Apparatus for stabilizing mechanical, thermal, and optical properties and for reducing the fluorescence of biological samples for optical evaluation
First Claim
1. An apparatus for stabilizing an optical, thermal, and mechanical interface between a spectroscopic and/or imaging system and a biological sample, the apparatus comprising:
- a window retainer comprising a retainer surface and a well, the retainer surface surrounding the well, wherein the retainer surface is substantially planar;
an optical window located in the well, the optical window comprising a first and second surface, the first surface having a smaller surface area than the second surface, wherein the second surface is in contact with the window retainer, and wherein the first surface is substantially flush with the retainer surface; and
an attachment mechanism coupling the window retainer to the biological sample such that a fluid, gel, adhesive or elastomer interposed between the optical window and the biological sample is trapped in a volume formed in the well between the optical window, the biological sample, and the window retainer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is presented for stabilizing an optical, thermal, and mechanical interface between a spectroscopic and/or imaging system and a biological sample. The apparatus includes a window retainer having a retainer surface and a well. The retainer surface surrounds the well. Further, the retainer surface is substantially planar. An optical window is located in the well. The optical window comprises a first and second surface. The second surface is in contact with the window retainer. The first surface is substantially flush with the retainer surface. The apparatus further includes an attachment mechanism coupling the window retainer to the biological sample such that a fluid, gel, adhesive or elastomer interposed between the optical window and the biological sample is trapped in the well.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for stabilizing an optical, thermal, and mechanical interface between a spectroscopic and/or imaging system and a biological sample, the apparatus comprising:
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a window retainer comprising a retainer surface and a well, the retainer surface surrounding the well, wherein the retainer surface is substantially planar; an optical window located in the well, the optical window comprising a first and second surface, the first surface having a smaller surface area than the second surface, wherein the second surface is in contact with the window retainer, and wherein the first surface is substantially flush with the retainer surface; and an attachment mechanism coupling the window retainer to the biological sample such that a fluid, gel, adhesive or elastomer interposed between the optical window and the biological sample is trapped in a volume formed in the well between the optical window, the biological sample, and the window retainer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for stabilizing an optical, thermal, and mechanical interface between a spectroscopic and/or imaging system and a biological sample, the apparatus comprising:
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a window retainer comprising a retainer surface and a well, the retainer surface surrounding the well, wherein the retainer surface intersects a first plane at a first point on the retainer surface in closest proximity to the biological sample; an optical window located in the well, the optical window comprising a first and second surface, wherein the second surface is in contact with the window retainer, and wherein the first surface is curved and intersects a second plane at a second point on the first surface, where the second plane is substantially flush with the first plane; and an attachment mechanism coupling the window retainer to the biological sample such that a fluid, gel, adhesive or elastomer interposed between the optical window and the biological sample is trapped in the well. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification