Plate assembly for rapid, automatic, high penetration depth examination of samples with a light-sheet microscope, as well as a method for using such plate assembly

A plate assembly (1) for rapid, automatic, high penetration depth examination of samples (12) with a light-sheet microscope having a scanning unit,

• wherein the plate assembly (1) comprises:
• a first sample holder (10) configured to receive a plurality of samples (12) separated from each other, the first sample holder (10) being a transparent foil sheet and comprising a plurality of cuvettes (11) individually configured to receive a single one of the plurality of samples (12),
• a sample fixing plate (20) configured to position the plurality of samples (12) placed in the cuvettes (11), wherein the sample fixing plate (20) comprises a plurality of inserts (21) configured to be individually insertable into one of the cuvettes (11) of the first sample holder (10) in such a way that a chamber (22) is formed between the first sample holder (10) and the inserted sample fixing plate (20) in individual ones of the cuvettes (11), the chamber (22) being configured to ensure integrity of a structure of a single sample (12) in a respective individual one of the cuvettes (11) of the first sample holder (10), wherein
• at least one slot (23) is formed next to each insert (21) to allow transmission of light emitted by a light-sheet microscope,
• the sample fixing plate (20) further comprising at least two opposite sample fixing plate magnets (24),
• a sample holder frame (30) configured to receive the sample holder (10) and the sample fixing plate (20) fitted to each other, the sample holder frame (30) having a planar flat sheet (31), which comprises at least one receiving element (32) configured to receive the first sample holder (10) and the sample fixing plate (20) inserted therein, wherein
• a bottom of the receiving element (32) is made of transparent material,
• the sample holder frame (30) comprising a planar flat edge (34) extending around a circumference of the planar flat sheet (31), wherein dimensions of the planar flat edge (34) are configured to allow a scanning unit of the light-sheet microscope to operate continuously,
• wherein the sample holder frame (30) further comprises at least two opposite holder frame magnets (35) located in the planar flat edge (34), wherein individual ones of the at least two opposite holder frame magnets (35) in the edge (34) have a position substantially matching a position of one of the at least two opposite sample fixing plate magnets (24) arranged in the sample fixing plate (20) to connect to each other and thereby hold the sample fixing plate (20) stable in an inserted position.