Analytic plates with markable portions and methods of use

Abstract

An analytic plate or other substrate having a permanent etchable, laserable, and/or developable marking surface coating (referred to herein as an “etchable coating” or as a “developable coating”) that is present on at least a portion of any side or surface thereof and is used to deposit a permanent indicium thereon, and a method of using the analytic plate or substrate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of marking an analytic plate, comprising:
 providing an analytic plate comprising:
 a microscope slide or coverslip having a first surface and a second surface and constructed from a glass or plastic material; and 
 a transparent or invisible developable coating which is developable by photoactivation or heat activation and is disposed on the first surface and wherein when at least a portion of the transparent or invisible developable coating is exposed to a photoactivating wavelength or activating heat, the exposed portion is formed into an indicium which is distinguishable from unexposed portions of the transparent or invisible developable coating; and 
   exposing the analytic plate to the photoactivating wavelength or activating heat such that the indicium is formed in the exposed portion of the transparent or invisible developable coating.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the analytic plate further comprises a transparent or invisible second coating disposed upon the portion of the transparent or invisible developable first coating in which the indicium is formed, wherein the transparent or invisible second coating is hydrophobic. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the transparent or invisible second coating is glass or plastic. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the analytic plate the transparent or invisible developable first coating extends over only a portion of the first surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the analytic plate the transparent or invisible developable first coating extends over substantially the entire first surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the analytic plate comprises a microscope slide and further comprising the step of disposing a biological sample on the analytic plate. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising the step of placing a coverslip over the biological sample and adhering the coverslip to the microscope slide. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the exposed portion of the transparent or invisible developable first coating becomes dark, darker, opaque, visually different, a different color, or fluoresces, in comparison to the transparent or invisible developable first coating prior to exposure. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the analytic plate comprises a dry film adhesive disposed on one of the first surface and the second surface when the analytic plate comprises a coverslip. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the biological sample is placed in a position over at least a portion of the transparent or invisible developable first coating. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising exposing the portion of the transparent or invisible developable first coating beneath the biological sample to the photoactivating wavelength to form an indicium in the first transparent or invisible developable first coating beneath the biological sample. 
     
     
         12 . A method of marking an analytic plate, comprising:
 providing an analytic plate comprising:   a microscope slide or coverslip having a first surface and a second surface and constructed from a glass or plastic material; and   a transparent or invisible developable first coating which is developable by photoactivation or heat activation and is disposed over the first surface wherein when at least a portion of the transparent or invisible developable first coating is exposed to a photoactivating wavelength or an activating heat, the exposed portion is formed into an indicium which is distinguishable from unexposed portions of the transparent or invisible developable first coating; and   a colored and/or opaque second coating disposed beneath a portion of the transparent or invisible developable first coating, wherein the colored and/or opaque second coating is for providing contrast against the indicium formed in the transparent or invisible developable first coating; and   exposing the analytic plate to the photoactivating wavelength or activating heat such that the indicium is formed in the exposed portion of the transparent or invisible developable first coating and the colored and/or opaque second coating provides a contrast against the indicium.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the colored and/or opaque second coating is disposed on the second surface opposite and beneath the transparent or invisible developable first coating. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the colored and/or opaque second coating is developable. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the transparent or invisible developable first coating extends over substantially the entire first surface of the microscope slide or coverslip. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the transparent or invisible developable first coating is hydrophobic. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising a dry film adhesive disposed on one of the first surface and the second surface when the analytic plate comprises a coverslip. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the exposed portion of the transparent or invisible developable first coating becomes dark, darker, opaque, visually different, a different color, or fluoresces, in comparison to the transparent or invisible developable first coating prior to exposure. 
     
     
         19 . A method of marking an analytic plate, comprising:
 providing an analytic plate comprising:
 a microscope slide or coverslip having an upper surface and a lower surface and constructed from a glass or plastic material, and having a transparent or invisible developable first coating which is developable by photoactivation or by heat activation and which is disposed on the lower surface of the microscope slide or coverslip and having an opaque second coating disposed over a portion of the transparent or invisible developable first coating to form a covered portion of the transparent or invisible developable first coating, wherein the covered portion of the transparent or invisible developable first coating is positioned between the lower surface of the microscope slide or coverslip and the opaque second coating; and 
   exposing at least a portion of the transparent or invisible developable first coating to a photoactivating wavelength or to an activating heat which is passed through the microscope slide or coverslip forming the exposed portion into an indicium which is distinguishable from unexposed portions of the transparent or invisible developable first coating and wherein the opaque second coating provides a contrasting effect against the indicium in the transparent or invisible developable first coating.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising a dry film adhesive disposed on one of the first surface and the second surface when the analytic plate comprises a coverslip. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the exposed portion of the transparent or invisible developable first coating becomes darker or a different color as compared to the transparent or invisible developable first coating prior to exposure, or becomes fluorescent.