Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
  • G01N21/62—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light
  • G01N21/63—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light optically excited
  • G01N21/64—Fluorescence; Phosphorescence
  • G01N21/645—Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters
  • G01N21/6456—Spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging
  • G01N21/6458—Fluorescence microscopy
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B21/00—Microscopes
  • G02B21/0004—Microscopes specially adapted for specific applications
  • G02B21/002—Scanning microscopes
  • G02B21/0024—Confocal scanning microscopes (CSOMs) or confocal "macroscopes"; Accessories which are not restricted to use with CSOMs, e.g. sample holders
  • G02B21/0032—Optical details of illumination, e.g. light-sources, pinholes, beam splitters, slits, fibers

Definitions

• the invention relates to a device for providing a laser light beam, in particular an illuminating light beam for a preferably confocal scanning microscope, with at least one laser light source.
• Devices for providing a laser light beam of the type mentioned in the introduction have been known in practice for years in different variants.
• reference is made to DE 196 33 185 C2 in which a multicolored point light source for a laser scanning microscope is described.
• the radiation from a total of four laser light sources is coaxially combined by means of a combination unit.
• An optical fiber leads via a corresponding connection to a laser scanning microscope in order to couple in the combined laser light beam with several wavelengths or several laser lines in the sense of a light point source.
• the laser light sources used often differ in their mode of operation and generally come from different manufacturers.
• the laser light sources often have different mechanical dimensions and, moreover, have different electrical specifications, which makes the individual user composition of a laser light beam comprising several laser lines of individual laser light sources extremely complicated.
• the addition of a new laser light source to an existing system and the mere replacement of a single laser light source is therefore associated with considerable effort and can usually only be carried out by trained personnel.
• Another problem is that when replacing a laser light source in general not only the laser light source itself, but also mechanical parts, optical filters, electrical interfaces, power supplies, etc. must be replaced.
• the sending of the Confocal microscope or at least parts of it are essential for the manufacturer.
• a special service from the device manufacturer with regard to maintenance and retrofitting is mandatory.
• the present invention is based on the object of designing and developing a device for providing a laser light beam of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the laser light beam changes with the greatest possible flexibility and without the need for special knowledge in the shortest possible time and with regard to its spectral composition can be easily put together individually.
• a device of this type is characterized in that the laser light sources, individually or in groups, form a module with externally defined mechanical and / or electrical and / or optical interfaces ,
• the trend is increasingly towards modular device units which can be used by the user in a simple manner and without major conversion or maintenance work.
• a high degree of flexibility and adaptability to special user wishes and requirements is of particular importance.
• the laser light sources - individually or grouped together - are modular, the individual modules having externally defined mechanical and / or electrical and / or optical interfaces.
• a receiving station with receiving places for inserting or inserting the individual modules is provided, the modules being able to be arranged next to one another and / or one above the other within the receiving station.
• the recording station could also be designed with only one recording space for receiving a single module.
• the module could have a housing, as a result of which dimensions of the module are defined, which are expediently matched to the size of the receiving spaces.
• each individual module could be encapsulated in such a way that it forms an opto-mechanical unit that can be mechanically inserted or inserted mechanically in one of the receiving stations of the receiving station.
• Each module could have its own supply control unit integrated into the module.
• a central supply / control unit that can be contacted with the individual modules is preferred.
• the supply / control unit could be inserted or inserted into the receiving station or even integrated into it.
• a separate arrangement of the supply control unit outside of the receiving station is also conceivable.
• the supply / control unit has connections for external supply, control and Signal lines so that energy can be supplied to the supply / control unit from the outside and external control commands can be executed.
• the electrical interface of the modules can advantageously be formed by cables with plug connectors. Cables without connectors are also conceivable if a simple connection of the cables to the opposite side is possible.
• the individual modules can be connected to the supply / control unit, for example via supply, control and signal lines.
• a high level of uniformity of the interfaces of the modules is particularly advantageous, so that at least largely identical supply, control and signal lines can be connected to the modules.
• the electrical interface of the modules is formed by plug contacts.
• contacts could be formed at the receiving stations of the receiving stations for mechanical receiving of the plug contacts.
• the contacts could be designed such that all electrical and / or optical contacts to the supply / control unit are made as soon as the module is completely inserted into a receiving space.
• the contacts are designed, for example by means of a switch or by means of coding on electronic IP modules, in such a way that it can be seen which modules are currently inserted into the receiving station. Using this information, the current status of the receiving station and the inserted modules can be monitored using a microcontroller.
• communication between the modules and the supply control unit is also optically via glass fiber or via Radio connection possible.
• the transmission could be implemented, for example, via Bluetooth or a wireless connection.
• each module has one or more defined outputs via which the light generated by the laser light sources can exit within the modules, so that it can be used in a downstream unit in a simple manner and as far as possible without adjustment can be.
• the optical outputs of the modules are connectors for optical fibers.
• a connection to a downstream structural unit can be established in a very simple manner by simply plugging in an optical fiber, in particular an optical fiber.
• An arrangement of the fiber connector on the housing of the module is advantageous in terms of ease of use.
• the fiber connector could be integrated in the front side of the housing, which is easily accessible to the user even when the module is inserted into a receiving space.
• the optics in the module in such a way that the laser light beams generated within the module are focused on the plug connector in such a way that direct coupling into an attached glass fiber is possible.
• the corresponding focusing optics or the fiber connector could possibly be designed to be adjustable.
• the laser light beam within the module could also collimated on the fiber connector. fen. This could itself have focusing optics by means of which the light can be focused on the actual glass fiber input.
• the defined optical interface of the module is not formed by a fiber connector on the housing of the module, but that optical fibers are guided through the housing to the outside. These could have fiber connectors at their ends, which represent an optical interface of the module.
• the optical interface could also be formed by one or more windows in the housing of the module, from which the laser light beams can exit the module. For such a design, however, an external or integrated optic is required, through which the laser light emerging from the defined interface can be passed on.
• a beam combiner arrangement within the module is advantageous so that the laser light beams of the individual laser light sources can already be combined with one another within the module. In this way, only a single optical interface would have to be provided on the module in order to decouple the laser light. Alternatively, each individual laser light beam could be guided outside via its own optical interface. A combination of both arrangements is also conceivable - also within a single module.
• the laser light beams of the individual laser light sources of the modules currently used, ie, inserted into the receiving station are advantageously supplied to an external beam combiner arrangement.
• the beam combiner arrangement could comprise beam combiners arranged in a row or in groups parallel to one another, the beam combiners being able to be designed as wavelength-sensitive band edge filters.
• the beam combiner arrangement could be designed such that the beam combiners are each designed for coupling a laser light beam with a wavelength of a defined wavelength range.
• the beam combiner arrangement can either be provided as a separate component or but can also be integrated as a compatible module in the receiving station by means of corresponding electrical interfaces similar to the supply / control unit.
• the laser light sources used within the modules could advantageously be solid-state lasers or fiber lasers. With sufficient performance, these can already be produced very small, so that their use enables a particularly compact design of the individual modules and thus of the overall system to be achieved.
• the properties of the individual laser light sources of the modules could be changed by suitable control, such as intensity, wavelength, spectral width, polarization, coherence length, etc.
• suitable control such as intensity, wavelength, spectral width, polarization, coherence length, etc.
• a change in the pulse time, the pulse duration, the pulse shape, the pulse repetition rate or the like could also be provided.
• the control takes place via appropriate interfaces, e.g. the corresponding signals (analog and / or digital) or data are transmitted to the individual modules.
• Appropriate electronics could be provided within the modules for processing these signals.
• electronics could be provided in the modules for direct or indirect stabilization of laser properties, e.g. Sensor electronics, evaluation electronics, control loops or the like. It is also conceivable that the electronics provide the user with information about the operating state of the individual laser light sources of a module via appropriate interfaces, such as e.g. Operating time, temperature or performance.
• a module with the approximate wavelengths 490 nm, 570 nm and 650 nm emitting laser light sources is suitable as an application-specific module (standard imaging module).
• a module with the approximate wavelengths of 440 nm, 510 nm and 690 nm as a so-called Fluorescent Proteines (FP) module could be another module for fluorescence microscopy Module with the approximate wavelengths 470 nm, 550 nm and 630 nm as a bleaching module and a further module with the approximate wavelengths 430 nm, 610 nm and 670 nm as a module for red dyes are provided.
• FP Fluorescent Proteines
• FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a first exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for providing a laser light beam with a module with a laser light source
• FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a module with three laser light sources and common light coupling
• FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a module with three laser light sources and each with its own light coupling
• FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a module with three laser light sources and each with its own light coupling via optical fibers
• Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of several laser modules within a recording station and 6 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention with a plurality of modules within a receiving station.
• FIG. 1 schematically shows a first exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for providing a laser light beam comprising a module 1 with a laser light source 2.
• the dimensions of the module 1 are defined by the housing 3 enclosing the laser light source 2.
• the optical interface of the module 1 is formed by a fiber connector 4 arranged on the housing 3, the laser light beam 5 emerging from the laser light source 2 being focused by means of a focusing lens 6 on the location of the beginning of the fiber of a glass fiber cable to be plugged onto the fiber connector 4.
• the lens 6 is shown in front of the fiber connector 4, wherein in principle an integration of the focusing lens 6 into the fiber connector 4 is also conceivable.
• module 1 has security mechanisms, not shown. Specifically, this is a shutter arranged at the output 7 of the module 1, by means of which it is achieved that light can only emerge from the module 1 if the system is properly configured.
• Fig. 2 shows - schematically - a module 1 in which three laser light sources 2 are grouped together.
• the three individual laser light beams 5 are combined within the module 1 by means of a suitable arrangement of mirrors 8 and beam combiners 9.
• the combined light beam 10 is focused by means of a focusing lens 6 onto a fiber plug 4 functioning as the optical interface of the module 1.
• FIG. 3 again shows a schematic representation of a module 1 with three laser light sources 2 combined in groups, in contrast to the module 1 shown in FIG. 2 the laser light beams 5 of the individual laser light sources 2 being guided separately to the outside. Accordingly, three optical interfaces are provided on the housing 3 of the module 1.
• FIG. 4 shows a module 1 with three laser light sources 2, the laser light beams 5 of which are separately transported to the outside via optical fibers 11.
• the optical fibers 11 are fixedly attached to the module 1 and guided from the inside of the module 1 to the outside via strain-relieved fiber bushings on the housing 3.
• the optical interfaces are formed by fiber connectors 4 formed at the fiber ends. In comparison to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3, this offers the advantage that there is no need for optical plug connections which result in losses in power.
• the laser light beams 5 emerging from the laser light sources 2 are coupled into the optical fibers 11 via focusing lenses 6.
• FIG. 5 shows a receiving station 12 with a plurality of receiving places 13, in which modules 1 are inserted.
• the receiving space 13 of the receiving station 12, which is located on the far right in the drawing, is used to receive a supply / control unit 14.
• Each of the modules 1 has uniform electrical interfaces which allow identical supply, control and signal connections to be set up for each module 1.
• the electrical interface can be clearly recognized as plug contacts 15 protruding from the module 1 on the rear side of the housing 3.
• the associated electrical contacts are automatically closed by corresponding contacts arranged at the receiving locations 13.
• the light emerging from the individual modules 1 is fed to an external beam combiner arrangement 16 via optical fibers 11 with plug connectors 4.
• This beam combiner arrangement 16 has beam combiners on the inside, which are arranged and designed in such a way that each input 17 of the beam combiner arrangement 16 serves to couple in a laser light beam 5 with a wavelength of a defined wavelength range. A user therefore only has to assign the optical fibers 11 coming from the modules 1 to the correct inputs 17 of the beam combiner arrangement 16 in accordance with the transported wavelength.
• the over the inputs 17 automatically coupled laser light beams 5 and passed from an output 7 via a corresponding broadband glass fiber 18 to a specific application, for example a confocal microscope.
• the beam combiner arrangement 16 In front of the output 7 of the beam combiner arrangement 16 there is an AOTF (acousto-optical tunable filter), not shown, with the aid of which the intensity of the individual wavelengths can be adjusted.
• the beam combiner arrangement 16 has a safety shutter, likewise not shown, in front of the outlet 7.
• a module 1 can also have a laser light source 2 with defined properties as a continuous laser light source 2 and another module 1 a laser light source 2 with the same properties as a pulsed laser light source 2.
• the user can then opt for the simplest module 1 that meets his specific requirements, thereby saving costs and / or time. For example, he could choose a module 1 that generates the wavelength 490 nm with 5 mW power instead of a module 1 that generates the same wavelength with 20 mW power.
• the modules 1 are selected such that the distance of two wavelengths in each case from the receiving station 12 completely equipped with modules 1 is less than or equal to approximately 30 nm.
• the right excitation wavelengths practically every fluorescent dye can be optimally excited, since the maximum distance of the “right” wavelength from the excitation maximum of the dye is a maximum of 15 nm.
• FIG. 6 shows schematically a receiving station 12 with several inserted modules 1.
• the electrical interfaces of the modules 1 are not through plug contacts 15 attached to the housing 3, but through Cable 19 formed with connectors 20.
• the individual modules 1 are connected to the supply / control unit 14 by means of these cables 19 designed as supply, control and signal lines.
• both plug connector 20 for the power supply and plug connector 20 can be seen in the supply / control unit 14, via which the signal and control lines are brought in from the outside.
• each module 1 has three optical interfaces which are designed as fiber connectors 4 and via which the light from the individual laser light sources 2 is coupled out.
• the light is fed from the optical interface to a beam combiner arrangement 16 via optical fibers 11 and from there it is passed on, for example, to a microscope.
• a microscope can in particular be confocal scanning microscopes, semi-confocal microscopes, such as e.g. Line scanners, Nipkow systems or a point grid lighting.
• the transmission to confocal endoscopes is also of great practical importance.
• the recording station 12 with the individual modules 1 and / or the beam combiner arrangement 16 can be arranged directly on the scan head of a confocal microscope.
• the supply / control unit 14 should be arranged separately outside the receiving station 12. The light emerging from the beam combiner arrangement 16 is coupled out as a free beam 21 and focused directly on the pinhole of the confocal microscope.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Biochemistry (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Immunology (AREA)
• Pathology (AREA)
• Microscoopes, Condenser (AREA)
• Optical Couplings Of Light Guides (AREA)
• Lasers (AREA)

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• 2004
  • 2004-09-03 EP EP04762753A patent/EP1695132A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2004-09-03 WO PCT/DE2004/001968 patent/WO2005059619A1/de active Application Filing
  • 2004-09-03 JP JP2006544202A patent/JP5129482B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related

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