Patent EP-2083257-A1 (EP)
Inventor: THALHAMMER STEFAN
IPC: G02B21/32
Filed: 2008-01-25
Abstract: The transferring device for microscopic isolated sample (15), comprises a suction device (1), which has a nano-sucker (2) with a suction tube (3) and a closure membrane (4) and a low pressure unit or a high pressure unit coupled with the nano-sucker for sucking-off or blowing-off the sample to the or from the closure membrane, a device for carrying the nano-sucker, and a laser sensor for measuring the distance between the closure membrane and the sample to be transferred or the relevant surfaces. The transferring device for microscopic isolated sample (15), comprises a suction device (1), which has a nano-sucker (2) with a suction tube (3) and a closure membrane (4) and a low pressure unit or a high pressure unit coupled with the nano-sucker for sucking-off or blowing-off the sample to the or from the closure membrane, a device for carrying the nano-sucker, and a laser sensor for measuring the distance between the closure membrane and the sample to be transferred or the relevant surfaces, a visualizing device for optically viewing and controlling the transferring process, and a controller or regulator with a suitable software, which is connected with the carrier device, the positioning device, the low or high pressure units, laser sensor and/or the visualizing device for data exchange, controlling and/or regulating. The device is autonomously formed and is modularly integrated into a microdissection system. The carrier device is adjustable by using an assigned positioning unit for exactly positioning the nano-sucker in a sample withdrawal position for sucking the sample to the closure membrane and in a sample delivery position for blowing-off the sample from the closure membrane. The nano-sucker is coupled with the low or high pressure units by using a coupling tube in an air-tight manner. The coupling tube has connecting devices e.g. plug- or clip connectors for manually adjustable air-tight connection of the low or high pressure units and/or the nano-sucker according to a module principle, so that the different nano-suckers are manually coupled with the low or high pressure units over the coupling tube in a simple- and an air-tight manner. The suction tube has an outer diameter of 1.7-2.0 mm, an inner diameter of 0.5-1.5 mm and a total length of 50-70 mm, and is coated with an electrically conductive gold layer in the area of the connecting side of the closure membrane in a section-wise manner, where the gold layer has a thickness of 60 nm. The closure membrane has a disk-shaped carrier plate with a concentric hole and a connecting grid. The carrier plate is fastened with one side at the closure membrane-connecting side of the suction tube, so that the hole of the carrier plate aligns with the opening of the suction tube. The connecting grid is fastened at the other free side of the carrier plate, so that the connecting grid covers up the opening of the suction tube and/or the hole of the carrier plate. The carrier plate is made of copper or similar material. An electrically conductive connection is provided between the carrier plate and the electrically conductive gold layer of the suction tube by using a conductive silver or similar for the purpose of earthing. The connecting grid consists of a material with electrically conductive surface, has a grid strength of 20 mu m and a pore size, which are adapted to the measurement and kinds of the sample to be transferred, where the pore has a diameter of 600-5 mu m and is formed biologically inert, antistatic and/or UVC-resistant. The positioning unit is formed for a rotational motion and/or a translational motion of the carrier device under using a micrometer stepping motor. Independent claims are included for: (1) a microdissection system; and (2) a method for transferring a microscopic isolated sample such as membrane-supported microdissects from a specimen stage to an analysis device.