JP2005253836A - Objective optical system fixing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to carry out in vivo examination of tissue such as cells and muscle tissue or various internal organs, such as the heart, the liver, and the like of mammals, especially small experimental animals, over a comparatively long period of time. <P>SOLUTION: A fixing device 1 for an objective optical system 10 is equipped with a supporting member 3 for supporting the objective optical unit 2 which stores the objective optical system 10 in an outer sheath 11 in a hole formed in a living body tissue under an inserted state, and an attachment mechanism 4 for positioning and fixing the supporting member 3 to the living body tissue. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a fixing device for an objective optical system.

Conventionally, as a device for observing the function of a cell, etc. by irradiating a sample such as a living body with excitation light from its surface and selectively detecting fluorescence emitted from a predetermined depth position of the sample, a laser scanning type A confocal microscope is known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
This laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscope detects the fluorescence emitted from the sample by scanning the laser light focused on the micro spot area of the sample with a scanning means such as a galvanometer mirror in addition to general observation of the microscope. An image is obtained.
This laser scanning confocal microscope has an advantage that a clear observation image can be obtained with a high S / N ratio because it is excellent in resolving power and can remove light other than the minute spot to be observed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-87804 (second page, etc.) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-72481 (FIG. 1 etc.)

  However, conventional microscopes such as a laser scanning confocal microscope do not assume that various organs of small experimental animals such as rats and mice are observed alive (in vivo). Therefore, in the case of vibration due to pulsation of blood vessels or the like, the relative position between the objective optical system arranged in proximity to the observation target part and the observation target part fluctuates and the image of the observation target part blurs, There may be inconveniences such as blurring of the focus.

  In particular, in order to perform observations over time, when the experimental small animal or the like is to perform the same activities as normal during the observation period, the positioning state of the objective optical system positioned at the observation target site at the time of observation is once released. In this case, it becomes extremely difficult to position the same observation target portion again. In addition, repeated contact and removal of the objective optical system with respect to the observation target part may cause damage to the observation target part, which makes it impossible to perform observation while maintaining the observation target part in a healthy state. .

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and compared with living cells of mammalian cells including experimental small animals, living tissues such as muscles, or various organs such as heart and liver. An object of the present invention is to provide a fixing device for an objective optical system that enables observation over a very long period of time.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following means.
The present invention relates to a support member that supports an objective optical system unit in which an objective optical system is housed in an outer cylinder in an inserted state in a hole formed in a biological tissue, and the support member is positioned and fixed to the biological tissue. An objective optical system fixing device including a fixing mechanism is provided.

  According to the present invention, the support member is disposed in the hole formed in the biological tissue of the animal having the observation site, and the support member is positioned and fixed with respect to the biological tissue by the operation of the fixing mechanism. By supporting the objective optical system unit, the objective optical system unit is inserted in the hole of the living tissue and fixed so as not to move with respect to the observation target site. Thereby, even if the animal moves, it is possible to observe the observation target portion without blurring by the objective optical system unit.

In the said invention, it is preferable that the said support member is provided with the fitting hole fitted to the outer surface of the said outer cylinder.
By doing so, the objective optical system unit is easily positioned in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis with respect to the support member.

Moreover, in the said invention, it is preferable that the abutting surface which abuts the said outer cylinder in an optical axis direction is provided in the said supporting member.
In this way, the objective optical system unit is easily positioned in the optical axis direction with respect to the support member.

In the above invention, the fixing mechanism may be configured to be fixable to a skeleton in the vicinity of the living tissue.
Since the skeleton is hard and has little deformation, and the relative positional relationship with other biological tissues is stable to some extent in the body of the animal, the objective optical system unit can be attached to the biological tissue by fixing the support member to the skeleton. Can be positioned and fixed stably.

Moreover, in the said invention, the said fixing mechanism is good also as providing the tip part which is provided in the front-end | tip which exposed the said objective optical system unit of the said supporting member, and pierces the biological tissue of the observation object site | part vicinity.
The support member can be fixed to the living tissue by piercing the tip of the living tissue near the site to be observed. Since the optical unit is exposed at the tip provided with the tip, it is possible to perform observation while being fixed with respect to the site to be observed.

Moreover, in the said invention, while the said supporting member is formed in the cylinder shape inserted in the hole formed in the biological tissue, it is preferable to equip the front-end | tip with an optically transparent window member.
With this configuration, even when the objective optical system unit is detached from the support member, it is not necessary to expose the internal tissue such as the hole of the biological tissue and the site to be observed to the outside air. Sex can be maintained for a long time.

Moreover, in the said invention, it is good also as the return part caught in a biological tissue being provided in the tip part vicinity of the said supporting member.
It is possible to prevent the support member from coming off from the living tissue and falling out of the hole when the return portion in the vicinity of the distal end piercing the living tissue is caught by the living tissue. Therefore, the objective optical system unit can be maintained in a fixed state with respect to the observation target part.

In the above invention, the fixing mechanism includes an adhesive that is applied to the tip of the support member where the objective optical system unit is exposed, and bonds the tip to a living tissue in the vicinity of the site to be observed. Also good.
By doing so, the tip of the support member and the living tissue are fixed by the adhesive, so that the objective optical system unit is supported so as not to move more stably with respect to the observation target site. .

Moreover, in the said invention, the said fixing mechanism connects and fixes the base member which can be fixed to the body surface of the animal which has an observation site | part, and this base member and the said support member, or the said base member and an objective optical system unit. It is good also as providing a connection member.
In this way, the base member is fixed to the animal body surface, and the base member and the support member or the base member and the objective optical system unit are connected and fixed by the connecting member, whereby the objective optical system unit is fixed to the animal body. It becomes possible to fix to the table. The objective optical system unit can be stably fixed to the observation target site when the fixation to the living tissue or bone cannot be sufficiently performed.

Moreover, in the said invention, the said base member is good also as providing the belt wound around a body surface, and the said base member is good also as providing the jacket which an animal wears.
By doing so, it is possible to move the animal with the objective optical system unit attached, and to perform observation while alive for a long time.

The present invention also provides an objective optical system fixing device including an animal fixing base for fixing an animal in a positioning state, and a fixing mechanism for fixing an objective optical system unit including the objective optical system to the animal fixing base in a positioning state. To do.
According to this invention, the animal is fixed to the animal fixing table, and the objective optical system unit is fixed to the animal fixing table in a positioning state by the fixing mechanism, so that the objective optical system of the objective optical system unit is positioned with respect to the animal. The Thus, the objective optical system unit can observe the observation target site without blurring.

  According to the present invention, since the objective optical system unit can be maintained in a stably positioned state with respect to the observation target site, there is an effect that it is possible to easily observe the living tissue as it is. .

An objective optical system fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
The objective optical system fixing device 1 according to the present embodiment is a device that fixes the objective optical system unit 2 to an observation target site A such as an organ arranged in the body of an animal in a positioning state. 2, a support member 3 that supports the objective optical system unit 2 and a fixing mechanism 4 that maintains the support member 3 in a state where the support member 3 is positioned and fixed with respect to the arm or the foot X of the animal are provided. .

  In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support member 3 is, for example, a cylindrical member having a through hole 5 into which an animal's arm, leg X, or the like is inserted and arranged, at a substantially central position in the length direction thereof. An insertion hole 6 is provided through the side wall and into which the objective optical system unit 2 is inserted, and screw holes 7 are arranged on both sides in the length direction. The screw hole 7 is provided with a bolt 8 fastened to the tip of the through hole 5 so as to protrude. A fixing mechanism 4 that fixes the support member 3 to the living tissue X in a positioning state is configured by the through hole 5, the screw hole 7, and the bolt 8.

The objective optical system unit 2 is configured by accommodating an objective optical system 10 including a plurality of lenses 9 in a substantially cylindrical outer cylinder 11. The outer cylinder 11 includes a step portion 12 at an intermediate position in the length direction, a small-diameter portion 13 having a one-step outer diameter that is narrower on the front end side than the step portion 12, and an outer portion on the rear end side that is smaller than the small-diameter portion 13. A large diameter portion 14 having a large diameter is provided.
The insertion hole 6 includes fitting surfaces 15 a and 15 b for fitting the small diameter portion 13 and the large diameter portion 14 of the outer cylinder 11 of the objective optical system unit 2, and a step portion provided in the outer cylinder 11. The abutting surface 16 which abuts 12 is provided.

  Reference numeral 17 in the figure denotes a microscope body. The microscope main body 17 has an optical fiber 17a for transmitting light from a light source (not shown), a collimator lens 17b for making light emitted from the optical fiber 17a substantially parallel, and parallel light emitted from the collimator lens 17b. In addition, an optical scanning unit 17c such as a galvanometer mirror that scans in the observation target site A is provided.

The operation of the fixing device 1 according to this embodiment configured as described above will be described below.
FIG. 1 shows a case where the bone marrow as the observation target site A is observed. In order to fix the objective optical system unit 2 using the fixing device 1 according to the present embodiment, a living body tissue of an animal, for example, an epidermis tissue and a muscle tissue of an arm or a foot X is incised, and the bone B reaches the bone marrow A. Make a hole. In this state, the arm or the foot X is inserted into the through hole 5 of the support member 3, and the insertion hole 6 is aligned with the incised portion.

Then, the objective optical system unit 2 is inserted into the hole Y opened in the living tissue X through the insertion hole 6, and the tip of the objective optical system unit 2 is placed in contact with the bone marrow A. And in this state, the support member 3 is fixed with respect to the animal's arm or leg X by tightening the bolt 8 fastened to the screw hole 7 of the support member 3.
That is, since the support member 3 is fixed to the animal's arm, the foot X, etc., and the objective optical system unit 2 is positioned on the support member 3, the observation arranged inside the animal's arm or the foot X is performed. The distal end of the objective optical system unit 2 can be fixed in a positioning state with respect to the bone marrow A that is a target site.

  According to the fixing device 1 according to the present embodiment, since the support member 3 is provided with the abutting surface 16 that abuts the stepped portion 12 of the objective optical system unit 2, the objective optical unit 2 is attached to the support member 3. Positioning in the direction of the optical axis. In addition, since the support member 3 is provided with fitting surfaces 15 a and 15 b that fit into the small diameter portion 13 and the large diameter portion 14 of the objective optical system unit 2, the objective optical system unit 2 is attached to the support member 3. It can be arranged in a positioning state also in the radial direction.

  In this way, the objective optical system unit 2 can be positioned with respect to the support member 3 in the optical axis direction and the direction orthogonal thereto, so that the tip can be removed even if the objective optical system unit 2 is inserted into or removed from the insertion hole 6. It can be positioned at the same position in the bone marrow A with high reproducibility.

Next, an objective optical system fixing device 20 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the description of the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the portions having the same configuration as the description of the first embodiment described above to simplify the description.
The fixing device 20 according to the present embodiment includes a support member 21 having an insertion hole 6 similar to the insertion hole 6 of the fixing device 1 according to the above embodiment, and a fixing mechanism 22 provided in the support member 21. Yes.
The insertion hole 6 is provided with fitting surfaces 15a and 15b and a butting surface 16 (not shown).
In addition, the fixing mechanism 22 is configured by a gripping member 24 that is biased to a closed state by a spring 23, as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the fixing device 20 according to the present embodiment is embedded in the body of the experimental small animal X and is fixed in the body by the fixing mechanism 22. The supporting member 21 is fixed to the skeleton 25 by the holding member 24 of the fixing mechanism 22 holding the rib 25 of the experimental small animal X.
Since the skeleton 25 such as the rib is relatively hard and hardly deformed, and the relative positional relationship with a living tissue such as an organ is stable to some extent, the support member 21 is fixed to the skeleton 25 so that the support member The objective optical system unit 2 positioned and fixed at 21 can be stably maintained in a positioning state with respect to the observation target site A such as an organ.

  In addition, the fixing device 20 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the method of fixing to the rib 25 as shown in FIGS. For example, when the observation target site A is a brain tissue arranged in the skull 26, as shown in FIG. 6, it is provided at the tip of the arch-shaped member 27 that covers the head X of the experimental small animal. The support member 21 fixed to the arch-shaped member 27 may be positioned and fixed with respect to the living tissue X by sandwiching the skull 26 with the bolts 28 in the radial direction.

Next, an objective optical system fixing device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
Also in the description of this embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to portions having the same configuration as the description of the first embodiment, and the description will be simplified.
The fixing device 30 according to the present embodiment includes a fixing mechanism 32 that fixes the support member 31 to the living tissue A ′ at the tip of the support member 31. As shown in FIG. 8, the fixing mechanism 32 includes an annular pointed portion (hereinafter also referred to as a tip portion 32) formed by forming the tip of a substantially cylindrical support member 31 in a sharp shape. ing. It is the same as the fixing devices 1 and 20 according to the above-described embodiments in that the objective optical system unit 2 has the fitting surfaces 15a and 15b and the abutting surface 16 for positioning in the radial direction and the optical axis direction.

In order to position and fix the tip of the objective optical system unit 2 to the observation target site A such as an organ arranged in the body of the experimental small animal X or the like by the fixing device 30 according to the present embodiment, The support member 31 is inserted into the hole C formed through the muscle tissue or the like. Since the tip portion 32 is provided at the tip of the support member 31, the support member 31 is fixed to the organ A ′ in the radial direction by piercing the organ A ′ in the body with the tip portion 32. become.
The insertion hole 6 of the support member 31 is opened inside the annular pointed portion 32, and the tip of the objective optical system unit 2 is exposed in the opening 6 a, so that the pointed end 32 passes through the objective optical system unit 2. It is possible to observe the observation target portion A arranged inside the.

  In addition, in the fixing device 30 according to the present embodiment, the annular pointed portion 32 is employed as the fixing mechanism. Instead, as shown in FIG. A needle 32 may be provided. By doing so, damage to the living tissue such as the organ A ′ that pierces the microneedle 32 is reduced, and the support member 31 is stably attached to the living tissue A ′ arranged around the observation target site A. The positioning state can be maintained.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, a return portion 33 including a plurality of protrusions protruding in the radial direction may be provided around the tip portion 32. By doing so, once the tip 32 of the support member 31 is pierced into the organ A ′, the return portion 33 provided around the tip 32 is inserted into the organ A ′, and the support member 31 is inserted into the organ A ′. It functions to prevent detachment from A ′. As a result, since the support member 31 is fixed not only in the radial direction but also in the axial direction with respect to the organ A ′, the objective optical system unit 2 is moved in the radial direction and the optical axis with respect to the observation target portion A. It can be fixed in the positioning state stably in the direction.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11, a window member 34 made of an optically transparent material is provided to close the opening 6a disposed inside the tip 32 of the support member 31 of FIG. Also good. When the support member 31 configured as described above is inserted into the hole C provided in the living tissue X and stabbed into the organ A ′ or the like in the vicinity of the observation target site A, the hole C provided in the living tissue X. The window member 34 is disposed in close contact with the observation target part A and covers the observation target part A. As a result, even if the objective optical system unit 2 is pulled out from the insertion hole 6 of the support member 31, the living tissue X is covered so as not to be exposed to the outside air. Can be maintained in a state.

  In each of the above embodiments, the tip of the support member 31 is provided with a tip 32 for piercing the living tissue such as the organ A ′, thereby fixing the supporting member 31 to the living tissue in a positioned state. However, instead of this, as shown in FIG. 12, a biocompatible adhesive 35 may be applied to the distal end surface of the support member 31. By doing so, the supporting member 31 can be fixed in a positioned state on the living tissue A ′ in the vicinity of the observation target site A without piercing the living tissue A ′ such as an organ. Therefore, it is preferable because it can be positioned and fixed without giving a large damage to the living tissue A ′. Examples of the adhesive 35 include silane coupling agents, temperature-responsive polymers, and other biocompatible adhesives.

Next, an objective optical system fixing device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. FIG. Also in the description of this embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to portions having the same configuration as the description of the first embodiment, and the description will be simplified.
The fixing device 40 according to the present embodiment includes a support member 41 inserted into a hole C formed in the body of the experimental small animal X and the like, and fixing for fixing the support member 41 to the body (body surface) of the experimental small animal X and the like. And an instrument 42.

The support member 41 may be provided with the tip portion 32 or the adhesive 35 at the tip, similarly to the support member 31 in the third embodiment, but has a flat tip surface 41a as shown in FIG. It may be.
As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the fixing device 42 includes two metal arcuate plate-like gripping portions 43 (base members) biased in a closing direction by a spring or the like (not shown), and the gripping portions 43. And a connecting member 44 for connecting and fixing the support member 41 to each other.

  By inserting the body of the experimental small animal X while the arc plate-shaped gripping portion 43 constituting the fixing device 42 is pushed and spread against the spring force of the spring, and sandwiching the body by the spring force of the spring The grip 43 can be fixed to the trunk of the experimental small animal X.

  According to the fixing device 40 according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the fixing device 42 is fixed to the trunk of the experimental small animal X, so that the supporting member 41 and the objective optical system unit 2 inserted into the supporting member 41 are obtained. Can be fixed in a positioning state with respect to the observation target part A. This is particularly effective when the skeleton or organ A ′ itself cannot be used for fixing the support member 41. Even when the support member 41 is fixed to the skeleton or the organ A ′ itself, the objective optical system unit 2 can be more stably positioned at the observation target site A by using the fixing device 42 of this embodiment together. Can be maintained.

In the present embodiment, a structure in which the body such as the experimental small animal X is sandwiched by the metal arcuate plate-like gripping portion 43 has been described as an example of the base member. As shown, the base member may be constituted by a belt 45 wound around the body or a jacket 46 worn by a small experimental animal or the like as shown in FIG. According to these base members 45.46, the objective optical system unit 2 can be fixed to the observation target site A without damaging the experimental small animal X or the like. In addition, it is possible to cause the experimental small animal X to perform the same activity as normal, and it is also possible to perform long-term observation of observing the observation target site A over time.
The base member made up of the arcuate plate-shaped gripping portion 43 and the belt 45 can be adjusted according to the size of the experimental small animal X, and thus can be used for general purposes.

  In this embodiment, the base member 43 and the support member 41 are connected and fixed by the connecting member 44. Instead, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the base members 45 and 46 are used. And the microscope body 17 may be connected and fixed by the connecting member 44. Further, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the outer cylinder 11 of the objective optical system unit 2 inserted into the support member and the base member 43 may be connected and fixed by a connecting member 44. By doing in this way, since the objective optical system unit 2 is supported in two places, the support member 41 and the connection member 44, the observation object site | part A can be observed more stably.

Next, an objective optical system fixing device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20. Also in the description of this embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to portions having the same configuration as the description of the first embodiment, and the description will be simplified.
As shown in FIG. 19, the fixing device 50 according to the present embodiment includes an animal fixing base 51 that fixes the experimental small animal X, an arm 52 fixed to the animal fixing base 51, and a horizontal direction on the arm 52. And a slider 53 movable in the vertical direction. A microscope main body 17 having the objective optical system unit 2 is fixed to each slider 53.
As shown in FIG. 20, the mounting portion 54 on which the experimental small animal X is placed is provided with a through hole 55, and the other objective optical system unit 2 protrudes through the through hole 55 to the upper surface of the mounting portion 54. Thus, it is being fixed to the animal fixing stand 51 in the positioning state.

  In the example shown in FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, the slider 53 is actuated in the holes opened in the head and back of the experimental small animal X fixed with the abdomen facing the mounting portion 54 of the animal fixing base 51. The tip of the objective optical system unit 2 aligned in the vertical direction is arranged in the inserted state. Further, the tip of the objective optical system unit 2 that protrudes from below the placement portion 54 is disposed in the hole provided in the abdomen.

  According to the fixing device 50 according to the present embodiment, the experimental small animal X is fixed to the animal fixing base 51 on which the experimental small animal X is fixed using the objective optical system unit 2 that is positioned and fixed directly via the arm 50 and the slider 53. Since the observation target part arranged in the body is observed, the relative movement between the objective optical system unit 2 and the observation target part is suppressed as much as possible, and a clear observation image without blur can be acquired. effective.

  In each of the above embodiments, the objective optical system unit 2 has been described as an example including at least one objective lens 9 accommodated in the outer cylinder 11, but instead of this, a probe type The distal end of the microscope may be positioned and fixed to the support members 3, 21, 31, 41 as the objective optical system unit 2.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the fixing apparatus of the objective optical system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the fixing device of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the fixing apparatus of the objective optical system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the observation state which attached the fixing device of FIG. 3 to the experimental small animal. It is a top view which shows the observation state of FIG. It is the front view which fractured | ruptured a part which shows the modification of the fixing device of FIG. It is the side view which fractured | ruptured a part which shows the fixing apparatus of the objective optical system which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the supporting member of the fixing device of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the modification of the supporting member of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the other modification of the supporting member of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the other modification of the supporting member of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the other modification of the supporting member of FIG. It is the side view which fractured | ruptured a part which shows the fixing apparatus of the objective optical system which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the fixing device of FIG. It is the side view which fractured | ruptured a part which shows the modification of the fixing device of FIG. It is the side view which fractured | ruptured a part which shows the other modification of the fixing device of FIG. It is the side view which fractured | ruptured a part which shows the other modification of the fixing device of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the fixing device of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the fixing apparatus of the objective optical system which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is the side view which fractured | ruptured a part which shows the microscope main body directly fixed to the animal fixing stand of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

A ', X Biological tissue B Skeletal C Hole 1, 20, 30, 40 Fixing device 2 Objective optical system unit 3, 21, 31, 41 Support member 4, 22, 32, 42 Fixing mechanism 6 Insertion hole (fitting hole)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Objective optical system 11 Outer cylinder 16 Abutting surface 32 Point part (fixing mechanism)
33 Return part 34 Window member 35 Adhesive 43 Gripping part (base member)
44 Connecting member 45 Belt (base member)
46 Jacket (base member)

Claims (12)

A support member that supports the objective optical system unit that houses the objective optical system in the outer cylinder in an inserted state in a hole formed in the biological tissue;
An objective optical system fixing device comprising: a fixing mechanism that positions and fixes the support member with respect to a living tissue.   The objective optical system fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the support member is provided with a fitting hole to be fitted to an outer surface of the outer cylinder.   The apparatus for fixing an objective optical system according to claim 1, wherein the support member is provided with an abutting surface that abuts the outer cylinder in the optical axis direction.   The objective optical system fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fixing mechanism is configured to be fixed to a skeleton in the vicinity of the living tissue.   The objective according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fixing mechanism is provided at a tip of the support member where the objective optical system unit is exposed, and has a pointed end portion that pierces a living tissue near the observation target site. Fixing device for optical system.   The objective optical system fixing device according to claim 5, wherein the support member is formed in a cylindrical shape to be inserted into a hole formed in a biological tissue, and has an optically transparent window member at a tip thereof.   The objective optical system fixing device according to claim 5, wherein a return portion that is caught by a living tissue is provided in the vicinity of a pointed portion of the support member.   8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing mechanism includes an adhesive that is applied to a tip of the support member that exposes the objective optical system unit, and that bonds the tip to a living tissue in the vicinity of the site to be observed. The objective optical system fixing device according to claim 1.   The said fixing mechanism is provided with the base member which can be fixed to the body surface of the animal which has an observation part, and the connection member which connects and fixes this base member and the said support member, or the said base member and an objective optical system unit. The fixing device for an objective optical system according to any one of claims 1 to 8.   The objective optical system fixing device according to claim 9, wherein the base member includes a belt wound around the body surface.   The objective optical system fixing device according to claim 9, wherein the base member includes a jacket to be worn by an animal. An animal fixing base for fixing the animal in a positioning state;
An objective optical system fixing device, comprising: an objective optical system unit including the objective optical system;

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