Patent ID: 7375807

Claim:
A system for the preparation and handling of multiple solid state samples for spectroscopic and microscopic analysis, said system comprising: a sample holder assembly for multiple solid-state samples, said sample holder assembly comprising: a sample holding body having first and second sides, provided with multiple sample receiving open-ended bores extending through said body between said first and second sides, each bore having a first opening at the first side and a second opening at the second side, a closure body adapted to be mounted against the second side of the sample holding body, said closure body having a closure side adapted to rest against the second side of the sample holding body for closing off the second openings of the bores in said sample holding body, compacting means for compacting samples filled in bores of the sample holding body as these bores are closed off on the second side by the closure body, and plugs, each of the plugs adapted to be introduced into one of the bores via the first opening, wherein the plugs are support plugs associated with said sample holding assembly, each support plug being adapted to be secured with respect to said bore for supporting a sample in said bore during at least one of the spectroscopic and microscopic analysis such that all exposed surfaces of the samples lie in a single plane.