Microculture slide chamber

Claim 2

A MICROSULTURE SLIDE CHAMBER FOR GROWING CULTURES COMPRISING: A SLIDE ON WHICH SAID CULTURES ARE TO BE GROWN, A MATRIX HAVING A PLURALITY OF GENERALLY PARALLEL MATRIX HOLES EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, SAID MATRIX BEING MADE OF A RESILIENT MATERIAL, SAID MATRIX HOLES WHEN POSITIONED OVER SAID SLIDE DEFINING A PLURALITY OF WELLS FOR CONTAINING A CULTURE BEARING FLUID, A GASKET SURROUNDING THE END OF EACH MATRIX HOLE ADJACENT SAID SLIDE, EACH SAID GASKET BEING INTEGRAL WITH SAID MATRIX, AND EACH SAID GASKET PROVIDING A FLUID-TIGHT SEAL BETWEEN SAID SLIDE AND SAID MATRIX FOR RETAINING FLUID IN SAID WELLS; A PLATE HAVING OPENINGS THERETHROUGH ALIGNED TO PERMIT ACCESS TO SAID MATRIX HOLES WHEN SAID PLATE IS IN OVERLYING RELATION TO SAID MATRIX;

Claim 3

A microculture slide chamber in accordance with claim 1 wherein said clip means comprise first and second resilient clips for engaging the edges of said slide and plate and compressing them into engagement with said matrix.

Claim 4

A microculture slide chamber in accordance with claim 1 wherein said matrix is made of a silicone polymer.

Claim 5

A microculture slide chamber in accordance with claim 1 wherein said matrix, said clip means, said plate and said cover are made of autoclavable substances.

Claim 6

A microculture slide chamber in accordance with claim 4 wherein said cover is made of a polycarbonate polymer.

Claim 7

A microculture slide chamber in accordance with claim 4 wherein said clip means is made of a stainless steel.

Claim 8

A microculture slide chamber in accordance with claim 4 wherein said plate is made of stainless steel.

Claim 9

A microculture slide chamber in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plate is permanently fixed to said matrix.

Claim 10

A microculture slide chamber in accordance with claim 1 wherein said slide is made of a polymer material.

Claim 11

A microculture slide chamber for growing cultures on a slide comprising: a matrix having a plurality of generally parallel matrix holes extending therethrough, said matrix being made of a resilient material; said matrix holes when positioned over a slide defining a plurality of chambers for containing a culture bearing fluid; a gasket surrounding one end of each matrix hole on one side of said matrix, each said gasket being integral with said matrix, and each said gasket being capable of providing a fluid-tight seal between a slide and said matrix for retaining fluid in said chambers when a slide is placed against the gasket side of the matrix; a pressure plate having openings therethrough aligned to permit access to said matrix holes when said plate is in overlying relatioN to said matrix; and resilient clip means for retaining said microculture slide chamber in assembled relation with a slide for growing cultures on the slide, said assembled relation comprising a slide in abutting relation with the gasket side of said matrix and said plate in abutting and aligned relation with the opposite side of said matrix.

Claim 12

A microculture slide chamber for growing cultures on a slide comprising: a matrix having a plurality of generally parallel matrix holes extending therethrough, said matrix being made of a resilient material; said matrix holes when positioned over a slide defining a plurality of chambers for containing a culture bearing fluid; a gasket surrounding one end of each matrix hole on one side of said matrix, each said gasket being integral with said matrix, and each said gasket being capable of providing a fluid-tight seal between a slide and said matrix for retaining fluid in said chambers when a slide is placed against the gasket side of the matrix; a pressure plate having openings therethrough aligned to permit access to said matrix holes when said plate is in overlying relatioN to said matrix; and resilient clip means for retaining said microculture slide chamber in assembled relation with a slide for growing cultures on the slide, said assembled relation comprising a slide in abutting relation with the gasket side of said matrix and said plate in abutting and aligned relation with the opposite side of said matrix.