JP2001255465A - Shutter device for microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shutter device for a microscope made excellent in versatility and inexpensive, preventing the arrangement of a manipulator and a reflux device from being restricted and excellent in handleability. SOLUTION: This shutter device for a microscope provided with a vertical fluorescent illuminator, a transmission illuminator including a condenser 8, and a middle seat type stage 6 on which a sample 4 is placed is equipped with an attachable/detachable shutter 55 disposed on a transmission illuminating optical path on the lower surface side of the middle seat 5 of the stage 6 and an operation part 56 for attaching/detaching the shutter 55 on the upper side of the middle seat 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a light-shielding device for switching illumination of a microscope capable of two observations by transmitted illumination and epi-illumination, and more particularly, to a shutter device of a microscope having a center stage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In epi-illumination fluorescence observation, an excitation filter, a dichroic mirror, and an absorption filter according to the observation are used in combination with an objective lens with less auto-fluorescence in order to detect fluorescence emitted from a sample with good contrast. It is common to do. However, in a microscope equipped with a transmission illumination optical path, the illumination light that has passed through the sample is reflected by the transmission illumination optical system and returns to the observation optical path. It is known that the contrast of the image is deteriorated. In the case of weak fluorescence, the deterioration of the contrast may make it impossible to detect the fluorescence.

In order to solve this problem, the following techniques have been disclosed. First, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-5083 (Prior Art 1), a transmission illumination shutter is provided between a sample and a condenser lens in a fluorescence microphotometer capable of transmission illumination and epi-illumination. .

In the technique disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-140514 (prior art 2), in a fluorescent microscope capable of transmitting illumination and epi-illumination, a shutter for blocking excitation light is provided between a sample and a transmission illumination lens. The shutter is disposed on the lower surface of the condenser lens or the stage as a specific means.

In the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-52251 (prior art 3), a detection unit for detecting whether the observation state is transmission illumination observation or epi-illumination observation, and an actuator such as a motor are used. In a microscope in which a plurality of condenser lenses can be selectively arranged, in the case of epi-illumination observation, the condenser lenses are retracted from immediately below the stage. That is,
The condition is that the capacitor is automated.

[0006]

However, the above prior art has the following problems. That is, in the prior art 1, the description that the transmission illumination shutter is provided between the sample and the condenser lens is only a conceptual content, and the specific means for achieving this is not clear. Further, the prior art 2 requires a dedicated stage or capacitor, which is expensive and lacks versatility. In the first embodiment, the condenser is provided with a shutter. However, when a manipulator or a recirculation device is used by installing it around the stage or around the stage, it is necessary to put a hand around the stage (especially below). Difficult and inconvenient. Furthermore, in the prior art 3, an electric capacitor is required, and it becomes an expensive device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the invention according to claims 1, 2 and 3 is to provide a versatile and inexpensive arrangement of manipulators and reflux devices. It is an object of the present invention to provide an easy-to-use microscope shutter device which does not limit the shutter speed.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 or 2 is directed to an epi-illumination illuminator, a transmission illuminator including a condenser, and a middle seat type stage for mounting a sample. A shutter that is provided in the transmitted illumination light path on the lower surface side of the middle seat of the middle seat type stage, and an operation for inserting and removing the shutter above the middle seat. And part.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2
The shutter device for a microscope according to the above, further comprising an electric actuator, a control device that controls the electric actuator, and a switch that switches a driving direction of the electric actuator, instead of the operation unit.

In the shutter device for the microscope according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the shutter is inserted / removed to open / close the transmitted illumination optical path on the lower surface side of the intermediate seat by operating the operating unit provided on the upper side of the intermediate seat. .

In the shutter device for a microscope according to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above-described functions, the shock caused by the operation of the operation unit is caused by the elastic member interposed between the shutter and the operation unit and the intermediate seat. It is difficult to be transmitted to.

In the shutter device for a microscope according to a third aspect of the present invention, an electric actuator, a control device for controlling the electric actuator, and a switch for switching a driving direction of the electric actuator are provided in place of the operation unit. By operating the switch, the driving direction of the electric actuator is switched, and the shutter is inserted / removed to open / close the transmitted illumination light path on the lower surface side of the middle seat.

[0013]

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of an upright microscope with an objective lens mounted thereon, which mounts a shutter device of a microscope according to an embodiment of the present invention. The microscope on which the shutter device of the microscope of the present invention is mounted is not limited to the upright microscope with the objective lens moving up and down, and can be mounted with other types, for example, a microscope of the stage up and down moving type. In the embodiment, an up-down microscope with an objective lens will be described as an example.

In FIG. 1, a microscope body 1 formed in a U-shape by an arm 1A and a base 1B has a focusing movable between the arm 1A and the base 1B along the observation optical axis m. The arm 1C is held. Focusing arm 1C
At least one objective lens 2 is mounted, and an objective lens exchanger 3 capable of moving and holding an arbitrary objective lens on the observation optical axis m is inserted and fixed. Below the objective lens 2, a stage 6, which is movable in a plane perpendicular to the observation optical axis m, is fixed to the microscope body 1. On the stage 6, a petri dish 4A to which the sample 4 is fixed is held, and a middle seat 5 having a hole for transmitting transmitted illumination is held detachably. Below the center seat 5, a transmission illumination shutter (not shown) is held so as to be insertable into and removable from the transmission illumination optical path.

A transmission illumination device including a condenser is provided below the stage 6, and has the following configuration. A lamp housing 7 for transmitted illumination using a halogen lamp or the like as a light source is detachably fixed behind the base 1B. Also, at least one lens 1D disposed in the base 1B, a mirror 1E for bending the optical path, and a condenser 8 including at least one lens 8A movably held in the illumination optical axis direction below the stage 6. It enables optimal lighting.

Further, an epi-illumination illuminator is disposed above the arm 1A, and has the following configuration. An epi-illumination tube 9 having at least one lens is fixed to this epi-illumination fluorescent illumination device, and an epi-fluorescence lamp house 10 using a mercury burner or the like as a light source is detachably fixed to the rear thereof. The light emitted from the sample 4 is emitted from the sample 4 within the light emitting tube 9, a shutter for epi-illumination (not shown) for blocking the illumination light, an excitation filter (not shown) for selecting a light beam having only a required wavelength among the illumination light. A mirror unit (not shown) including an absorption filter (not shown) for removing a disadvantageous light ray among the fluorescent light is held in a state in which it can be moved on the observation optical axis m. In addition, a lens barrel 11 having an observation optical system and an eyepiece 12 are disposed above the light projecting tube 9 of the above-described epi-illumination fluorescent illumination device.

Next, a description will be given of a case where transmission illumination observation and epi-illumination fluorescence observation are performed using the objective lens up-and-down erecting microscope having the above-described configuration. In the case of transmission illumination observation, the transmission illumination shutter is opened and the epi-illumination shutter is closed. Base 1B illuminated from transmitted illumination lamp house 7
The light beam bent on the observation optical axis m by the inner mirror 1E is optimized by the lens 1D and the lens 8A in the condenser 8, and illuminates the sample 4 from below. Next, by moving the focusing arm 1C along the observation optical axis m, the sample 4 is arranged at the focus position of the objective lens 2 arranged on the observation optical axis m. The light beam transmitted through the sample 4 forms an image by the objective lens 2 and the lens barrel 11,
Allows observation.

In the case of epi-illumination observation, the transmission illumination shutter is closed and the epi-illumination shutter is opened. The illumination light emitted from the epi-fluorescent lamp house 10 and having passed through the light emitting tube 9 and the excitation filter (not shown) is bent on the observation optical axis m by a dichroic mirror (not shown), and arranged on the observation optical axis m. The sample 4 is irradiated by the objective lens 2 thus set. The fluorescent light emitted from the sample 4 is again emitted from the objective lens 2
Pass through an absorption filter (not shown) to remove disadvantageous light rays, and remove the lens barrel 11 and the eyepiece 1.
Observation is possible through 2.

The same effect is obtained in the case of a microscope other than the above-described objective lens upright type upright microscope or a microscope in which the microscope and the stage are independent. Hereinafter, specific embodiments of a shutter device of a microscope mounted on an upright microscope with an objective lens moving up and down will be described.

(Embodiment 1) FIGS. 2 to 4 show Embodiment 1, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a shutter device of a microscope, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an elastic member, and FIG. FIG. In the present embodiment, a part of the members shown in FIG. 1 are shown in order to mount the shutter device of the microscope on the above-mentioned objective lens upright type upright microscope. The reference numerals are used and the description is omitted.

2 to 4, the center seat 5 is detachably held in a mounting hole 6a provided in the center of the stage 6. In the center of the middle seat 5, a transmitted illumination hole 5a for transmitting transmitted illumination light is formed. A pedestal 52 is held on the lower surface of the middle seat 5 via at least one (four in the present embodiment) elastic members 51, and the pedestal 52 has a shielding capable of shielding the transmitted illumination hole 5a. A shutter shaft 54 to which a shutter 55 having a portion 55a is fixed is rotatably held via a bearing 53. As the elastic member 51, for example, an elastic rubber having insert screws built in on both sides can be used. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the center seat 5 and the pedestal 52 are fixed from the respective sides by using countersunk screws 51a and 51b. further,
A stop surface 55 of a shutter 55 is provided on the upper surface of the base 52.
b and 55c are each a hole 5 for transmitted illumination in the shielding portion 55a.
A stopper 57A and a stopper 57B are protruded so as to contact the case where a is shielded and the case where it is not. Also, a shutter shaft hole 5b formed in the middle seat 5 is provided.
And the shutter shaft 54 protruding from the upper surface of the middle seat 5
An operation lever 56 is fixed to the upper end surface of the control lever 56. A petri dish 4A holding the sample 4 is placed on the upper surface (back side in FIG. 3) of the center seat 5, and for example, a reflux device for keeping the sample 4 alive as shown by a two-dot chain line. 4B, a manipulator 4C for manipulating the sample 4, and the like are arranged therearound.

Next, the operation of the shutter device having the above configuration will be described. When the operation lever 56 is moved in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 3 (the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 3), the shutter 55 rotates in a plane perpendicular to the observation optical axis m via the shutter shaft 54, and the stopper 57A It moves until the stop surface 55b hits. At this time, the shielding portion 55a of the shutter 55
Shields the transmitted illumination hole 5a of the middle seat 5. Next, when the operation lever 56 is moved in the direction of the arrow B in FIG. 4 (in a two-dot chain line state in FIG. 4), the shutter 55 rotates until the stop surface 55c of the operation lever 55 comes into contact with the stopper 57B, and the transmitted illumination hole 5a. To release.

In actual observation, the transmitted light is guided to the sample 4 by moving the operation lever 56 in the direction of arrow B during transmitted illumination observation to open the transmitted illumination hole 5a. 56 is moved in the direction of arrow A to block the transmitted illumination hole 5a. In the case of simultaneous transmission epi-illumination observation,
As in the case of transmission illumination observation, the transmission illumination hole 5a is opened and used.

According to this embodiment, the manipulator can be easily attached and detached, has excellent versatility (the stage is not limited), is inexpensive, and the position of the shutter operating section can be easily changed by rotating the middle seat. It is possible to provide an easy-to-use microscope shutter device which does not limit the arrangement of the air circulation device and the reflux device. In addition, as a space for operating the operation lever 56, FIG.
It is sufficient that the range of the angle θ shown in the above is secured, and the other areas can be used freely, so that the degree of freedom of arrangement of the recirculation device 4B and the manipulator 4C can be further increased. Further, since the pedestal floats with respect to the middle seat with the elastic member interposed therebetween, it is difficult for the shock at the time of operation to be transmitted to the middle seat, and it is possible to prevent the specimen from moving by the shutter operation.

(Embodiment 2) FIGS. 5 and 6 show Embodiment 2, FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a shutter device of a microscope, and FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the shutter device of the microscope. Since the shutter device of the microscope according to the present embodiment includes the same parts as those in the first embodiment, only different parts will be described, and the same members will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, a pedestal 52 is held on the lower surface of the middle seat 5 via at least one (four in this embodiment) elastic members 51. A shutter shaft 54 to which a shutter 55 having a shielding portion 55a capable of shielding the transmitted illumination hole 5a is fixed is held rotatably via a bearing 53. In addition, it passes through a shutter shaft hole 5b drilled in the middle seat 5,
A lever 56A is fixed to the upper end surface of the shutter shaft 54 protruding from the upper surface of the middle seat 5, and a bearing 56B is rotatably fixed to the end of the lever 56A.

A handle seat 60 which is not easily moved by using a metal having a large specific gravity as a material is placed on the stage 6, and is mounted on the handle seat 60 via a bearing 58 A and an operation shaft 59. The handle 58 is rotatably fixed. On the lower surface of the handle 58, a cam groove 58a is formed in which a bearing 56B fixed to the lever 56A is engaged. As shown in FIG. 6, the cam groove 58a is formed concentrically with the operation shaft 59 in the range C and the range D, and in the range other than the range C and the range D.
It is a curve that smoothly connects the cam groove with the range.
In the range, the handle seat 60 is placed at a position that shields the transmitted illumination hole 5a of the middle seat 5 and engages with the bearing 56B so as to be open in the D range.

The operation of the shutter device having the above configuration will be described. When the handle 58 is positioned in the range C, the lever 56
A is at the position indicated by the solid line in FIG.
“a” shields the transmitted illumination hole 5 a of the center seat 5. Next, when the handle 58 is rotated in the direction of the arrow E in FIG. 6, the lever 56A moves to the two-dot chain line state in FIG. 6, and the shielding portion 55a of the shutter 55 retreats from the transmitted illumination hole 5a, and The hole 5a is opened.

According to the present embodiment, in addition to the same effects as in the first embodiment, the handle can be separated from the sample at a position remote from the sample, so that the operability is improved and the handle is brought into contact with the stopper when the shutter is opened and closed. Because there is no movement, it is possible to prevent the sample from moving due to vibration during operation.

In the present embodiment, the handle seat is mounted on the upper surface of the stage by its own weight. Alternatively, the handle seat is inserted into a tap hole for fixing a device such as a manipulator formed on the upper surface of the stage. The same effect can be obtained by screwing.

(Embodiment 3) FIGS. 7 and 8 show Embodiment 3, FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a shutter device of a microscope, and FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the shutter device of the microscope. Since the shutter device of the microscope according to the present embodiment includes the same parts as those in the first embodiment, only different parts will be described, and the same members will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

7 and 8, a pedestal 52 is held on the lower surface of the middle seat 5 via at least one (four in this embodiment) elastic member 51. A DC motor 71 as an electric actuator is fixed. A seat 72 to which a shutter 55 having a shielding portion 55a capable of shielding the transmitted illumination hole 5a is fixed is fixed to the DC motor 71 by a side set 73. Further, the stopper surfaces 57b and 55c of the shutter 55 are provided on the upper surface of the pedestal 52 such that the stoppers 57A and 55c contact the transmission illumination hole 5a with and without the shielding portion 55a. 57B projecting. The DC motor 71 is connected to the control device 14.
Is electrically connected to the motor control device 14,
A switch 15 for switching the motor driving direction and a cable 16 connected to an AC power supply are connected.

The operation of the shutter device having the above configuration will be described. By operating the switch 15, the motor 71 is rotated forward (see FIG. 8).
(Direction of arrow A) or reverse rotation (direction of arrow B in FIG. 8). Thus, the shutter 55 connected to the motor 71
Until the stop surface 55b of the
Alternatively, the stop surface 55c of the shutter 55 is
5B until the shutter 5 comes in contact with the shutter 55.
The transmission illumination hole 5a is shielded or opened by 5a.

According to the present embodiment, in addition to the same effects as in the first embodiment, the shielding or opening of the transmitted illumination hole can be remotely controlled and automated.

In this embodiment, DC is used for driving the shutter.
Although a motor is used, a similar effect can be obtained by using a stepping motor instead. in this case,
Since the movement range of the shutter can be controlled by the number of steps, a stopper can be eliminated.

In the first to third embodiments, the shutter is rotated to open and close the transmission illumination hole. However, in the case of a two- or three-stage stage, a gap between the stages is provided. Even with a configuration in which a plate-shaped metal plate is inserted and removed, a shutter device for a microscope can be provided at low cost.

[0037]

According to the first or second aspect of the present invention,
Since the transmitted / illuminated optical path on the lower surface side of the center seat is opened and closed by inserting and removing the shutter, it is possible to provide an easy-to-use microscope shutter device that has excellent versatility, is inexpensive, and does not limit the arrangement of the manipulator and the reflux device. .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above-described effects, the shock caused by the operation of the operation unit is less likely to be transmitted to the center seat, so that the sample can be prevented from moving due to vibration.

According to the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the same effects as those of the first or second aspect, the driving direction of the electric actuator is switched by operating the switch, the shutter is inserted and removed, and the transmission of the lower surface of the middle seat is performed. Since the illumination light path is opened and closed, the shielding or opening of the transmitted illumination hole can be remotely controlled and automated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an objective lens up-and-down moving erecting microscope equipped with a microscope shutter device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the shutter device of the microscope according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the elastic member according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the shutter device of the microscope according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a shutter device of the microscope according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the shutter device of the microscope according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a shutter device of the microscope according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the shutter device of the microscope according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Sample 5 Middle seat 6 Stage 8 Condenser 55 Shutter 56 Operation lever

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A shutter device for a microscope having an epi-illumination fluorescent illumination device, a transmission illumination device including a condenser, and an indentation stage on which a sample is mounted, wherein the transmission on the lower surface side of the indentation stage of the indentation stage is provided. A shutter device for a microscope, comprising: an insertable / removable shutter provided in an illumination light path; and an operation unit for inserting / removing the shutter above the middle seat. 2. The shutter device for a microscope according to claim 1, wherein an elastic member is interposed between the shutter and the operation portion and the intermediate seat. 3. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an electric actuator, a control device for controlling the electric actuator, and a switch for switching a driving direction of the electric actuator, in place of the operation unit. Microscope shutter device.