JP4995656B2 - Microscope equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a microscope apparatus used in histopathological examinations, hematology examinations, genetic examinations, cytology examinations, and the like, and more particularly, to a microscope apparatus having a function of taking a specimen and acquiring image data.

In recent years, in microscopic examinations of histopathology, hematology, genetic testing, etc., the collected pathological tissues and specimens of cells, blood, etc. are photographed with a photographing device equipped with a microscope, and the images are taken into a computer and displayed. Image data that can be observed above is created. (For example, see Patent Document 1)
JP 2003-222801 A

In the microscope apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a light source such as a halogen lamp used as a light source for illuminating a specimen has a problem that unevenness occurs in the brightness of the entire microscope field. Therefore, as described in Patent Document 2, a technique has been proposed in which a large number of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are arranged vertically and horizontally to form a surface light source, and the entire specimen is illuminated uniformly with the light.
JP 2002-221664 A

  However, if such a surface light source composed of a large number of light emitting diodes is left on for a long time to illuminate the specimen on the specimen stage, there is a problem that the tissue of the specimen is damaged by the heat generated by the light emitting diodes. In addition, since the specimen stage becomes hot and the temperature of the air in the vicinity of the upper surface rises to cause convection, there is a problem that the specimen image fluctuates during photographing with a microscope and a clear microscope image cannot be taken.

  Therefore, the present invention eliminates the problems in the prior art as described above, and the specimen such as a pathological tissue to be microscopically photographed is not likely to be damaged by the heat generated by the surface light source using a large number of light emitting diodes. An object of the present invention is to provide a microscope apparatus capable of obtaining a highly accurate photographed image.

The microscope apparatus of the present invention provided to achieve the above object includes an imaging unit for taking an image of a specimen held on the upper surface of the specimen stage from above the specimen stage through an optical lens system, and an attachment to the specimen stage. A diffusion plate having an upper surface exposed on the sample stage and a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged vertically and horizontally so as to face the lower surface, and the light from these light emitting diodes is diffused by the diffusion plate. A surface light source unit that illuminates the entire surface substantially uniformly from below, and an exposure start command is issued to the photographing unit to start exposure. After a preset exposure time, an exposure end command is issued to the photographing unit. a control unit to terminate the exposure and, in response to the exposure start trigger signal output from the imaging unit at the time of exposure start, the surface light source unit With lighting the light emitting diodes simultaneously, in which a power supply unit turns off by receiving an exposure end trigger signal output from the imaging unit at the end of exposure all at once a light emitting diode of the surface light source unit.

  The microscope apparatus includes an epi-illumination light source unit that illuminates a specimen stained with a fluorescent dye on a slide glass held on the upper surface of the specimen stage from above, and emits ultraviolet light for emitting fluorescence from the stained portion of the specimen; A shutter mechanism for blocking / transmitting control so that ultraviolet light irradiated toward the specimen from the incident light source unit is irradiated to the specimen for a time equal to or shorter than the photographing time of the photographing unit in accordance with the photographing timing of the photographing unit It is desirable to have.

In addition, the microscope apparatus illuminates a specimen stained with a fluorescent dye held on the upper surface of the specimen stage from above, and an epi-illumination light source unit having a light emitting diode as a light source for emitting fluorescence from the stained portion of the specimen; A power supply unit for causing the light emitting diode of the incident light source unit to emit light;
It is also desirable to include a control unit that controls the power supply unit so that the light emitting diode of the epi-illumination light source unit emits light for the time required for photographing by the photographing unit in accordance with the photographing timing of the photographing unit.

  The power supply unit and control unit used for the epi-illumination light source unit using the light-emitting diode as a light source are the same as those used for the surface light source unit provided on the specimen stage, and between these light source units, The light source units may be switched for use, or may be used independently for each of these light source units.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a surface light source unit having a diffuser plate whose upper surface is exposed on the sample stage and a large number of light emitting diodes arranged vertically and horizontally facing the lower surface is attached to the sample stage. Therefore, the light from these light-emitting diodes is diffused by the diffusion plate, and the entire specimen can be transmitted and illuminated substantially uniformly from below, and the control unit issues an exposure start command to the imaging unit. The exposure of the unit is started, and the power supply unit receives the exposure start trigger signal that is output when the exposure unit starts the exposure, turns on the light emitting diodes of the light source unit all at once, and the control unit takes an image after the preset exposure time has elapsed. By issuing an exposure end command to the unit, the exposure of the photographing unit is terminated, and the power supply unit For so that turn off all at once a light emitting diode of the light source unit receives the exposure completion trigger signal output at the end of exposure, it is possible to emit light for the time required to light emitting diode imaging of the specimen, caused by the emission Heat generation can be minimized .

As a result, when taking a microscopic image of the specimen, there is no risk that the specimen will be damaged by the heat generated from the light emitting diodes , or that the microscope image will be shaken by convection caused by the high temperature of the specimen stage. A microscopic image can be obtained.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, the sample stained with the fluorescent dye, which is held on the upper surface of the sample stage, is illuminated from above, and from the stained part of the sample An epi-illumination light source unit that emits ultraviolet light for emitting fluorescence, and the ultraviolet light is irradiated on the specimen in accordance with the photographing timing of the photographing unit so that the ultraviolet light is irradiated for the time required for photographing by the imaging unit. Since a shutter mechanism for blocking and transmitting light is provided, it is possible to take a fluorescent microscope image of a specimen stained with a fluorescent dye.

  In addition, when taking a fluorescent microscope image using the epi-illumination light source unit, the specimen is exposed to ultraviolet light only for a short time when the shutter mechanism is open, so the specimen and the ultraviolet dye of the fluorescent dye that stains the specimen are exposed. A chemical change due to light can be reduced as much as possible, and a clear and highly accurate fluorescence microscope image can be obtained.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, as in the invention described in claim 2, it is also possible to take a fluorescent microscope image of a specimen stained with a fluorescent dye. . When photographing a fluorescent microscope image, the light emitting diode of the epi-illumination light source unit is made to emit light for the time required for photographing by the photographing unit in accordance with the photographing timing of the photographing unit, so that the shutter mechanism is unnecessary. In addition, by controlling the power supply of the light emitting diode of the epi-illumination light source unit, it is possible to adjust the light amount without using a neutral density filter, so that the structure of the microscope apparatus can be simplified.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the structure of a main part of a microscope apparatus as an embodiment of the present invention. The microscope apparatus 1 shown in the figure is a horizontal plane by a linear guide mechanism attached to a base frame (not shown). The specimen stage 2 is guided and supported so as to be linearly movable in the X and Y directions orthogonal to each other and in the vertical Z direction.

  The specimen stage 2 is configured to be moved and positioned in each of the X, Y, and Z directions via a feed screw mechanism by a servo motor that is independently rotationally controlled. The specimen stage 2 is configured such that the slide glass P of the specimen S to be microscopically photographed on its upper surface can be detachably held by the four clamp members 3.

  A surface light source unit 4 shown in FIG. 2 is incorporated in the specimen stage 2. In the surface light source unit 4, a large number of light emitting diodes 7 are arranged vertically and horizontally on an LED substrate 6 disposed at the bottom of a box-shaped case 5 whose upper surface is open.

  A reflection plate 8 made of a thin aluminum plate is mounted on the inner wall of the case 5, and the upper end opening of the case 5 is covered with a glass diffusion plate 9. . The upper surface of the diffusion plate 9 is exposed on the upper surface of the sample stage 2 at a position where the lower surface of the slide glass P is placed in a state where the surface light source unit 4 is incorporated in the sample stage 2.

  The light emitting diodes 7 built in the surface light source unit 4 emit light all at once when fed by the feeding cable 10, and the light is diffused when passing through the diffusion plate 9 and set on the sample stage 2. The specimen S is illuminated uniformly from below.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the microscope apparatus 1 includes an electric revolver 11 that is rotatably provided at a fixed position with respect to the base frame. A plurality of types of objective lenses 12, 12 </ b> A, and 12 </ b> B having different magnifications are attached to the electric revolver 11.

  These objective lenses 12 can be exchanged and used by rotating the electric revolver 11 with a drive source (not shown). Above the objective lens 12 in the use position, an intermediate lens 13 and a prism 14 are arranged so as to coincide with the optical axis.

  Light incident on the objective lens 12 at the use position from below passes through the intermediate lens 13 and enters the deflecting prism 14, and the incident light is totally reflected by the prism 14, and the direction thereof is changed. The light enters the camera 15. Further, the microscope apparatus 1 is provided with a macro camera 16 for monitoring the entire state of the specimen stage 2 from above.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a power supply control system of the microscope apparatus 1. The microscope apparatus 1 has a power supply unit 18 controlled by a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as PC) 17 having a role as a control unit. is doing.

  The PC 17 is connected to the power supply unit 18, the micro camera 15, and the macro camera 16 via USB (Universal Serial Bus) cables 19, 20, and 21, respectively. The power supply unit 18 is connected to the micro camera 15 by the trigger signal cable 22 and is connected to the surface light source unit 4 by the power supply cable 10.

  In this embodiment, the PC 17 is used as the control unit. However, the control unit is not limited to this, and the control unit may be manufactured using a dedicated control circuit board and mounted in the base frame of the microscope apparatus 1. Good.

Hereinafter, based on the drawings, a procedure for photographing a specimen using the above-described microscope apparatus 1 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 4, the specimen imaging is roughly divided into three processing steps: initial startup processing (step S1), specimen setting processing (step S2), and micro imaging processing (step S3).

  First, the contents of the initial startup process (step S1) will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the figure, when the microscope apparatus 1 is activated, the specimen stage 2 shown in FIG. 1 is controlled to move to a predetermined origin position in the XY plane and stop at the origin position (step S11). ).

  Next, the electric revolver 11 is initialized. That is, the electric revolver 11 is rotationally driven so that a predetermined one of the plurality of objective lenses 12 is in the use position (step S12). Note that when the objective lens 12 determined from the beginning is in the use position, the initialization step of the electric revolver 11 is not performed. Further, the step S11 and the step S12 may be performed at the same time, or the order may be reversed.

  Next, the specimen stage 2 is controlled to move to the specimen setting position and stop at the specimen setting position (step S13). After the specimen stage 2 has moved to the specimen setting position, the surface light source unit 4 attached to the specimen stage 2 is supplied with power from the power supply unit 18 via the power supply cable 10, and the light emitting diodes 7 in the surface light source unit 4 are continuously connected. Lights up (step 14).

  Here, control for supplying power from the power supply unit 18 to the surface light source unit 4 is performed by an LED illumination lighting command sent from the PC 17 to the power supply unit 18 via the USB cable 19B.

  Next, the micro camera 15 and the macro camera 16 are initialized (step S15). Here, the initialization is a process in which the PC 17 connected to the micro camera 15 and the macro camera 16 and the USB cables 20 and 21 is opened and the PC 17 acquires camera information such as the model number and the number of pixels of these cameras. Means.

  When the initialization of the micro camera 15 and the macro camera 16 is completed, photographing of the periphery of the specimen stage 2 by the macro camera 16 is started (step 16), and the image data is sent to the PC 17 and the real time image photographed by the macro camera 16 is obtained. Is displayed on a monitor screen (not shown) attached to the PC 17 (step S17).

  Thus, the initial startup process of the microscope apparatus 1 is completed, and then the process proceeds to the specimen setting process (step S2) in FIG. Next, more detailed contents of the sample setting process (step S2) will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In the figure, the specimen set (step S21) is set at the specimen setting position, the slide glass P on which the specimen S is placed on the specimen stage 2 shown in FIG. The four corners of P are pressed against the upper surface of the specimen stage 2 from above and fixed.

  At this time, the slide glass P is positioned so as to overlap directly on the diffusion plate 9 (see FIG. 2) exposed on the upper surface of the specimen stage 2. This sample setting operation is performed manually. When the sample setting operation is completed, various photographing conditions for the micro camera 15 are set (step S22). Here, the setting contents of the imaging conditions include a feed speed when taking a sample S on the sample stage 2 and taking a magnification of the captured image.

Next, a macro camera image is acquired, white balance and exposure time of the macro camera 16 are adjusted automatically or manually (step S23), and additional shooting conditions are set (step S24).
Here, the additional imaging conditions include an imaging area on the specimen S set on the specimen stage 2 and the like.

  Next, a command signal for turning off the LED illumination is issued from the PC 17 to the power supply unit 18 via the USB cable 19, whereby the power supply from the power supply unit 18 to the surface light source unit 4 via the power supply cable 10 is cut off and has been continuous until now. All the light emitting diodes 7 (see FIG. 2) in the surface light source unit 4 that has been turned on are turned off all at once (step S25).

  Next, the specimen stage 2 moves to the specimen photographing position below the electric revolver 11 (the position of the specimen stage 2 drawn by a solid line in FIG. 1) (step S26), and then the electric revolver 11 performs step S22 described above. The rotational position of the electric revolver 11 is switched so as to correspond to the magnification set in step 1, and the lens of the objective lens 12 is exchanged (step S27).

  Thus, the specimen setting process of the microscope apparatus 1 is completed, and then the process proceeds to the micro imaging process (step S3) in FIG. Next, more detailed contents of the micro photographing process (step S3) will be described below based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 7, when the micro photographing process is started, first, focus adjustment of the micro camera 15 for photographing the first field of view of the photographing range of the specimen S on the specimen stage 2 is performed (step S31). The focus adjustment is performed by taking a plurality of images with the micro camera 15 while moving the specimen stage 2 up and down in the Z-axis direction (vertical direction) at predetermined intervals while changing the level of the photographing part of the specimen S. Data is sequentially taken into the PC 17 via the USB cable 21, and the change in brightness and darkness of the image is fast Fourier transformed to focus on an image containing the most high-frequency components, that is, an image with a clear outline. The stored image is stored in the memory of the PC 17.

  Here, the imaging by the micro camera 15 performed to adjust the vertical position of the specimen stage 2 is performed by the micro camera imaging procedure described later, and the light-emitting diodes 7 of the surface light source unit 4 are simultaneously gathered for a short time. The sample S on the sample stage 2 is exposed to light and the transmitted light of the sample S is received by the micro camera 15 through the objective lens 12, the intermediate lens 13, and the prism 14.

  When the above-described focus adjustment of the micro camera 15 is completed, normal micro camera imaging of the first field of view of the imaging range of the specimen S is performed (step S32). FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing details of the micro camera photographing. In the micro photographing of the specimen S, first, an exposure start command is issued from the PC 17 side to the micro camera 15 through the USB cable 20 (step S321).

  The micro camera 15 that has received the exposure start command from the PC 17 outputs an external trigger signal for starting exposure to the power supply unit 18 via the trigger signal cable 22 (step S322). As a result, the power supply unit 18 supplies power to the surface light source unit 4 through the power supply cable 10 and turns on the light emitting diodes 7 inside thereof all at once.

  The light emitted from the light emitting diodes 7 passes through the sample S on the stage as scattered light having uniform brightness when passing through the diffusion plate 9, and further, the objective lens 12, the intermediate lens 13, and the prism 14. And the micro camera 15 is exposed. When the preset exposure time has elapsed, the PC 17 issues an exposure end command to the micro camera 15 (step S324).

  Upon receipt of the exposure end command, the micro camera 15 outputs an exposure end trigger signal to the power supply unit 18 (step S325). Then, the power supply unit 18 that has received the exposure end trigger signal cuts off the power supply to the surface light source unit 4, and as a result, the respective light emitting diodes 7 are turned off all at once and the exposure of the micro camera 15 is ended (step S326). .

  Whether the focus position is correct or not is determined by the PC 17 for the image data of the first field of view on the sample S captured by the micro camera 15 and captured by the PC 17 in the above process (step in FIG. 7). 33). Since the focus adjustment has already been performed in the previous step 31, the image data of the first visual field is stored in a storage device such as a hard disk attached to the PC 17 (step S34). .

  Next, the PC 17 determines whether or not the imaging of all the parts in the imaging area on the sample S set in advance has been completed. If there is a part that has not been completed yet (NO in step S35). ), The specimen stage 2 is moved to the visual field portion adjacent to the first visual field portion (step S36).

  After the specimen stage 2 moves to the adjacent visual field portion and stops, micro camera photographing is performed for the new visual field portion (step S32), and the photographed image data is stored if the photographing focus position is correct.

  When the thickness of the sample S is not uniform, the focus position where the initial focus adjustment is performed may be shifted when the photographing part is moved. In that case, the process returns to step S31 again, and the vertical position of the specimen stage 2 is readjusted so that it is in focus.

  In this way, the same procedure is repeated until all the imaging in the imaging area is completed. When all the imaging is completed (YES in step S35), the PC 17 moves the specimen stage 2 to the specimen setting position (step S35). S37), the micro photographing process is terminated.

  Next, FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a main part structure of a microscope apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which parts used in common with the microscope apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 described above. The same numbers as those in FIG. 1 are used.

  The microscope apparatus 1A shown in FIG. 9 has the function of the microscope apparatus 1 described above with a function as a fluorescence microscope that takes a specimen image with fluorescence emitted by irradiating ultraviolet light to a specimen stained with a fluorescent dye. 1, the incident light source unit 23, the electric filter revolver 24, the electric shutter 25, the prism 26, the fluorescent cubes 27, 27A, and 27B, and the fluorescent cubes 27, 27A, and 27B are mounted on the microscope apparatus 1 shown in FIG. An electric revolver 28 is added.

  The incident light source unit 23 includes a mercury lamp as an incident light source for generating ultraviolet light. In addition, the electric filter revolver 24 can select a plurality of light attenuations having different transmittances so that the intensity of the epi-illumination applied to the specimen S on the specimen stage 2 can be selected according to the type of specimen to be photographed and the characteristics of the fluorescent dye to be used. It has a filter and is structured to select a neutral density filter by being rotated by a motor (not shown).

  The electric shutter 25 is a shutter mechanism for applying light emitted from the epi-illumination light source unit 23 to the sample S for a necessary exposure time, and is provided with a transmission position (open position) 25A and a shielding position (closed position) by driving means (not shown). ) It slides between 25B, and an opening / closing operation is performed.

  Ultraviolet light (light indicated by a solid line in FIG. 9) emitted from the incident light source unit 23 sequentially passes through the electric filter revolver 24 and the electric shutter 25 and is horizontally changed by the prism 26 and mounted on the electric revolver 28. The incident light enters one fluorescent cube 27.

  Although not shown, incident light from the epi-illumination light source 23 passes through the excitation filter, is deflected downward by the dichroic mirror, and further passes through the objective lens 12 and on the sample stage 2 inside the fluorescent cube 27. Illuminate the specimen S set to.

  When the specimen S receives ultraviolet light from the incident light source 23, the fluorescent dye that stains the specimen S emits fluorescence. This light (light indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 9) enters the fluorescent cube 27 through the objective lens 12, passes through the dichroic mirror incorporated therein, and is further provided in the fluorescent cube 27. The light passes through the absorption filter and passes upward from the fluorescent cube 27, and is further deflected horizontally by the prism 14 to enter the micro camera 15.

  At this time, light other than fluorescence having a specific wavelength emitted by the fluorescent dye such as reflected light on the surface of the sample S is absorbed when passing through the absorption filter, and the micro camera 15 has a specific wavelength emitted from the sample S. Only fluorescence is incident.

  Each of the three fluorescent cubes 27, 27A, 28B has a built-in absorption filter that transmits fluorescence of different wavelengths, and is used for staining the sample S from these three types of fluorescent cubes 27, 27A, 27B. Those having characteristics suitable for the fluorescent dye to be used can be selected by rotating the electric revolver 28. These fluorescent cubes 27, 27A, 27B are detachably mounted on mounting holes 28A opened in the electric revolver 28.

Next, the procedure of fluorescent microscope photographing using the above-described microscope apparatus 1A will be described below.
The overall imaging procedure is the same as the procedure for specimen imaging by transmitted illumination in the microscope apparatus 1 described above, the initial startup process (step S1), specimen setting process (step S2), and micro imaging process (steps) shown in FIG. It consists of three processing steps similar to S3).

  However, in the microscope apparatus 1A of the present embodiment, in order to use the epi-illumination by the mercury lamp, the image of the macro camera 16 is displayed on the monitor screen in real time during the initial start-up process in the above-described flow of FIG. After performing S17), the mercury lamp of the epi-illumination unit 23 is turned on. Note that the specimen photographing with the micro camera 15 starts after the mercury lamp is turned on and after the lighting state is stabilized after about 10 minutes.

  Further, the contents of the sample setting process are performed in the same manner as in the case of the microscope apparatus 1 according to the above-described procedure of FIG. 6, but in this embodiment, the lens of the objective lens 12 is exchanged (step S27). After that, the electric filter revolver 24 and the electric revolver 28 are rotated as necessary, and the intensity of the epi-illumination applied to the specimen S on the specimen stage 2 and the fluorescent cubes 27, 27A, 27B to be used are selected.

  Next, FIG. 10 shows the details of the micro photographing process by the microscope apparatus 1A of the present embodiment. Steps S′31 to S′35 in FIG. The same procedure as in step S35 is performed.

  In FIG. 10, in the case where all the imaging in the imaging area has not been completed (NO route of step S′35), it is necessary immediately before moving the specimen stage 2 to the next imaging position (step S′38). Accordingly, the electric revolver 28 is rotated to exchange the fluorescent cubes 27, 27A, 27B (YES route from step S′36 → step S′37). Note that if all the imaging areas have been imaged in step S'35, the sample stage 2 is moved to the sample setting position in step S'39, and the operation is completed.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing details of the micro camera photographing in step S′32 in FIG. 10. In micro photographing of the specimen S, first, an image capture command is sent from the PC 17 side to the micro camera 15 through the USB cable 20. Issue (step S'321).

  The micro camera 15 that has received the image capture command outputs an exposure start trigger signal to the PC 17 via the USB cable 20 (step S'322). Receiving this, the PC 17 issues an electric shutter open command to the electric shutter 25 (step S'323), the electric shutter 25 is opened, and exposure is started (step S'324).

  When the predetermined exposure time has elapsed, the micro camera 15 outputs an exposure end trigger signal to the PC 17 (S'325). Then, the PC 17 issues an electric shutter shielding close command to the electric shutter 25 (S'326), the electric shutter 25 is closed, and the exposure ends (step S'327).

  Note that the microscope apparatus 1A described above is not limited to the epi-illumination light source unit 23, but can also be used for microscopic photography by transmitted illumination using the surface light source unit 4 built in the specimen stage 2 as in the microscope apparatus 1 of FIG. Is possible.

  The epi-illumination light source unit 23 of the microscope apparatus 1A incorporates a mercury lamp as an epi-illumination light source. Instead of this, one to a plurality of fluorescent dyes that stain the specimen S emit light at a wavelength at which the fluorescence is emitted. You may use what built in the one light emitting diode.

  In this case, the light emitting diode as the epi-illumination light source is made to emit light when energized from the power supply unit 18, and in the same manner as the surface light source unit 4 described above, in accordance with the imaging timing of the micro camera 15 (imaging unit). It is sufficient that the PC 17 (control unit) controls the power supply unit 18 so that the light is emitted only for the time required for shooting, and a shutter mechanism such as the electric shutter 25 described above is not necessary.

  In addition, when an epi-illumination light source unit using a light-emitting diode as a light source is used, the light amount can be directly adjusted by controlling the power of the light-emitting diode, so that a neutral density filter can be eliminated. Further, unlike the mercury lamp, the specimen can be photographed by the micro camera 15 without waiting until the lighting state is stabilized.

  Note that a power supply unit that supplies power to an epi-illumination light source unit that uses the light emitting diode as a light source and a control unit that controls the power supply unit may be provided independently of those used for the surface light source unit 4.

  The microscope apparatus of the present invention can be widely used in histopathological examination, hematology examination, cytology examination, molecular biology examination, biological specimen analysis and the like.

It is the schematic which shows the principal part structure of the microscope apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the surface light source unit used for the microscope apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a wiring diagram of the electric power feeding control system of the microscope apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the whole sample imaging | photography operation | work by the microscope apparatus shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the process at the time of initial starting in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the sample setting process in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the micro imaging | photography process in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of micro camera imaging | photography in FIG. It is the schematic which shows the principal part structure of the microscope apparatus in another embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the micro imaging | photography process in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of micro camera imaging | photography in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A Microscope apparatus 2 Specimen stage 3 Clamp member 4 Surface light source unit 5 Case 6 LED board 7 Light emitting diode (LED)
8 Reflecting plate 9 Diffusing plate 10 Feeding cable 11 Electric revolver (for objective lens)
12, 12A, 12B Objective lens 13 Intermediate lens 14 Prism 15 Micro camera 16 Macro camera 17 PC (personal computer)
18 Power unit 19, 20, 21 USB cable 22 Trigger signal cable 23 Incident light source unit 24 Electric filter revolver 25 Electric shutter 25A Transmission position 25B Shielding position 26 Prism 27, 27A, 27B Fluorescent cube 28 Electric revolver

Claims (3)

A photographing unit for photographing an image of the specimen held on the top surface of the specimen stage through an optical lens system from above the specimen stage;
A diffusion plate attached to the sample stage, the upper surface of which is exposed on the sample stage; and a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged vertically and horizontally opposite the lower surface; and the light from these light emitting diodes is transmitted to the diffusion plate A surface light source unit that diffuses the light and illuminates the entire specimen substantially uniformly from below ,
A control unit that issues an exposure start command to the photographing unit to start exposure, and after an exposure time that has been set in advance, issues an exposure end command to the photographing unit to end the exposure ;
Upon receiving an exposure start trigger signal output at the start of exposure from the photographing unit, the light emitting diodes of the surface light source units are turned on all at once, and upon receipt of an exposure end trigger signal output at the end of exposure from the photographing unit, A microscope apparatus comprising: a power supply unit that simultaneously turns off the light emitting diodes of the surface light source unit . An epi-illumination light source unit that emits ultraviolet light for illuminating a specimen stained with a fluorescent dye from above, and emitting fluorescence from the stained part of the specimen, held on the upper surface of the specimen stage;
A shutter mechanism for blocking / transmitting the ultraviolet light so that the sample is irradiated with the ultraviolet light for a time required for photographing by the imaging unit in accordance with the photographing timing of the photographing unit. The microscope apparatus according to claim 1. An epi-illumination light source unit that illuminates a specimen stained with a fluorescent dye from above and that emits fluorescence from a stained portion of the specimen, and is used as a light source.
A power supply unit for emitting light from a light emitting diode of the incident light source unit;
And a control unit that controls the power supply unit so that the light emitting diode of the epi-illumination light source unit emits light for a time required for photographing by the photographing unit in accordance with photographing timing of the photographing unit. Item 2. The microscope apparatus according to Item 1.

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