Patent ID: 7238937

Claim:
A device for holding one or more substrates each said substrate having one or more samples in a position for ionizing said samples with a light energy source, each said substrate having a front face for receiving one or more samples and a back face, said back face having one or more back edges which define a length and width along said back face, said front face having one or more front edges which define a length and width along said front face and each said substrate having a thickness, said device comprising: a receiving plate, said receiving plate having a back surface, a thickness, at least one edge defining an outline and at least one receiving surface, each said receiving surface for receiving said back face of a substrate and each said receiving surface having one or more receiving lips projecting from each said receiving surface for receiving at least one edge of said substrate; and at least one substrate clip, each said substrate clip having at least one front finger and at least one back finger, said front finger having a width and a length to extend beyond said thickness of said substrate and said receiving plate and said back finger extending from said front finger to assume a position on said back surface of said receiving plate; wherein said receiving plate receives said one or more substrates, each said substrate on one of said plurality of receiving surfaces and abutting said one or more receiving lips for aligning said substrate in position for ionization of a sample by said light energy source and each said substrate is engaged by at least one substrate clip at said front edge of said substrate, said at least one substrate clip further engaging said back surface of said receiving plate for holding said substrate in said position.