Laser capture microdissection pressure plate and transfer arm

A laser capture microdissection method, comprising:

• providing a sample that is to undergo laser capture microdissection;
• positioning said sample within an optical axis of a laser capture microdissection instrument;
• providing a transfer film carrier removably positioned in a transfer film carrier handling subsystem, said transfer film carrier having a substrate surface and a laser capture microdissection transfer film coupled to said substrate surface;
• and then
• placing said laser capture microdissection transfer film in juxtaposition with said sample by moving said transfer film carrier handling subsystem, said laser capture microdissection transfer film being placed in juxtaposition with a pressure sufficient to allow laser capture microdissection transfer of a portion of said sample to said laser capture microdissection transfer film without forcing nonspecific transfer of a remainder of said sample to said laser capture microdissection film;
• and then
• transferring a portion of said sample to said laser capture microdissection transfer film, without forcing nonspecific transfer of a remainder of said sample to said laser capture microdissection transfer film,
• wherein transferring includes moving said laser capture microdissection transfer film and said portion of said sample away from said remainder of said sample with said transfer film carrier handling subsystem, wherein transferring includes
• raising both said transfer film carrier and said transfer film carrier handling subsystem away from said remainder of said sample along a direction substantially parallel to an axis;
• and then
• swinging said transfer film carrier handling subsystem away from said optical axis, wherein, raising includes
• lifting a weight away from said transfer film carrier so as to reduce said pressure;
• and then,
• lifting said transfer film carrier and said laser capture microdissection transfer film away from said remainder of said sample
• wherein lifting said weight away from said transfer film carrier includes:
• retarding vertical motion of said transfer film carrier handling subsystem;
• and
• raising said weight away from said transfer film carrier at a reproducible rate and
• lifting said transfer film carrier and said laser capture microdissection transfer film away from said remainder of said sample includes:
• retarding vertical motion of said transfer film carrier handling subsystem:
• and
• raising said transfer film carrier and said laser capture microdissection transfer film away from said remainder of said sample so that said portion of said sample is thixotropically sheared away from said remainder of said sample.