Patent ID: 7245368

Claim:
A sample chamber for a test specimen, the sample chamber comprising: a main body; an optical element, the optical element having a surface for holding a test specimen, the optical element being operatively connected to the main body by a force applied to the surface for holding the test specimen; means for applying a force to a continuous portion of the surface for holding the test specimen of the optical element to operatively connect the optical element to the main body, the means for applying a force comprising at least one sealing element, the at least one sealing element being configured and disposed between the main body and the optical element; the main body, the optical element and the at least one sealing element form a sample well upon the optical element being operatively connected to the main body by the means for applying a force; and wherein the optical element being disposed to form a bottommost portion of the sample chamber, the at least one sealing element comprises at least two sealing elements, and the at least two sealing elements are disposed substantially concentrically and the means for applying a force further comprises a vacuum connection, the vacuum connection being configured and disposed to provide a vacuum force between the at least two sealing elements to operatively connect the optical element to the main body using the vacuum force.