Device for spreading monolayered films

A spreader for forming a monolayered film on a slide or the like from a fluid placed on the slide, the spreader being movable in a longitudinal direction along the length of the slide, said slide being held by a supporting surface comprising:

• (a) a support having an upper surface and a lower surface;
• (b) a bar extending in a transverse direction and downwardly along said lower surface of said support, said bar including:
• (i) first and second sloped surfaces extending upwardly and in the longitudinal direction from the bottom of the bar toward said support, the first sloped surface comprising the forward end of the bar and the second sloped surface comprising the rear end of the bar;
• (ii) a flat section formed at an angle to the lower end of said first sloped surface;
• and
• (iii) a cutaway section adjacent to said flat section and formed at an angle to the lower end of said second sloped surface such that the top of said cutaway section is in close proximity with and is parallel to the slide on which the film is to be formed;
• and
• (c) means extending downwardly from either side of said cutaway section for maintaining the flat section and the top of the cutaway section in close proximity with and parallel to the slide whereby as the spreader is placed over a droplet of fluid on the slide, the fluid can diffuse between the cutaway section and the slide so that the monolayered film can be formed as the spreader is moved in the forward direction over the slide.

A device for forming a monolayered film on a slide or the like from a fluid placed on the slide comprising a spreader and a base, the spreader being movable in a longitudinal direction along the length of the slide, said spreader including a support having an upper surface and a lower surface;

• a bar extending in a transverse direction and downwardly along said lower surface of said support, said bar including first and second sloped surfaces extending upwardly and in the longitudinal direction from the bottom of the bar toward said support, the first sloped surface comprising the forward end of the bar and the second sloped surface comprising the rear end of the bar, a flat section formed at an angle to the lower end of said first sloped surface such that said flat section engages said slide or the like, and a cutaway section adjacent to said flat section and formed at an angle to the lower end of said second sloped surface such that the top of said cutaway section is in close proximity with and is parallel to the slide on which the film is to be formed;
• first means extending downwardly from the lower surface of said support for maintaining the flat section in contact with the slide and the top of the cutaway section in close proximity with and parallel to the slide, and second means extending downwardly from the lower surface of said support having legs on either side of said support for engaging a base, said base comprising a supporting surface including a recess therein having parallel longitudinal sides for holding a slide in a stationary position;
• means on the supporting surface for guiding the legs of the spreader and preventing lateral movement of the spreader when the spreader is moved over a slide held within the recess;
• and a ramp at one end of said guiding means for receiving the legs of said spreader to lift the spreader from the supporting surface and disengaging evenly the bar from the contact with the film whereby as the spreader is placed over a droplet of fluid on the slide, the fluid can diffuse between the cutaway section and the slide so that the monolayered film can be formed as the spreader is moved in the forward direction over the base and the slide.

A device for forming a monolayered film on a slide or the like from a fluid placed on the slide comprising a spreader and a base, the spreader being movable in a longitudinal direction along the length of the slide, said spreader including a support having an upper surface and a lower surface;

• a bar extending in a transverse direction and downwardly along said lower surface of said support, said bar including first and second sloped surfaces extending upwardly and in the longitudinal direction from the bottom of the bar toward said support, the first sloped surface comprising the forward end of the bar and the second sloped surface comprising the rear end of the bar, a flat section formed at an angle to the lower end of said first sloped surface, and a cutaway section adjacent to said flat section and formed at an angle to the lower end of said second sloped surface such that the top of said cutaway section is in close proximity with and is parallel to the slide on which the film is to be formed;
• first means extending downwardly from the lower surface of said support for maintaining the flat section and the top of the cutaway section in close proximity with and parallel to the slide;
• and second means extending downwardly from the lower surface of said support having legs on either side of said support for engaging a base, said base comprising a supporting surface including a recess therein having parallel longitudinal sides for holding a slide in a stationary position;
• means on the supporting surface for guiding the legs of the spreader and preventing lateral movement of the spreader when the spreader is moved over a slide held within the recess;
• and a ramp at one end of said guiding means for receiving the legs of said spreader to lift the spreader from the supporting surface and disengage evenly the bar from contact with the film whereby as the spreader is placed over a droplet of fluid on the side, the fluid can diffuse between the cutaway section and the slide so that the monolayered film can be formed as the spreader is moved in the forward direction over the base and the slide.