| abstract |
A method of collecting target regions from a target object is described. The method in one embodiment comprises mounting a negatively-charged membrane on a first side of a substrate, mounting a target object on the membrane, positioning a collection material adjacent to the target object, and passing a laser beam from a second side of the substrate, through the substrate, the membrane, and the target object, to dissect target regions from the prepared tissue section, whereby the dissected target regions adhere to the collection material. In another embodiment, the present invention is a system for collecting target regions from a target object. In one embodiment, the system comprises a substrate having a first side and a second side, a negatively-charged membrane adhered to the first side of the substrate, and a collection material mountable adjacent to the membrane. In another embodiment, the system further comprises an inverted microscope, a stage for holding the substrate over the microscope, a generator operable to generate a laser beam to pass through the substrate from the second side and to dissect target regions from a target object mounted on the membrane, whereby the dissected target regions adhere to the collection material. In the preferred embodiments, the target objects are tissues and the target regions are cells. |