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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
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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
> 
>