The invention relates to a cartridge (110) and an examination apparatus (100) for optical examinations of a sample. The cartridge (110) comprises a transparent bottom layer (113) that is of substantially uniform thickness and a top layer (111, 112) comprising a sample chamber (SC). The bottom layer and the top layer are preferably laminated onto each other, for example in a C roll-to-roll process. The bottom layer (113) is provided with structures like gratings (115) that allow the incoupling or outcoupling of light.