US3848962A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Slide mounting apparatus for microscopy
Assignee: Coulter Electronics Inc
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Filing: 1973-10-18
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Granted: 1974-11-19
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Expires: 1993-10-18
Abstract
Abstract Slide mounting apparatus for microscopy includes vacuum chuck means having at least one slide-registration surface to which a vacuum may be applied and mountable with the surface facing in the direction of a microscopy stage, the registration surface being adapted for securing the specimen-bearing surface of a prepared slide thereagainst by vacuum for registering the specimen area of the slide with the focal plane of a microscope objective lens in a predetermined position, a vacuum reservoir connected to the chuck, and a vacuum pump connected to the reservoir, whereby the chuck can be evacuated repeatedly by the reservoir for securing a series of slides against the registration surface successively for microscopic examination between pumpings to evacuate the reservoir.
Inventors
- 👤 J Nelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:22
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B21/00; G02B21/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
Slide mounting apparatus for microscopy which comprises: vacuum chuck means having at least one slide-registration surface to which a vacuum can be applied by evacuation of the chuck means for securing a specimen-bearing slide thereagainst, a vacuum reservoir having a capacity equivalent to a multiple of the capacity of said chuck means, vacuum path defining means connecting the reservoir to the chuck means, for transmitting vacuum thereto, and a vacuum pump connected to said reservoir for periodically evacuating the reservoir, whereby the chuck means can be evacuated repeatedly by means of the reservoir for successively securing a series of slides against said slide registration surface for examination between evacuations of said reservoir by said pump.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
Slide mounting apparatus for microscopy which comprises: vacuum chuck means having at least one slide-registration surface to which a vacuum can be applied by evacuation of the chuck means for securing a specimen-bearing slide thereagainst, a vacuum reservoir having a capacity equivalent to a multiple of the capacity of said chuck means, vacuum path defining means connecting the reservoir to the chuck means, for transmitting vacuum thereto, and a vacuum pump connected to said reservoir for periodically evacuating the reservoir, whereby the chuck means can be evacuated repeatedly by means of the reservoir for successively securing a series of slides against said slide registration surface for examination between evacuations of said reservoir by said pump.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further including vent means and first valve means connected to said vacuum path defining means for venting said chuck means and closing off connection to the reservoir while the chuck means is being vented.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further including second valve means inteRposed between said reservoir and said pump, and means responsive to the pressure in said reservoir for starting said pump and opening said second valve means together, and for stopping said pump and closing said second valve means together.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further including means for mounting said chuck means relative to a microscopy stage with said slide-registration surface facing in the direction of the stage, said chuck means and mounting means being adapted for disposing the specimen-bearing surface of a slide against said slide-registration surface with the specimen area exposed for examination and facing away from the stage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 in which said chuck means and mounting means are constructed and oriented for holding the slide to the slide-registration surface against the force of gravity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 in which said chuck means comprises a pair of chucks disposed in spaced opposed relation, each of said chucks having a slide-registration surface for receiving one end of a slide thereagainst.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said chuck means has an internal cavity constructed for connection to said vacuum path defining means, and aperture means are provided opening into said slide-registration surface and in communication with said cavity, for transmitting vacuum from said reservoir to said slide-registration surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said chuck means and said mounting means are adapted for disposing the specimen-bearing surface of a slide adjacent an objective lens, and the opposite surface of the slide adjacent a condenser lens.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said chuck means and said mounting means are constructed and oriented such that the slide-registration surface is in registry with the focal plane of the objective lens.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
133 words
Slide mounting apparatus for microscopy which comprises: vacuum chuck means having at least one slide-registration surface to which a vacuum can be applied by evacuation of the chuck means for securing a specimen-bearing slide thereagainst, means for mounting said chuck means relative to a microscopy stage with said slide-registration surface facing in the direction of the stage, said chuck means and mounting means being adapted for disposing the specimen-bearing surface of a slide against said slide-registration surface with the specimen area exposed for examination by a microscope objective lens facing in the direction of said stage, such that said slide-registration surface and said specimen-bearing surface are in registry simultaneously with the focal plane of the objective lens, and means for connecting said chuck means to a vacuum source for evacuating said chuck means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
133 words
Slide mounting apparatus for microscopy which comprises: vacuum chuck means having at least one slide-registration surface to which a vacuum can be applied by evacuation of the chuck means for securing a specimen-bearing slide thereagainst, means for mounting said chuck means relative to a microscopy stage with said slide-registration surface facing in the direction of the stage, said chuck means and mounting means being adapted for disposing the specimen-bearing surface of a slide against said slide-registration surface with the specimen area exposed for examination by a microscope objective lens facing in the direction of said stage, such that said slide-registration surface and said specimen-bearing surface are in registry simultaneously with the focal plane of the objective lens, and means for connecting said chuck means to a vacuum source for evacuating said chuck means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 in which said chuck means and mounting means are constructed and oriented for holding the slide to the slide-registration surface against the force of gravity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 in which said chuck means comprises a pair of chucks disposed in spaced opposed relation, each of said chucks having a slide-registration surface for receiving one end of a slide thereagainst.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said chuck means has an internal cavity constructed for connection to said vacuum source connecting means, and aperture means are provided opening into said slide-registration surface and in communication with said cavity, for transmitting vacuum from said source to said slide-registration surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-18 | 1978-05-20 | 1978-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-18 | 1982-05-20 | 1982-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-18 | 1986-05-20 | 1986-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |