Patent ID: 7372626

Claim:
A device for observing or analyzing one or more samples or parts of samples arranged on a not perfectly flat sample(s) support ( 19 , 319 ), said device comprising an objective ( 15 ) for observing at least part of a sample along an observation axis (X-X), means ( 21 ) for illuminating at least part of a sample and means ( 23 ; 25 ; 53 ) for acquiring an image at the objective ( 15 ) output, wherein said device further comprises: a stage ( 17 ) comprising a peripheral rim adapted to hold the not perfectly flat sample(s) support ( 19 ; 319 ), said stage being also adapted to displace, in a plane perpendicular to the observation axis, the not perfectly flat sample(s) support ( 19 ; 319 ), said stage leaving free the displacement of the not perfectly flat sample(s) support ( 19 ; 319 ) along the observation axis, a spacer ( 43 ; 143 ; 243 ; 343 ) for maintaining a reliable and permanent focus of each observed sample or part of a sample, said spacer being positioned below the not perfectly flat sample(s) support and having an upper surface ( 45 ; 145 ; 345 ) on which the not perfectly flat sample(s) support ( 19 ; 319 ) takes support, said upper surface ( 45 ; 145 ; 345 ) being centered by the observation axis and circumscribing the observed sample or part of a sample and being adapted to remain in contact with a bottom surface of said not perfectly flat sample(s) support ( 19 , 319 ), said spacer ( 43 ; 143 ; 243 ; 343 ) being positioned at a fixed position relative to the objective ( 15 ) so as to maintain, on the observation axis (X-X), a constant distance between the objective ( 15 ) and each observed sample or part of a sample arranged on the not perfectly flat sample(s) support ( 19 ; 319 ), while the not perfectly flat sample(s) support ( 19 ; 319 ) is being displaced in a plane perpendicular to the observation axis (X-X) by said stage.