A multi-purpose in-situ contamination sampler includes an inner frame surrounded by a plurality of removable or attachable pieces, each of which include of a single witness surface configured to collect both particulate and molecular contamination within an environment on a payload or a spacecraft.

A slide imaging apparatus includes: at least one imaging device configured to generate an image of a sample mounted on a slide, wherein the imaging device comprises an operating button; a storage device loadable with a plurality of slides and configured to store the slides; and a supply device configured to supply the slides from the storage device to the imaging device, wherein the supply device is configured to press the operating button.

A slide imaging apparatus includes: at least one imaging device configured to generate an image of a sample mounted on a slide, wherein the imaging device comprises an operating button; a storage device loadable with a plurality of slides and configured to store the slides; and a supply device configured to supply the slides from the storage device to the imaging device, wherein the supply device is configured to press the operating button.

Methods and systems for automated slide handling for imaging applications are described herein. In certain aspects, an automated slide handler may be operatively coupled to a slide hotel and/or one or more imaging systems described herein. The automated slide handler may be a robotic arm with up to 6 degrees of freedom. Automated slide handling may include sample preparation, such as sectioning and staining. Suitable imaging systems include a fluorescence microscope or an imaging mass cytometer. Methods and systems disclosed herein enable high throughput profiling of tissue sections.

A microscope includes: a sample chamber; a microscope stage arranged below the sample chamber, the microscope stage having a top surface for receiving a sample carrier in an examining position, in which a sample arranged on the sample carrier is microscopically examinable; a sample carrier storing unit arranged within the sample chamber for receiving the sample carrier in at least one storing position; and a sample carrier handling device for moving the sample carrier between the storing position and the examination position.

A method for scanning object carriers using at least two microscope slide scanners includes a) loading a feed unit for microscope slides with a plurality of microscope slides, each of which is part of one of a plurality of sample series, b) transferring one microscope slide from the feed unit to every microscope slide scanner not loaded with a microscope slide, c) carrying out a scanning process for each loaded microscope slide scanner, d) transferring each scanned microscope slide from the microscope slide scanner to an intermediate storage rack, e) providing a data set for every scanning process for analysis, and f) transferring all microscope slides of a sample series from the intermediate storage rack to a final storage rack.

A method for scanning object carriers using at least two microscope slide scanners includes a) loading a feed unit for microscope slides with a plurality of microscope slides, each of which is part of one of a plurality of sample series, b) transferring one microscope slide from the feed unit to every microscope slide scanner not loaded with a microscope slide, c) carrying out a scanning process for each loaded microscope slide scanner, d) transferring each scanned microscope slide from the microscope slide scanner to an intermediate storage rack, e) providing a data set for every scanning process for analysis, and f) transferring all microscope slides of a sample series from the intermediate storage rack to a final storage rack.

It is an object to provide a cover slip sticking device capable of improving matching between types of clearing agents and cover slips. As a means for solving the problem, a cover slip sticking device includes a dipping bath (21) in which slide glasses (22) on which specimens are attached are housed to be dipped in a clearing agent, a holder (11) having a cover slip (10) and cover slip information (14), a mounting part (C) on which the holder is mounted, a sticking part (B) sticking the cover slip (10) taken out from the holder (11) on the slide glass (22), a reading unit (62) reading the cover slip information (14), a storage unit (65) storing a type of the clearing agent and matching information between types of clearing agents and types of cover slips and a determination unit (66) comparing the cover slip information (14) read by the reading unit (62) and the type of the clearing agent stored in the storage unit (65) with the matching information to determine whether the types match with each other or not.

It is an object to provide a cover slip sticking device capable of improving matching between types of clearing agents and cover slips. As a means for solving the problem, a cover slip sticking device includes a dipping bath (21) in which slide glasses (22) on which specimens are attached are housed to be dipped in a clearing agent, a holder (11) having a cover slip (10) and cover slip information (14), a mounting part (C) on which the holder is mounted, a sticking part (B) sticking the cover slip (10) taken out from the holder (11) on the slide glass (22), a reading unit (62) reading the cover slip information (14), a storage unit (65) storing a type of the clearing agent and matching information between types of clearing agents and types of cover slips and a determination unit (66) comparing the cover slip information (14) read by the reading unit (62) and the type of the clearing agent stored in the storage unit (65) with the matching information to determine whether the types match with each other or not.

A microscope observation system comprises a cell production device provided with a culture vessel in which cells or cell masses are cultured, a microscope device capable of observing an object including cells or cell masses, a conveying apparatus that conveys the microscope device to the cell production device, and an operating control section that sends a command to the conveying apparatus to temporarily move the conveying apparatus from a current position to a relay position and then to move the conveying apparatus to a target position when focusing the microscope device onto the object, wherein a first distance from the current position to the relay position is a distance necessary to drive an actuator by at least a predetermined amount in order to actuate a rotation shaft or a translation shaft of the conveying apparatus, and a second distance from the current position to the target position is a shorter distance than the first distance.