Transfer mechanism for transferring a specimen

A transfer mechanism for transferring a microscopic specimen from a first holder to a second holder, the mechanism comprising:

• a first specimen holder for holding a specimen;
• a second, moveable specimen holder having a first positional accuracy and including a releasable gripper for gripping the specimen by moving from an open position to a closed position and releasing the specimen by moving from a closed position to an open position;
• and
• a mechanical guide to align the first holder and the second holder at a transfer position, the mechanical guide providing a relative positional accuracy between the first specimen holder and the second specimen holder greater than the first positional accuracy.

A method of transferring a microscopic specimen, comprising:

• providing a first specimen holder holding a specimen;
• providing a mechanical guide, the position of the mechanical guide being determined by the position of the first specimen holder;
• providing a second, moveable specimen holder including a gripper for gripping the specimen;
• guiding a second specimen holder using the mechanical guide into a position proximate to the first specimen holder;
• gripping the specimen using the gripper of the second specimen holder, wherein the gripper of the second specimen holder moves from an open position to a closed position;
• releasing the specimen from the first specimen holder;
• moving the second, moveable specimen holder with the specimen to a second position,
• the mechanical guide, being positioned by the first specimen holder, allowing alignment between the specimen holders with greater precision than the positional precision capability of the second specimen holder without the mechanical guide.