Microscope slide

• US 5,812,312 A
• Filed: 09/04/1997
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Periodic Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Andrew Endre Lorincz
• Inventors: Lorincz, Andrew Endre
• Primary Examiner(s): Henry, Jon W.
• Application Number:
  US08/929,234
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 359/396, 359/397, 359/398, 422/58, 427/2.11
• US Class Current: 359/397
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2304/16 Acridine orange
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/30 Staining; Impregnating ; Fixation; Dehydration; Multistep processes for preparing samples of tissue, cell or nucleic acid material and the like for analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/312 for samples mounted on planar substrates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00138 Slides
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/34 Microscope slides, e.g. mounting specimens on microscope slides

Abstract

A self-staining microscopic slide designed for immediate staining and viewing of cells in biological fluid and tissue samples, preferably with an epi-fluorescence microscope. The pre-prepared microscope slide preferably has a supravital fluorescent stain applied thereon, which is overlaid with a transparent tape or film. During use, the film is peeled back to expose the stain so that a sample can be applied thereon for intermixture therewith. The film is then replaced over the stained sample to act as a cover slip for immediate viewing. Living cells and microorganisms are rendered dramatically visible and cellular dysmorphology can be readily ascertained. The time and cost associated with preparing a fixed and sectioned sample is completely avoided as well as the problem of artifacts and sample fragmentation found in fixed preparations. The slide can include reference standards to facilitate microscope focusing, and to allow measurements of cells and microorganisms. An alternate embodiment provides a flexible microscope slide which can be folded over such that a viewing portion of the slide can be placed against a specimen to obtain a sample directly therefrom without the need of transferring devices, thereby reducing biological hazards. This novel slide permits on-site, point-of-care screening in a matter of minutes of any biological fluid or tissue sample for presence of infectious agents.

Claims

1. An apparatus for staining cells and microorganisms in a biological sample for viewing with an epi-fluorescence microscope, comprising:

a) a microscope slide having a viewing area;

b) a fluorochrome for staining the biological sample; and

c) a flexible transparent film attached to said slide with an adhesive such that said fluorochrome is in contact with said viewing area between said slide and said film, wherein said film can be removed to expose said viewing area for placement of the biological sample thereon and replaced such that the sample can be viewed under the microscope.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said slide comprises a plastic material having a roughened surface.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fluorochrome comprises acridine orange.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fluorochrome comprises reference markers to assist in focusing the microscope.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises a reference standard for measuring the size and quantity of cells or microorganisms in the sample.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said reference standard comprises a grid printed on said film.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said reference standard comprises a grid printed on said slide.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said viewing area comprises a well formed in said slide.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said fluorochrome is within said well.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said well has culture medium therein.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said culture medium has said fluorochrome mixed therewith.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said slide is flexible such that said slide can be folded over such that said viewing area can be placed against a specimen to obtain a sample directly therefrom.

13. An apparatus for staining a biological sample for viewing with a microscope, comprising:

a) a microscope slide having a viewing area;

b) a dye for staining the biological sample; and

c) a flexible transparent film attached to said slide with an adhesive such that said dye is in contact with said viewing area between said slide and said film, wherein said film can be removed to expose said viewing area for placement of the biological sample thereon and replaced such that the sample can be viewed under the microscope.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said dye comprises reference markers to assist in focusing the microscope.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said viewing area comprises a well formed in said slide.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said well has culture medium therein.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said culture medium has said dye mixed therewith.

18. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said slide is flexible such that said slide can be folded over such that said viewing area can be placed against a specimen to obtain a sample directly therefrom.

19. A microscope slide for immediate presentation of supravital specimens for viewing, comprising in combination:

a) means for supporting a specimen for positioning within the viewing area of a microscope;

b) flexible transparent means for resealably covering a first surface of said supporting means and said specimen supported thereon; and

c) means for fluorochrome staining said specimen, said staining means interspersed between said supporting means an said flexible transparent means such that placement of said specimen on said supporting means induces such staining.