Sample-maintaining system for a microscope, well plate assembly comprising the same and corresponding method

A sample-maintaining system for a microscope, the sample-maintaining system comprising:

• a flexible film having a sample-facing side and an opposed maintaining member-supporting side;
• a maintaining member defining a sample-receiving through opening superposed onto the maintaining member-supporting side of the flexible film, with a sample-maintaining portion of the flexible film extending across the sample-receiving through opening of the maintaining member and substantially closing a bottom end portion of the maintaining member;
• and
• an outer member having an inner peripheral surface at least partially delimiting a maintaining member-receiving through opening;
• wherein the maintaining member has an outer peripheral surface and is removably arranged in the maintaining member-receiving through opening of the outer member with the outer peripheral surface of the maintaining member facing at least partially the inner peripheral surface of the outer member and with a peripheral border of the flexible film at least partially maintained between the outer peripheral surface of the maintaining member and the inner peripheral surface of the outer member and at least partially closing the sample-receiving through opening.