Patent ID: 8011259

Claim:
A co-operative composite structure of a sample carrier and sample holder arranged so that a sample can be attached thereto, which sample carrier and sample holder are arranged to be used in a vacuum, comprising: A first portion embodied as a sample holder with an extremity that is removably attachable to the sample carrier; A second portion embodied as a sample carrier comprising a deformable structure having a depressed state and a non-depressed state, in which the deformable structure includes a strip of material folded back upon itself to define a height between a lower portion of the deformable structure and an upper portion of the deformable structure, such that the height changes as the structure is deformed from the non-depressed state toward the depressed state, and the sample carrier is arranged so that the sample can be attached thereto or thereon, which sample carrier is also removably attachable to the sample holder; and Whereby the removable attachment functionality is realized by deforming the sample carrier with a tool in such a manner as to reduce the force that, during attachment or disconnection, is exerted by the two portions upon one another.