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Thank you all so much for your replies.

One thing I failed to mention is that biopsies are fresh tissue, and so all
the imaging needs to be done within a relatively short time (10-20 minutes)
in order to avoid degradation. Afterwards the tissue is fixed. 

Thanks,
Bilal


-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Glen MacDonald
Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 1:03 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Biopsy imaging/holding tools

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Dear Bilal,
Harps work well, although you have to focus between the threads.  If
building your own, nylon threads are a little fluorescent, but usually not a
problem with confocal.  Cyanoacrylate glue can also be fluorescent, but
careful placement can avoid issues.  Low melting point agarose is also
useful.  Use at 1% to 3% concentration, depending on desired hardness and
density.     If the samples are fixed, then harps can be made from stainless
steel wire rather than more expensive metals.  I found a good source of
stainless wire at a sporting goods store which sold wire for building
fishing lures.  

Regards,
Glen MacDonald
	Core for Communication Research
Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center
	Cellular Morphology Core
Center on Human Development and Disability Box 357923 University of
Washington Seattle, WA 98195-7923  USA
(206) 616-4156
[log in to unmask]





On Apr 10, 2013, at 9:37 AM, Bilal Malik <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
> 
> Dear all,
> 
> 
> 
> In the process of imaging small (2-4 mm) tissue biopsies under a 
> confocal microscope with a water-immersion objective, we have had 
> problems holding the tissue sample down to avoid flotation in water. 
> We have tried using tweezers with a clip to hold them but are afraid 
> that may damage the biopsy in some instances, and is not always possible
for irregular shaped samples.
> Can anyone provide suggestions as to how this problem can be solved 
> either with a commercial or a custom method?
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks so much,
> 
> Bilal Malik
> 
>