JP2009092802A - Microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a safe microscope having high convenience with a simple constitution. <P>SOLUTION: A detecting member 47 outputs a preset signal when any prism becomes a selected state by rotating an optical path switching member 29. A control part 55 outputs a control signal for controlling a cutoff member 51 based on a signal output from the detecting member 47. The cutoff member 51 cuts off a laser beam emitted from a laser lighting system 27 based on control of the control part 55. The control part 55 cuts off the laser beam by the cutoff member 51 when the preset signal is not output from the detecting member 47. The control part 55 also controls the cutoff member 51 so as to release cutoff of the laser beam when the preset signal is output from the detecting part 47. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a microscope, and more particularly, to a microscope that can provide a safe and highly convenient microscope with a simple configuration.

  In a laser scanning microscope using a laser beam, laser light is used as a light source. In such a microscope, an observation site of a sample is determined by visual observation using a normal light source, and then the observation light is detected by switching between the light source and the observation light detector. Therefore, there is a need for a safety mechanism that prevents laser light from entering the observer's eyes when the light source is switched.

  Therefore, by operating the light blocking / non-blocking switching member so that laser light or the like does not enter the observer's eyes, detection of the detection member linked to the optical path switching member that switches whether to irradiate the sample with laser light or not. There has been proposed a microscope equipped with a safety system that prevents laser light or the like from entering the eyes of an observer based on the results (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-15044 A

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, it is necessary for an observer to operate the light blocking / non-blocking state detection member, and a detection member that interlocks with the light blocking / non-blocking switching member or the optical path switching member is required for each part.

  For this reason, a microscope equipped with a safety system has been required to reduce the operation burden on the observer and to adopt a safer and simpler configuration.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and is intended to provide a microscope that is safe and highly convenient with a simple configuration.

  The microscope of the present invention includes an illumination device that illuminates a sample, a first optical system for observing an image of the sample with the naked eye, and a second optical system for observing the image of the sample without depending on the naked eye. In the microscope, the light of the sample is received, and the light of the sample is transmitted to either the first optical system or the second optical system, or the first optical system and the second optical system. An optical path switching unit that switches an optical path of the light, a detection unit that detects a setting of the optical path switching unit, and blocks light from the illumination device according to a detection result of the detection unit Control means for controlling whether or not to perform the control, and the control means is set by the detection means so that the optical path switching means guides light from the sample only to the second optical system. If the lighting device is detected, Releasing the blocking of light from a microscope.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a microscope that is safe and highly convenient with a simple configuration.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example according to an embodiment of a microscope 10 to which the present invention is applied. The microscope 10 is configured as an inverted microscope equipped with a safety system that prevents laser light and the like from entering the eyes of an observer.

  As shown in the figure, the microscope 10 is configured to include a transmission illumination device 25 connected to a main body 21 by a column 23 and a laser illumination device 27 including a laser light source. The transmitted illumination device 25 is configured by, for example, a fluorescent lamp, and irradiates light that can be safely observed with the naked eye of the observer. On the other hand, the laser illuminator 27 irradiates the laser light emitted from the laser light source as described above, and the light radiated from the laser illuminator 27 cannot be safely observed with the naked eye of the observer.

  The sample observed using the microscope 10 is placed on the upper side of the sample table 33 in the drawing, the transmission illumination device 25 emits light from the upper side of the sample in the drawing, and the laser illumination device 27 includes the fiber 49 and the light. The laser beam guided through the dividing element 37 is irradiated from the lower side of the sample in the drawing.

  The light splitting element 37 is configured by, for example, a filter and is installed so as to change the laser light emitted from the fiber 49 in the direction indicated by the arrow 61 to the direction indicated by the arrow 62.

  Further, the light from the sample in the direction indicated by the arrow 63 passes through the light splitting element 37 and becomes the light in the direction indicated by the arrow 64 and travels toward the optical path switching member 29.

  The light splitting element 37 is, for example, a movable configuration, and the laser beam in the direction indicated by the arrow 61 emitted from the fiber 49 is changed to the arrow only when the light splitting element 37 is moved to a predetermined position. As indicated by 62, the laser beam may be guided to the objective lens 31.

  An objective lens 31 is provided below the sample table 33 in the drawing. The laser light irradiated and reflected on the sample, or the light irradiated by the transmission illumination device 25 and transmitted through the sample and traveling downward in the drawing of the sample table 33 is condensed by the objective lens 31 and indicated by an arrow 63. It becomes the light of the direction.

  The optical path switching member 29 is installed on a rotating turret, for example, and is attached so as to be rotatable about the center of the turret. A plurality of types of prisms and the like are attached to the upper side of the optical path switching member 29 installed in the turret so that any suitable prism can be selectively positioned on the optical path by rotating the turret. Has been made.

  The optical path switching member 29 is configured to have, for example, three types of prisms, and the first prism reflects without transmitting the light in the direction indicated by the arrow 64 and reflects in the direction indicated by the arrow 71. Has been made. The second prism is configured to transmit the light in the direction indicated by the arrow 64 without reflecting it and to make the light in the direction indicated by the arrow 72. The third prism is a half mirror that divides light in the direction indicated by arrow 64 into two, one reflected and changed to the direction indicated by arrow 71, and the other transmitted and indicated by arrow 72. It is made to be the light of the direction.

  That is, one of the plurality of prisms is selected by rotating the optical path switching member 29 and fixing it to a predetermined position. Depending on the selection, the light in the direction indicated by the arrow 64 becomes the light in the direction indicated by the arrow 71, the light in the direction indicated by the arrow 72, or the light in the direction indicated by the arrow 71 and the arrow. Two light beams having directions indicated by 72 are obtained.

  The light in the direction indicated by the arrow 71 is reflected by the mirror 42 and enters the eye of the observer through the eyepiece 41 provided in the lens barrel 39 of the naked eye observation optical system 35.

  The light in the direction indicated by the arrow 72 is reflected by the mirror 43 and becomes the light in the direction indicated by the arrow 73 so as to enter the imaging optical system 45. Note that the imaging optical system 45 is configured to image light incident thereon by an imaging element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device).

  That is, the observer can fix the optical path switching member 29 at an appropriate position, observe the sample with the naked eye, take an image of the sample, or view the image while observing the sample with the naked eye. An image can be taken.

  In the example described above, when observing the sample with the naked eye, the observer fixes the optical path switching member 29 at an appropriate position (forms the first optical system) so that the first prism is selected, When it is desired to take an image of the sample, the observer may fix the optical path switching member 29 at an appropriate position (form a second optical system) so that the second prism is selected. In addition, when observing the sample with the naked eye and taking an image of the sample, the observer fixes the optical path switching member 29 at an appropriate position so that the third prism is selected (first and second optical systems). Forming an optical system sharing the same.

  The detection member 47 is composed of, for example, a micro switch and is provided in the vicinity of the optical path switching member 29 so as to detect the position of the optical path switching member 29. For example, the detection member 47 is configured to be fitted into a groove or the like provided at a predetermined position of the optical path switching member 29, and the optical path switching member 29 is rotated to be one of the plurality of prisms. Is set to a state selected on the optical path, a preset signal is output.

  The detection member 47 is set in advance, for example, when the optical path switching member 29 is rotated and fixed at a position where the above-described second prism for guiding light to the imaging optical system 45 is selected. The signal is output to the control unit 55.

  The control unit 55 outputs a control signal for controlling the blocking member 51 based on the signal output from the detection member 47. The blocking member 51 is configured as a shutter, for example, and blocks laser light emitted from the laser illumination device 27 based on the control of the control unit 55.

  For example, when the preset signal is not output from the detection member 47, the control unit 55 blocks the laser beam by the blocking member 51. Further, when a preset signal is output from the detection member 47, the control unit 55 controls the blocking member 51 so as to release the blocking of the laser beam.

  That is, only when the above-described second prism is selected, the laser light is guided to the sample via the fiber 49, and when the above-described first prism or third prism is selected, If no prism is selected, the laser beam is not guided to the sample via the fiber 49. Therefore, the laser light is guided to the eyepiece 41, and the observer does not mistakenly observe the laser light.

  The first prism described above changes the light in the direction indicated by the arrow 64 to the direction indicated by the arrow 71, and the third prism splits the light in the direction indicated by the arrow 64 into two, one of which is an arrow When the first prism or the third prism is selected, the arrow 71 is changed so that the direction shown by 71 is changed, and the other is transmitted to be the light having the direction shown by the arrow 72. The light in the direction indicated by is emitted and the light enters the eyes of the observer through the naked eye observation optical system 35.

  On the other hand, the second prism transmits the light in the direction indicated by the arrow 64 without reflecting it to make the light in the direction indicated by the arrow 72, so that the second prism is selected. The light in the direction indicated by the arrow 71 is not emitted, and no light enters the eyes of the observer through the naked eye observation optical system 35.

  In the present invention, the detection member 47 detects a state in which the laser beam is not likely to enter the observer's eyes and the second prism is selected. The laser beam is not blocked by the blocking member 51 only when a state where there is no possibility that the laser beam is incident on the eyes of the observer is detected. In other words, the laser beam is automatically blocked by the blocking member 51 when there is a possibility that light enters the eyes of the observer.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to always observe the sample safely without imposing an excessive operation burden on the observer. Further, since the blocking member 51 is controlled based only on the detection result of the detection member 47, a simple configuration can be realized.

  Here, it has been described that the control unit 55 controls the blocking member 51, but the control unit 55 may control the power ON / OFF unit 53 of the laser illumination device 27. That is, when there is a possibility that light enters the eyes of the observer, the laser illumination device 27 may be turned off by the power ON / OFF unit 53.

  Further, the blocking member 51 may be configured to be integrated with the laser illumination device 27.

  By the way, in the conventional microscope, a member (a member corresponding to the light splitting element 37 in FIG. 1) that switches whether or not the sample is irradiated with laser light, and a member that switches whether the light is guided to the naked eye observation optical system. A configuration has been employed in which a member (a member corresponding to the optical path switching member 29 in FIG. 1) is integrated, or a member that switches whether light is guided to the naked eye observation optical system is manually operated.

  However, in the conventional configuration, for example, when the light splitting element, the optical path switching member, and the prism constituting the optical path switching member are damaged, there is a possibility that the laser light reaches the observer's naked eye. For example, when a member that switches whether or not to irradiate the sample with laser light and a member that switches whether or not to guide light to the naked eye observation optical system are integrated, the light splitting element is damaged. There is a possibility that the laser beam may be incident on the observer's eyes by mistake.

  In contrast, in the microscope 10 of the present invention, the light splitting element 37 in FIG. 1 which is a member for switching whether or not to irradiate the sample with laser light, and whether or not to guide light to the naked eye observation optical system are switched. The optical path switching member 29 of FIG. 1 which is a member is separately provided as a separate member, and the optical path switching member 29 is provided at a position closer to the eyes of the observer on the optical path than the light splitting element 37.

  By doing so, for example, even if the light splitting element 37 is damaged, the optical path switching member 29 is provided, so that it is possible to prevent the laser light from being incident on the observer's eyes by mistake. .

  Therefore, according to the present invention, a safer microscope can be provided.

  Although an example in which the present invention is applied to an inverted microscope has been described here, the present invention can also be applied to an upright microscope.

  Moreover, although the example which interrupts | blocks the laser beam irradiated from the laser illumination apparatus 27 was demonstrated above, for example, in the microscope which has an ultraviolet illumination, this invention is applied even when it is a case where ultraviolet light is interrupted | blocked. It is possible.

It is a figure which shows the structural example which concerns on one Embodiment of the microscope to which this invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

10 microscope,
25 transmission illumination device,
27 laser illumination device,
29 optical path switching member,
31 objective lens,
33 Sample table,
35 Visual observation optical system,
37 light splitting elements,
41 eyepiece,
42 mirror,
43 Mirror,
45 imaging optics,
47 detection member,
49 fiber,
51 blocking member,
53 Power ON / OFF section,
55 control unit,

Claims (4)

An illumination device for illuminating the sample;
A first optical system for observing an image of the sample with the naked eye;
In a microscope having a second optical system for observing an image of a sample without depending on the naked eye,
While receiving the light of the sample, the light of the sample is changed to either the first optical system or the second optical system, or both the first optical system and the second optical system. And an optical path switching means for switching the optical path of the light,
Detecting means for detecting the setting of the optical path switching means;
Control means for controlling whether or not to block light from the illumination device according to the detection result of the detection means,
When the detection means detects that the optical path switching means is set to guide the light from the sample only to the second optical system, the control means emits light from the illumination device. A microscope characterized by releasing the blockage of. It further comprises irradiation means for reflecting the light irradiated from the illumination device and irradiating the sample with the light,
The microscope according to claim 1, wherein the position of the optical path switching unit is closer to the first optical system than the position of the irradiation unit on the optical path of the light of the sample. . The microscope according to claim 1, wherein the illumination device is a light source that emits laser light or ultraviolet rays. The microscope according to claim 3, further comprising an illumination light source that transmits and illuminates the sample.

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