriers. Such spring elements  12  may—thanks to the long spring travel—also compensate the different standard sizes of the glass object carriers. Therefore, holding device  1  according to the present invention forms an adapter and/or an “interface” for almost any desired glass object carriers for light microscopy and systems for handling microplates. 
     The following table provides an overview of the most commonly used glass object carriers: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Type 
                 Inch: 1 × 3 inches 
                 Metric: 25 × 75 mm 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Dimensions: 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Length × width 
                 76.2 mm × 25.4 mm 
                 76 mm × 25 mm 
               
               
                 (Tolerances) 
                 (±0.5 mm) 
                 (±0.5 mm) 
               
               
                 Thickness: 
               
               
                 “standard” 
                 1.02 mm (±0.05 mm) 
                 1.02 mm (±0.05 mm) 
               
               
                 “thick” 1.2 mm 
               
               
                 (±0.1 mm) 
               
               
                 Processing: 
               
               
                 Corners 
                 sharp, beveled 
                 sharp, rounded 
               
               
                 Edges 
                 sharp, beveled 
                 sharp 
               
               
                 Surfaces 
                 polished, sandblasted, 
                 polished, sandblasted 
               
               
                   
                 painted 
                 painted 
               
               
                   
                 on one or both sides 
                 on one or both sides 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 (according to: Schermer, M. J.: Confocal scanning microscopy in microarray detection; in “DNA Microarrays, A pratical approach”; Mark Schena (ed.), Oxford University Press 1999, 17-42) 
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Not only the dimensions, but also the different treatments of the corners and edges of these object carriers are compensated by the implementation of holding device  1 . On the one hand, the spring travel of spring elements  12  is influential in this case. On the other hand, intermediate walls  9  are preferably placed far enough from transverse walls  8  that the object carrier may be inserted into depression  11  or the recessed portion with considerable play. In this case, offsets  10  are implemented as wide enough and/or projecting widely enough beyond ribs  18  that carrier  2  may not fall through the frame in any case. 
     To insert a glass object carrier  2  into the holding device, the object carrier has two fingers of a hand (preferably using thumb and middle finger, or by a robot) applied to its transverse sides  19 , is removed from a fresh stack of object carriers in this way, and is inserted into a depression  11  with the middle finger in front, until carrier  2  strikes against spring element  12 . After the middle finger is pulled away, the thumb is used to press against the pressure of spring element  12  until carrier  2  moves over stop  13  with the thumb and may be laid on offset  10 . After the thumb is pulled away, spring element  12  now presses this carrier  2 —through the spring force directed in the direction essentially parallel and/or perpendicular to surface  14  of the carrier—against stop  13 . This stop  13  preferably has an undercut, so that carrier  2  is pressed by the spring force of spring element  12  against offset  10  and may not yield upward. Carriers  2  inserted in a holding device  1  in this way are thus securely held and may not fall out, even if holding devices  1  loaded with carriers  2  are moved abruptly into any arbitrary spatial position. 
     The removal of a carrier  2  from holding device  1  is analogously performed in the reverse sequence. In order for the thumbs to have the necessary freedom of movement for inserting or removing a carrier  2 , holding device  1  preferably has grip openings  15 , which the thumbs may dip into somewhat. 
     Surface  14  itself is only touched slightly in the regions of transverse sides  19  by the insertion of object carrier  2  described. If the regions near lengthwise sides  20  of carrier  2 , which may be left open for reasons of safety due to the dimensional differences of the carrier, are also disregarded, then at least 66% of surface  14  of carrier  2  is effectively available for receiving samples  3  (shown dotted in  FIG. 1 ). 
       FIG. 2  shows a top view of a frame-shaped holding device  1 , according to a second embodiment. In contrast to the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , in this case two spring elements  12  are located on each of transverse walls  8  and intermediate walls  9  essentially parallel thereto. Correspondingly, stops  13  are each positioned opposite, also on transverse walls  8  and on intermediate walls  9 . Grip openings  15  are also present, so that the insertion and removal of object carriers may be performed in the way described above; however, with the difference that carrier  2  may be gripped on both of its lengthwise sides  20  in this case. If the two embodiments shown up to this point are compared, it may be maintained that in the second embodiment the length of object carrier  2  plays an even smaller role. Both external surface profile  5  and stacking surface profile  6  advantageously correspond at least essentially to the corresponding profiles of a microplate. 
       FIG. 3  shows a vertical longitudinal section through the holding device in  FIG. 1 , according to the first embodiment. Actually, a partial section through a stack of such holding devices  1  is shown, bottom holding device  1 ′ of the same type being shown using dashes. Two inserted carriers  2 , which rest on offsets  10  of transverse walls  8  and intermediate walls  9 , are also recognizable. Carriers  2  have samples  3  on their surface  14 . The dimensions of depressions  11  are defined by the mutual geometric relationships of these offsets  10 , stacking shoulder  21  (which preferably simultaneously represents the upper edge of holding device  1 ), and/or ribs  18 . 
     External surface profile  5  of this holding device  1  according to the present invention includes a stacking shoulder  21 , an adjoining upper external surface  22 , a step  23 , a lower external surface  24 , and a placement surface  28 . Stacking surface profile  6  of this holding device  1  according to the present invention includes a stacking surface  26 , a lower internal surface  27 , and placement surface  28 . Both external surface profile  5  and stacking surface profile  6  advantageously correspond at least essentially to the corresponding profiles of a microplate. 
     When stacking such holding devices  1 ,  1 ′, as shown in  FIG. 3 , stacking surface  26  of upper holding device  1  lies on stacking shoulder  21  of lower holding device  1 ′. At the same time, lower internal surface  27  of upper holding device  1  preferably presses so closely onto upper external surface  22  of lower holding device  1 ′ that both holding devices  1 ,  1 ′ are centered on one another. Parts of lower internal surface  27  of a holding device  1 ,  1 ′ are preferably left open by an entry opening  17 ,  17 ′, which allows the lateral introduction of one or more grippers of a microplate handling robot (not shown). This lateral introduction of the grippers under holding device  1  and/or their application onto holding device  1  in the region of its external surfaces  22 ,  24  may be performed transverse to lengthwise walls  7  or to transverse walls  8 , or even diagonally to holding device  1 . Entry openings  17 ,  17 ′ preferably have different heights, so that entry openings  17  in lower external surfaces  24  of lengthwise walls  7  are shorter than entry openings  17 ′ in lower external surfaces  24  of transverse walls  8 , latter entry openings  17 ′ preferably extending right up to the level of stacking surface  26 . Placement surface  28  therefore forms an angled foot in each corner for holding device  1 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a vertical cross section through the holding device in  FIG. 1 , according to the first embodiment. External surface profile  5  includes a stacking shoulder  21 , an adjoining upper external surface  22 , a step  23 , a lower external surface  24 , and a placement surface  28 . Stacking surface profile  6  includes a stacking surface  26 , a lower internal surface  27 , and placement surface  28 . An inserted carrier  2 , which rests on offsets  10  of lengthwise walls  7 , is recognizable and has samples  3  on its surface  14 . Depression  11  is defined by the mutual relationships of these offsets  10 , stacking shoulder  21  (which preferably simultaneously represents the upper edge of holding device  1 ), and/or ribs  18 . Entry openings  17 ,  17 ′, which have different heights, and placement surface  28 , which forms an angled foot for holding device  1  in each corner, may be easily recognized. Both external surface profile  5  and stacking surface profile  6  advantageously correspond at least essentially to the corresponding profiles of a microplate. 
     Carrier  2  is a glass object carrier which has a spring element  12  applied to its transverse sides  19 . Spring element  12  is preferably produced in one piece with holding device  1  from plastic in an injection molding method. Its shape is selected in such a way that—in spite of the relatively long spring travel of the part applied to carrier  2 , up to several millimeters—only slight deformation occurs and therefore the tension of spring element  12  is as small as possible. The upper end of spring element  12  is preferably slanted toward the carrier, so that, in addition to a horizontal component of the spring force, a vertical component also arises. It is clear that the horizontal component presses carrier  2  against stop  13  and the vertical component (of the spring force exercised by spring element  12 ) presses carrier  2  against offset  10 . This stop  13  preferably has an undercut so that carrier  2  is pressed against offset  10  by the spring force of spring element  12  and may not yield upward. Carriers  2  inserted in a holding device  1  in this way are therefore securely held and may not fall out, even if holding devices  1  loaded with carriers  2  are abruptly moved into any desired spatial position and held and/or processed there. Grip opening  15  is also easily visible in  FIG. 4 , which is preferably implemented in such a way that a rear wall  29 , which delimits grip opening  15 , lies behind transverse side  19  of inserted carrier  2 . In this way, it is ensured that carrier  2  may be guided securely during insertion into holding device  1  and/or during removal from holding device  1 —for example using the thumbs. 
     Alternative production methods for spring element  12  and holding device  1  include, for example, stereo lithography and particularly methods for producing larger numbers of parts, such as vacuum casting and multiphase injection methods. 
       FIG. 5  shows a vertical longitudinal section through the frame-shaped holding device in  FIG. 2 , according to the second embodiment. In contrast to the first embodiment, in this case spring elements  12  are located on both transverse walls  8  and intermediate walls  9 , which are essentially parallel thereto. Accordingly, stops  13  are positioned opposite, also on transverse walls  8  and intermediate walls  9 . Grip openings  15  are not visible on this longitudinal section. Entry openings  17 ,  17 ′ in lower external surface  24  are implemented having the same height in this case and reach right up to the lower edge of stacking surface  26 . In this case, entry openings  17  are interrupted in the region of each transverse wall  8 , so that additional feet, which support holding device  1 , are provided using placement surfaces  28 . Additional increase of the stability may be achieved if no entry openings are implemented. The implementation of spring elements  12  and stops  13  essentially corresponds to that of the first embodiment of holding device  1 . Both external surface profile  5  and stacking surface profile  6  advantageously correspond at least essentially to the corresponding profiles of a microplate. 
       FIG. 6  shows a top view of a frame-shaped holding device  1 , according to a third embodiment. In contrast to the first embodiment, in which spring elements  12  are positioned standing, in this case spring elements  12  are positioned lying. However, they engage in a similar way in the central region of transverse sides  19  of carrier  2  and also generate a horizontal spring force component, which presses carrier  2  against stops  13 , and a vertical component, which presses carrier  2  onto offset  10 . These stops  13  also preferably have an undercut, so that carrier  2  is pressed against offset  10  by the spring force of spring element  12  and may not yield upward. Both external surface profile  5  and stacking surface profile  6  advantageously correspond at least essentially to the corresponding profiles of a microplate. 
       FIG. 7  shows a top view of a frame-shaped holding device  1 , according to a fourth embodiment. In contrast to the third embodiment, in which one leg  30  of two-legged spring element  12  is applied to each carrier, in this fourth embodiment, each carrier  2  has both legs of a two-legged spring element  12  applied to it. Spring elements  12  do engage in a similar way on transverse sides  19  of carrier  2 , but are applied to them outside their central region. In this case as well, spring elements  12  also generate a horizontal spring force component, which presses carrier  2  against stops  13 , and a vertical component, which presses carrier  2  onto offset  10 . These stops  13  also preferably have an undercut, so that carrier  2  is pressed by the spring force of spring element  12  against offset  10  and may not yield upward. In this fourth embodiment, the implementation of rear wall  29  was dispensed with and the offsets are only implemented along transverse walls  8  and intermediate walls  9 . Grip openings  15  are implemented here as simple openings in the upper external surface of lengthwise walls  7 . Both external surface profile  5  and stacking surface profile  6  advantageously correspond at least essentially to the corresponding profiles of a microplate. 
       FIG. 8  shows a top view of a frame-shaped holding device  1 , according to a fifth embodiment. In contrast to the fourth embodiment, in which spring elements  12  are preferably produced from plastic in one piece with holding device  1  in an injection molding method, in this case spring elements  12 , in the form of highly flexible tubes made of, for example, silicone rubber, are glued, welded, or pressed into or onto upper internal surfaces  25  of holding device  1 , preferably in or on appropriate depressions. As  FIG. 8  shows, these tubes used as spring elements  12  may be positioned in the corner regions (shown for the two left carriers) or in the central regions (shown for the two right carriers) of carriers  2  and correspondingly have different diameters. Stops  13  and grip openings  15  are implemented as in the fourth embodiment of holding device  1 . Both external surface profile  5  and stacking surface profile  6  advantageously correspond at least essentially to the corresponding profiles of a microplate. 
     As an alternative to  FIGS. 1 to 8  shown,  FIG. 9  shows a plate-shaped holding device  1 . In this sixth embodiment, the dimensions of depressions  11  are tailored precisely to the carrier to be inserted, so that each of these carriers  2  may be received essentially without play by this depression  11 . The embodiment is suitable for carriers  2  in the form of silicon plates, metal plates, or other very precisely producible object carriers, which are at most tilted somewhat after being inserted into holding device  1 , but do not have to be rotated. The holding essentially without play is therefore sufficient to prevent slipping of the object carriers, so that even for the finest arrays, the positions of individual samples  3  may be determined and maintained unequivocally. 
     To ease the insertion and removal of carrier  2 , which is practically possible only in the perpendicular direction in relation to stacking shoulder  21  of holding device  1 , holding device  1  has grip openings  15  and grip grooves  16 . For example, individual carriers  2  may be inserted or removed easily using tweezers. In this case, the carrier may be grasped from underneath thanks to grip grooves  16 , which are preferably continuous. It is clear that the shape and size of the depressions must be tailored to the object carriers to be used. The carriers may—notwithstanding the rectangular shape shown—also have other polygonal shapes, such as triangles, squares, pentagons, hexagons, or even curved shapes such as circular disks. The surface of such carriers  2  may be flat in this case or have structures such as bumps or depressions for receiving samples. If object carriers  2  are sufficiently heavy, they may be provided some play in the horizontal direction in relation to depression  11 . Even in this case, using somewhat skilled handling, carriers  2  may be prevented from falling out of depressions  11 . 
     Such a plate-shaped holding device  1  may be produced from metal and/or include parts made of metal or made of electrically conductive plastics. This is particularly advantageous if electrical contact must be produced to object carriers  2  and/or samples  3 , whether this is to subject the samples to a specific electrical potential or even to ground the samples. Alternately—depending on the application—entire plate-shaped holding device  1  may be produced from metals such as aluminum, stainless-steel, etc. However, it may also be sufficient to only implement the actual receiver for carrier  2 , having depressions  11 , as a relatively thin metal plate. Both external surface profile  5  and stacking surface profile  6  advantageously correspond at least essentially to the corresponding profiles of a microplate. 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  show a first and second, respectively, 3-D illustration of holding device  1 , according to a seventh embodiment. This seventh embodiment essentially corresponds to the first embodiment and is distinguished in that, in upper external surfaces  22  of transverse walls  8 , a second step  31  extends near and parallel to stacking shoulder  21 . This second step  31  additionally eases the stacking of holding devices. In the figures, corresponding features are provided with the same reference numbers. Even if it is not expressly noted each time in the description, the remarks also apply for these features. Further combinations of the features shown and/or described are included in the extent of the present invention. 
     Examples of sample analysis devices are: light microscopes, fluorescence microscopes, MALDI TOF-MS systems, array/biochip scanner/imager, and cell counters. Examples of sample processing devices are: hybridization stations, incubators, washing stations, staining stations, MALDI TOF-MS systems, arrayers and/or spotters for applying discrete sample distributions or devices for pipetting an analyte and in situ hybridization devices. Examples of sample storage devices are: hotels for possibly cooled and/or air-conditioned storage of samples above one another and/or next one another (preferably at intervals), stackers for intermediate storage of samples and/or for storing and providing empty holding devices (preferably stacked directly on one another). 
     Particularly for use in hotels or in temperature-controlled microplate stations, the production of the holding devices according to the present invention from a heat-conducting and/or thermally stable plastic, and/or from a metal such as aluminum, is advantageous. The material for this is preferably suitable for injection molding, temperature resistant up to temperatures of over 90° C. (preferably sterilizable), and resistant to greatly varying inorganic reagents. Each holding device preferably has a barcode for simple and automatic identification of each holding device—as is preferred, for example, in hotels or even in fully automated processing systems. This barcode may, for example, be spray-painted, printed, glued, or cut out and/or engraved in or on the holding device. 
     As an alternative to the embodiments shown, spring elements  12  may be metal springs inserted in holding device  1  and/or attached thereon. The holding devices are, however, preferably produced in one piece from one single material. Alternatively, object carriers and/or carriers  2  may be glued, pressed, or otherwise fixed onto a holding device  1  and/or into its depressions  11 . Object carriers  2  may also be inserted into an injection mold and the plastic of the holding device may be sprayed onto and/or around these carrier  2  for the purpose of connecting carriers  2  and holding device  1 . For holding object carrier  2  without play on and/or in holding device  1  according to the present invention, a pushbutton-latch mechanism known per se, equipped with holding springs (preferably made of metal) or pressure springs, may also be used.