Holding device for microscope slides with tissue specimens

1. A holding device for retaining a number of microscope slides with tissue specimens, wherein:

(i) the surfaces of the microscope slides in retained position are located in a common plane;

(ii) an elongated hanger having a common plan and a clamping means for releasable clamping of microscope slides in a hanging position with the surfaces in said plane, the microscope slides being clamped at their upper end and by release from the clamping means being free to fall from the hanger because of their own weight; and

(iii) the clamping means of the hanger comprises a number of clamping springs that each clamp one or more microscope slides, the hanger being arranged to cooperate with an actuating means that can be moved between a first position in which the clamping springs are moved to a clamped position so that they clamp the microscope slides, and a second position in which the clamping springs are moved to an open position in which the microscope slides are released.

2. A holding device according to claim 1 , wherein the clamping means is arranged to cooperate with a loading rack having a supporting surface for support of the current microscope slides in said plane, the hanger being able to be introduced into the rack and that the clamping means being able to be actuated so that all microscope slides placed on the supporting surface are clamped in the holding device.

3. A holding device according to claim 2 , wherein the hanger at its ends is provided with a pair of projecting arms for cooperation with corresponding guide members at the ends of the loading rack, for guided introduction of the hanger to a defined position in the rack.

4. A holding device according to claim 1 , wherein each clamping spring comprises a generally U-shaped wire element having legs with ends, wherein the ends of the spring legs are adapted to actuate a respective pair of microscope slides, so that the microscope slides are clamped against intermediate abutment member members on the hanger.

5. A holding device according to claim 4 , wherein the actuating means comprises an elongated locking/release profile having a generally U-shaped cross-section, wherein an inner sidewall of the profile is provided with a number of lugs for actuating the clamping springs so that these are moved from the released clamping position to the open position when the actuating means is moved from the first to the second position.

6. A holding device according to claim 5 , wherein said inner sidewall of the profile is also provided with a pair of guide lugs engaging in a associated guide grooves in the hanger, for guiding of the actuating means between the first and the second position.

7. A holding device according to claim 5 , wherein the hanger is provided with a pair of helical springs placed at the ends of the locking/release profile and arranged to move the actuating means from the first to the second position.

8. A holding device according to claim 5 , wherein the hanger is provided with a pair of locking lugs for engagement with respective abutment surfaces at the ends of the locking/release profile when the actuating means is placed in said first position.

9. A holding device according to claim 4 , wherein the abutment members have sidewalls that are inclined upwards and outwards towards the respective microscope slide, so that the ends of the spring legs in the clamped position are pressed against the common plan of the hanger.

10. A holding device according to claim 4 , wherein the ends of the legs of the clamping springs are inclined in the direction outwards from the respective microscope slide, so that the springs assist in pressing the microscope slides against the common plan of the hanger.