Sample carrier and method for microscopic examination of biological samples

Abstract

A sample carrier for microscopic examination of biological samples includes a base body and a filter membrane. The base body has at least one recess in which the filter membrane is disposed. The filter membrane makes an essentially flush closure with the surface of the sample carrier. The sample carrier has a circular shape.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sample carrier for microscopic examination of biological samples, the sample carrier comprising:
 a base body with at least one recess; and   a filter membrane in the at least one recess, the filter membrane essentially making a flush closure with a surface of the sample carrier; wherein
 the sample carrier has a circular shape. 
   
     
     
         2 . The sample carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sample carrier has a central, circular through-opening. 
     
     
         3 . The sample carrier as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the through-opening has a diameter of about 15 mm and an edge height of about 1.2 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The sample carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one recess and the filter membrane are circular in shape. 
     
     
         5 . The sample carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one recess includes a plurality of recesses forming a ring concentric to the sample carrier. 
     
     
         6 . The sample carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one recess has an outlet channel for filtrate. 
     
     
         7 . The sample carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a support element in the at least one recess supports the filter membrane. 
     
     
         8 . The sample carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filter membrane has a pore size between about 5 μm and about 20 μm, inclusive. 
     
     
         9 . The sample carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base body is embodied from a transparent material. 
     
     
         10 . A method for detecting fluorescence-marked objects in a biological sample, the method comprising:
 applying the biological sample to a circular sample carrier having at least one filter membrane;   filtering the biological sample through the filter membrane;   treating the retentate remaining on the filter membrane with at least one fluorescence marker;   rotating the sample carrier and scanning the sample carrier with a laser while simultaneously detecting fluorescence events with a photodetector, the frequency of the laser corresponding to an excitation frequency of an assigned fluorescence marker; and   storing, upon detection of a fluorescence event, coordinates of the fluorescence event on the sample carrier.   
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein a plurality of biological samples are applied to a plurality of filter membranes of the sample carrier. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the biological sample is treated with a lysis agent at least one of before and after the filtration. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the biological sample and a further fluid media is applied to the sample carrier by a robotic pipetting system. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the sample carrier is disposed rotatably in the pipetting system and the sample carrier is rotated to specific positions for application of the further fluid media. 
     
     
         15 . The sample carrier as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the transparent material is one of glass and polycarbonate. 
     
     
         16 . The sample carrier as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one recess and the filter membrane are circular in shape. 
     
     
         17 . The sample carrier as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one recess includes a plurality of recesses forming a ring concentric to the sample carrier. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein after scanning the sample carrier with the laser, the method further includes,
 moving a high-resolution microscope according to the stored coordinates; and   recording microphotographs of the biological sample at the stored coordinates.   
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising:
 treating the biological sample with a lysis agent at least one of before and after the filtration.   
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the sample carrier is disposed rotatably in the pipetting system and the sample carrier is rotated to specific positions for application of fluid media.