Patent ID: 7425311

Claim:
A frame shaped microplate system object carrier adapter, the adapter being adapted to receive at least one object carrier and comprising: two parallel lengthwise walls and two parallel transverse walls that extend at substantially right angles to the lengthwise walls, wherein the lengthwise and transverse walls define an essentially rectangular frame with a top portion and a bottom portion, with a region between the lengthwise and transverse walls being an opening which completely traverses the microplate system object carrier adapter, the microplate system object carrier adapter having the shape and external dimensions of a typical microplate; wherein the lengthwise and transverse walls have an offset on which at least part of an object carrier is adapted to be laid on, a mutual geometric relationships of the offset and the lengthwise and transverse walls defining the dimensions of at least one depression formed around the top portion of the adapter, each depression being shaped and sized to receive one object carrier in a position that is substantially parallel to said top portion, the object carrier having the dimensions of a slide for a light microscopy; and wherein the lengthwise or transverse walls comprise: (i) at least one stop portion formed on one side of the depression, and (ii) at least one spring element situated on a side of the depression opposite to the side with the stop portion, the spring element being adapted to directly abut a transverse or a lengthwise side of an inserted object carrier and to exert a spring force on the inserted object carrier, the spring force being directed in a direction that is substantially parallel and/or perpendicular to the surface of the inserted object carrier so as to urge an opposite edge of the object carrier directly against the stop portion.