Laser capture microdissection pressure plate and transfer arm

Abstract

Systems and methods for laser capture microdissection are disclosed. A laser capture microdissection method includes: providing a sample that is to undergo laser capture microdissection; positioning the sample within an optical axis of a laser capture microdissection instrument; providing a transfer film carrier removably positioned in a transfer film carrier handling subsystem, the transfer film carrier having a substrate surface and a laser capture microdissection transfer film coupled to the substrate surface; and then placing the laser capture microdissection transfer film in juxtaposition with the sample by moving the transfer film carrier handling subsystem, the laser capture microdissection transfer film being placed in juxtaposition with a pressure sufficient to allow laser capture microdissection transfer of a portion of the sample to the laser capture microdissection transfer film, without forcing nonspecific transfer of a remainder of the sample to the laser capture microdisection film; and then transferring a portion of the sample to the laser capture microdissection transfer film, without forcing nonspecific transfer of a remainder of the sample to the laser capture microdissection transfer film. Transferring includes moving the laser capture microdissection transfer film and the portion of the sample away from the remainder of the sample with the transfer film carrier handling subsystem. The transfer film carrier handling subsystem can be mounted on an inverted microscope. The systems and methods provide the advantages of increased speed and much lower rates of contamination