JP6168727B2 - Inverted microscope - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an epi-illumination device that can be attached to an inverted microscope that observes a specimen to be observed from below, and an inverted microscope including the epi-illumination device.

  There has been proposed an inverted microscope capable of mounting an optical device constituting a new optical system between an objective lens and an imaging lens. In the inverted microscope, a spacer member can be disposed between a stage and a stage support member that supports the stage so that an optical device can be mounted between the objective lens and the imaging lens. Then, by selecting and arranging a spacer member corresponding to the thickness of the optical device to be newly installed, the stage is raised, and the space provided by the raising is used to provide a space between the objective lens and the coupling lens. A new optical device is mounted (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Further, the apparatus main body of the epi-illumination apparatus is disposed through the support leg of the stage of the inverted microscope, and the removable diaphragm unit is disposed at a position away from the support leg of the apparatus main body. An epi-illumination device has been proposed in which the aperture unit can be replaced without removing the light tube from the microscope (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP-A-11-72715 JP 2003-75726 A

  By the way, in the inverted microscope described in Patent Document 1 described above, observation can be performed by attaching a plurality of different optical units such as an optical fiber and an epi-fluorescent device. However, it is not intended to attach the same type of optical unit at the same time. When the same type of optical unit is attached at the same time, there is a problem that the microscope main body becomes large because the light source portion is bulky.

  Moreover, although the epi-illumination device described in Patent Document 2 described above can easily attach and detach the aperture unit, it cannot change the direction in which the aperture unit is attached or detached. Further, when a plurality of epi-illumination devices are attached at the same time, there is a problem that the microscope main body becomes large because the light source portion is bulky.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides an epi-illumination device that can select an attachment position while maintaining the size of an inverted microscope main body compact and an inverted microscope including the epi-illumination device. Objective.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an inverted microscope according to the present invention is provided between a first optical device and a second optical device, which are disposed between an objective lens and an imaging lens and are adjacent to each other in the vertical direction. An optical device, a first epi-illumination device that causes the light emitted from the light source to be incident on the first optical device, and a second epi-illumination that causes the light emitted from the light source to be incident on the second optical device. In the inverted microscope having the illumination device, the first epi-illumination device includes a first attachment portion that can be fitted into a first illumination port provided behind the first optical device, and the first illumination device. A first exterior portion extending in an L-shaped direction from an end portion of the first attachment portion, and having an illumination optical system therein; and Formed at the end of the exterior part opposite to the first attachment part side A second light source connection portion, and the second epi-illumination device includes a second attachment portion that can be fitted into a second illumination port provided behind the second optical device; The second exterior part extending from the end of the second attachment part in the direction in which the second attachment part extends and the L-shaped direction, and having an illumination optical system inside, A second light source connection portion formed at an end portion of the second exterior portion opposite to the second attachment portion side, the first epi-illumination device and the second epi-illumination device The epi-illumination device is attached to the microscope main body so as to be positioned on the rear right side and the rear left side of the microscope main body, respectively .

Moreover, the inverted microscope of the present invention is the above-described invention, wherein the distance from the optical axis of the first optical device to the bottom surface of the first mounting portion and the second optical axis from the optical axis of the second optical device. The sum of the distances from the upper surface of the mounting portion is smaller than the distance between the optical axes of the first optical device and the second optical device .

Moreover, the inverted microscope of the present invention is the above invention, wherein the first exterior part and the second exterior part are relative to a horizontal plane including the optical axes of the first exterior part and the second exterior part. Support member mounting portions are provided at two vertically symmetrical positions, and either one of the support member mounting portions is provided depending on the mounting direction of the first and second epi-illumination devices to the microscope body. A support member is attached .

In the inverted microscope of the present invention, in the above invention, the length of the support member can be adjusted by the mounting position of the first epi-illumination device and the second epi-illumination device to the microscope body. It is characterized by .

The inverted microscope of the present invention is the field stop according to the first aspect, wherein the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion are symmetrically positioned at two positions with respect to a vertical plane including a vertical optical axis. the a possible field stop mounting portion of each mounting, the mounting direction of the first reflected illumination device and the second epi-illumination device into the inverted microscope, the field stop either one of the field stop mounting portion It is characterized by being attached.

The inverted microscope according to the present invention further includes an optical path adjustment adapter having a length corresponding to the distance between the optical axes of the first optical device and the second optical device. The first illumination port provided at the rear is attached to the first epi-illumination device via the optical path adjustment adapter, and the second illumination port provided at the rear of the second optical device. Is characterized in that the second epi-illumination device is directly attached .

In the inverted microscope according to the present invention, in the first invention, the first illumination port and the second illumination port provided behind the first optical device and the second optical device in the first invention. The illumination port is formed behind the second illumination port by the length of the distance between the optical axes of the first optical device and the second optical device.

In the inverted microscope according to the present invention, the illumination optical system of the first epi-illumination device and the second epi-illumination device may include the first illumination port and the second illumination of the microscope body. A first field stop projection lens and a second field stop projection lens are provided on the port side, respectively , and the first field stop projection lens and the second field stop projection lens are arranged closer to the exterior portion than the arrangement position of the first field stop projection lens and the second field stop projection lens . The heights of the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion are smaller than the outer diameters of the first field stop projection lens and the second field stop projection lens, respectively .

  The epi-illumination device and the inverted microscope according to the present invention have a shape in which the exterior portion extends in an L-order shape from the attachment portion, and are vertically symmetrical with respect to a horizontal plane including the optical axis of the exterior portion. By providing the support member attachment portion, the epi-illumination device can be attached to either the right rear side or the rear left side of the inverted microscope, and the attachment position of the epi-illumination device can be selected according to the user's needs. . Furthermore, even when two epi-illumination devices having the same shape are attached to an inverted microscope and observation is performed simultaneously, an increase in the size of the microscope main body can be suppressed.

FIG. 1 is a front view of an inverted microscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a main part view of the right side portion showing the overall configuration of the inverted microscope shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a top view of the inverted microscope shown in FIG. 4 is a rear view of the inverted microscope shown in FIG. FIG. 5A is a diagram (top view) for explaining attachment of the field stop to the attachment portion in the epi-illumination apparatus according to the modification of the first embodiment. FIG. 5-2 is a diagram (front view) illustrating attachment of the field stop to the attachment portion in the epi-illumination apparatus according to the modification of the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a main part diagram of the right side part showing the overall configuration of the inverted microscope according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a right side view illustrating a part of the configuration of the inverted microscope according to the modification of the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a rear view of the inverted microscope shown in FIG.

  Embodiments of an inverted microscope according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a front view of an inverted microscope according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 2 is a main part view of the right side portion showing the overall configuration of the inverted microscope shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a top view of the inverted microscope shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a diagram of the inverted microscope shown in FIG. It is a rear view. 2 to 4, the light source is not shown in order to clarify the shape of the epi-illumination device 3. 3 and 4, the illumination system above the stage is omitted for the sake of simplicity.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the inverted microscope 100 is a microscope for observing a specimen to be observed from below, including a microscope body 1, a stage 2 supported by the microscope body 1, and an upper stage 2. And two epi-illumination devices 3 that irradiate the sample with light. The inverted microscope 100 includes a transmission illumination device 20 that irradiates the sample with transmitted light from above.

  The microscope main body 1 has a box shape, a lens barrel 4 placed on the microscope main body 1, an eyepiece 5 attached to the lens barrel 4 for visually observing an observation image of the sample, Is provided. Further, inside the microscope body 1, a revolver 7 equipped with a plurality of objective lenses 6 and a plurality of mirror units 8a that reflect and / or transmit light of a predetermined wavelength with respect to light incident from the light source are held. And two mirror unit switching devices 8 capable of switching the mirror unit 8a arranged on the optical axis of the light source. In the present embodiment, the mirror unit switching device 8 corresponds to an optical device positioned between the objective lens 6 and the imaging lens 10a. The revolver 7 is rotatable, and one objective lens 6 among the objective lenses 6 attached to the revolver 7 is disposed on the optical axis L1. The two mirror unit switching devices 8 are arranged in the microscope body 1 so that the mirror unit 8a can be positioned at the intersection of the optical axes L2 and L3 of the light source and the optical axis L1 of the objective lens 6. Further, an illumination port 9 to which the epi-illumination device 3 is attached is formed behind the position where the mirror unit switching device 8 of the microscope body 1 is disposed.

  The observation optical system 10 enables observation of a sample, and is provided over the microscope main body 1 and the lens barrel 4 attached to the microscope main body 1. In addition to the objective lens 6 described above, the observation optical system 10 includes an imaging lens 10a, a mirror 10b, a relay lens 10c, and an imaging lens 10d.

  The imaging lens 10a, the mirror 10b, and the relay lens 10c are attached to the inside of the microscope body 1, and the observation light that has become a parallel light beam by passing through the objective lens 6 is combined by passing through the imaging lens 10a. And enters the lens barrel 4 via the mirror 10b and the relay lens 10c.

  The imaging lens 10d is attached to the inside of the lens barrel 4, and the observation light incident from the microscope body 1 is imaged by passing through the imaging lens 10d and observed by looking through the eyepiece 5. .

  The stage 2 is a plate-like body whose upper surface and lower surface are flat, and a sample is placed on the upper surface. In addition, an opening (through hole) is provided at almost the center of the stage 2 so that the sample does not fall, so that observation light can pass therethrough. The stage 2 is provided with a semi-focusing device 2a for focusing the objective lens 6 on the sample. By operating the focusing device 2a, the stage 2 moves up and down, and the focal point of the objective lens 6 is focused on the sample.

  The epi-illumination device 3 extends in a direction that forms an L-shape with a mounting portion 11 that can be fitted to the lighting port 9, and a direction in which the mounting portion 11 extends from an end of the mounting portion 11. An exterior part 12 that is fixed with the epi-illumination device 3 attached and includes an illumination optical system inside, a light source 13 that is attached to an end of the exterior part 12 opposite to the attachment part 11 side, and an exterior The light source connection part 14 which connects the part 12 and the light source 13 is provided. Further, inside the mounting portion 11 and the exterior portion 12, a mirror 15 a and a field stop are used as an illumination optical system that causes the light emitted from the light source 13 to enter the mirror unit switching device 8 that is an optical device of the microscope body 1. A projection lens 15b is disposed.

  The two epi-illumination apparatuses 3 are attached so that the exterior portion 12 and the light source 13 are positioned on the rear right side and the rear left side of the microscope body 1, respectively. In the present embodiment, an object is to attach the epi-illumination device 3 having the same shape to the right rear side and the left rear side of the microscope body 1. When the shape of the attachment portion 11 is not vertically symmetric with respect to the horizontal plane including the optical axis of the epi-illumination device 3 with the epi-illumination device 3 attached to the illumination port 9 (for example, d2> d1), the two epi-illumination devices 3 is attached so that the light source 13 is positioned opposite to the microscope main body 1 and the distance d1 from the optical axis L2 of the epi-illumination device 3 attached to the upper part to the bottom surface of the attaching part 11 and the lower part. The sum of the distance d1 from the optical axis L3 of the epi-illumination device 3 to the upper surface of the mounting portion 11 is made smaller than the distance N2 between the optical axes of the optical axis L2 and the optical axis L3 of the adjacent mirror unit switching device 8. It is preferable. When the height of the attachment portion 11 is formed to be equal to the height of the horizontal plane including the optical axis with the epi-illumination device 3 attached to the illumination port 9 (d1 = d2), the height N1 (d1) of the attachment portion 11 + d2) may be made smaller than the distance N2 between the optical axes of the optical axis L2 and the optical axis L3 of the adjacent mirror unit switching device 8.

  The attachment portion 11 is provided with an attachment port 17b for attaching a field stop 17 having a field stop operation portion 17a. The attachment port 17b is provided on the exterior part 12 side extending in the vertical direction from the attachment part 11.

  The exterior portion 12 is provided with two attachment ports 16 a for attaching the support member 16. The attachment port 16a is provided at a position where the upper surface and the lower surface of the exterior part 12 are vertically symmetrical. The support member 16 is attached to the attachment port 16a on the lower surface side of the exterior portion 12 when the epi-illumination device 3 is attached to the microscope body 1. Further, the length of the support member 16 can be adjusted according to the attachment position of the epi-illumination device 3 to the microscope body 1. In FIG. 4, the support member 16 of the epi-illumination device 3 attached to the rear left side of the microscope body 1 has an optical axis L2 and an optical axis L3 from the support member 16 of the epi-illumination device 3 attached to the rear right side of the microscope body 1. Is adjusted to be longer by the distance N2 between the optical axes.

  An arm 24 that supports the transmission illumination device 20, the transmission light projecting device 21, and the condenser lens holding unit 22 is provided on the upper portion of the microscope main body 100. The illumination light emitted from the transmissive illumination device 20 is bent on the optical path by a mirror 21 a built in the transmissive light projecting device 21, and is collected on the sample by the condenser lens 23 held by the condenser lens holding unit 22. The light irradiated on the sample and transmitted through the sample in this way enters the objective lens 6 and enters the observation optical system 10.

  In the first embodiment, the microscope main body 1 is attached with the weight of the light source 13 by attaching the support member 16 that can be adjusted in length regardless of whether the epi-illumination device 3 is attached to the rear left side or the rear right side of the microscope main body 1. Can be prevented from bending. In general, the outer shape of the light source 13 is larger than that of the exterior portion 12 and the light source mounting portion 14. Therefore, by attaching the epi-illumination microscope 3 having an L shape to the rear left side and the rear right side of the microscope body 1. The light source 13 can be attached to the microscope body 1 without interference. Further, the light beam diameter on the light source 13 side is generally large, and the height of the exterior portion 12 cannot be made smaller than the light beam diameter. In the first embodiment, the epi-illumination device 3 has an L-shaped outer shape, and the height of the exterior portion 12 is equal to or greater than the diameter of the light flux, and the range that overlaps when the epi-illumination device 3 is attached to the microscope body 1. The microscope main body 1 to which the two epi-illumination devices 3 are attached can be made compact by suppressing the height of the part 11 to about the height when the mirror 15a is arranged.

  In the first embodiment described above, the inverted microscope 100 in which the two epi-illumination apparatuses 3 are attached to the microscope main body 1 has been described. However, the microscope main body 1 has only one epi-illumination optical system and one epi-illumination. Even when the device 3 is attached, the epi-illumination device 3 according to the present embodiment has an effect that it can be attached to either the rear right side or the left side depending on the work environment of the operator. . Moreover, since the epi-illumination device 3 of the present embodiment has an L-shaped outer shape, the footprint of the device can be reduced as compared with the case where a general vertical (straight-line) epi-illumination device is attached. Is possible.

  Moreover, the epi-illumination device 3 of the present embodiment can be attached to two adjacent (or not adjacent) epi-illumination optical systems of the microscope body 1 having three or more epi-illumination optical systems. Also in this case, the size of the microscope main body 1 can be made compact by attaching the epi-illumination device 3 according to the third embodiment.

  An epi-illumination device 3A shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is illustrated as a modification of the present embodiment. The attachment portion 11A of the epi-illumination device 3A is provided with two attachment openings 17b for attaching the field stop 17 to the attachment portion 11A. The attachment port 17b is provided at two positions symmetrical to the vertical plane including the vertical optical axis of the attachment portion 11A. When the epi-illumination device 3A is attached to the microscope main body 1, the field stop 17 may be attached to one of the attachment openings 17b according to the ease of operation by the operator. Thereby, it becomes possible to improve the working efficiency of the operator.

(Embodiment 2)
The inverted microscope according to the second embodiment includes an illumination port provided behind the upper mirror unit switching device 8 and an epi-illumination device 3 attached to the upper illumination port when the epi-illumination device 3 is attached to the microscope body. This is different from the inverted microscope 100 according to the first embodiment in that it is attached via an optical path adjustment adapter. Only differences from the inverted microscope 100 according to the first embodiment will be described below.

  FIG. 6 is a main part view of the right side portion showing the overall configuration of the inverted microscope according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, the light source and the optical system above the stage are omitted.

  The inverted microscope 200 includes an optical path adjustment adapter 18 having the same length as the distance N2 between the optical axes L2 and L3 of the two adjacent mirror unit switching devices 8. The optical path adjustment adapter 18 has a cylindrical shape with an internal cavity. The end of the optical path adjustment adapter 18 is fitted to the illumination port 9 at the top of the microscope body, and the other end is fitted to the mounting portion 11 of the epi-illumination device 3.

  Since the upper illumination optical system attaches the epi-illumination device 3 to the illumination port 9 via the optical path adjustment adapter 18, the optical path length is increased by the length of the optical path adjustment adapter. In the present embodiment, the length of the optical path adjustment adapter is the same as the distance N2 between the optical axes L2 and L3 of the two adjacent mirror unit switching devices 8, and the optical path adjustment adapter 18 is provided in the upper illumination optical system. By attaching the epi-illumination device 3 via the optical path lengths of the upper illumination optical system and the lower illumination optical system, it becomes possible to make the optical path length the same. Thus, the inverted microscope 200 according to the second embodiment can improve the optical performance of the inverted microscope 200 in addition to the same effects as the inverted microscope 100 of the first embodiment.

  Alternatively, among the illumination ports provided respectively behind the two mirror unit switching devices 8 of the microscope body, the upper illumination port is formed behind the lower illumination port by the length of the distance between the optical axes of the illumination optical system. Thus, the optical path lengths of the upper illumination optical system and the lower illumination optical system are the same, and the optical performance of the inverted microscope can be improved.

  FIG. 7 is a right side view illustrating a part of the configuration of the inverted microscope according to the modification of the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a rear view of the inverted microscope shown in FIG. 7 and 8, the light source is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the inverted microscope 300 according to the modification of the second embodiment includes an upper illumination port 9 of the lower illumination ports 9 provided behind the two adjacent mirror unit switching devices 8. It is formed behind the illumination port 9 by a distance N2 length between the optical axes L2 and L3 of the two illumination optical systems.

  In addition, the epi-illumination apparatus 3B attached to the inverted microscope 300 includes an illumination port attachment portion 11b in which the attachment portion 11 is fitted to the illumination port 9, and a connection portion 11c that connects the illumination port attachment portion 11b and the exterior portion 12. Consists of. In this modification, the illumination port attachment portion 11b is formed for a nest having a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the field stop projection lens 16b disposed inside, and the height of the connecting portion 11c is set to the field stop projection lens. It is formed smaller than the outer diameter of 16b.

  Of the illumination ports 9 provided behind the two adjacent mirror unit switching devices 8, the upper illumination port 9 is a distance between the optical axes L2 and L3 of the two mirror unit switching devices 8 from the lower illumination port 9. By forming it backward by the length N2, the optical path lengths of the upper illumination optical system and the lower illumination optical system are the same, and the optical performance of the inverted microscope can be improved. Further, the mounting portion 11 is constituted by an illumination port mounting portion 11b having a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the field stop projection lens 16b and a connecting portion 11c having a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the field stop projection lens 16b. Thus, the size of the microscope body 1 can be further reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Microscope main body 2 Stage 2a Focusing device 3, 3A Epi-illumination device 4 Lens tube 5 Eyepiece part 6 Objective lens 7 Revolver 8 Mirror unit switching device 9 Illumination port 10 Observation optical system 10a, 10d Imaging lens 10b Mirror 10c Relay lens DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Attachment part 12 Exterior part 13 Light source 14 Light source connection part 15a Mirror 15b Field stop projection lens 16 Support member 17 Field stop 18 Optical path adjustment adapter 20 Transmitting illumination device 21 Transmission projector 22 Condensing lens holder 33 Condensing lens 24 Arm 100, 200, 300 Inverted microscope

Claims (8)

A first optical device between the objective lens and the imaging lens and arranged adjacent to each other in the vertical direction; and a second optical device;
A first epi-illumination device that makes light emitted from a light source incident on the first optical device;
A second epi-illumination device for causing the light emitted from the light source to enter the second optical device;
In an inverted microscope having
The first epi-illumination device is
A first attachment portion that can be fitted into a first illumination port provided behind the first optical device;
A first exterior part extending from an end of the first attachment part in a direction in which the first attachment part extends and in an L-shaped direction and having an illumination optical system inside;
Of the end portions of the first exterior portion, a first light source connection portion formed at the end opposite to the first attachment portion side;
With
The second epi-illumination device is
A second attachment portion that can be fitted into a second illumination port provided behind the second optical device;
A second exterior part extending from the end of the second attachment part in a direction in which the second attachment part extends and a direction forming an L shape, and having an illumination optical system inside;
Of the end portions of the second exterior portion, a second light source connection portion formed at the end opposite to the second attachment portion side;
With
The inverted microscope, wherein the first epi-illumination device and the second epi-illumination device are attached to the microscope main body so as to be positioned on the rear right side and the rear left side of the microscope main body, respectively.   The sum of the distance from the optical axis of the first optical device to the bottom surface of the first mounting portion and the distance from the optical axis of the second optical device to the top surface of the second mounting portion is The inverted microscope according to claim 1, wherein the inverted microscope is smaller than a distance between optical axes of the first optical device and the second optical device.   The first exterior part and the second exterior part have support member attachment parts at two positions that are vertically symmetrical with respect to a horizontal plane including the optical axis of the first exterior part and the second exterior part. The support member is attached to any one of the support member attachment portions according to the attachment direction of the first epi-illumination device and the second epi-illumination device to the microscope body. The inverted microscope according to 1 or 2. 4. The inverted microscope according to claim 3 , wherein a length of the support member can be adjusted by a mounting position of the first epi-illumination device and the second epi-illumination device to the microscope main body. Each of the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion has a field stop attachment portion capable of attaching a field stop at two positions symmetrical to a vertical plane including a vertical optical axis, The field stop is attached to any one of the field stop mounting portions according to the mounting direction of the first epi-illumination device and the second epi-illumination device to the inverted microscope. The inverted microscope according to any one of 4 above. An optical path adjustment adapter having a length corresponding to the distance between the optical axes of the first optical device and the second optical device;
The first illumination port provided at the rear of the first optical device is attached to the first epi-illumination device via the optical path adjustment adapter, and is provided at the rear of the second optical device. The inverted microscope according to claim 1, wherein the second incident illumination device is directly attached to the second illumination port.   In the first illumination port and the second illumination port provided behind the first optical device and the second optical device, the first illumination port is more than the second illumination port. The inverted microscope according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the inverted microscope is formed rearward by a length corresponding to a distance between optical axes of the first optical device and the second optical device. The illumination optical system of the first epi-illumination device and the second epi-illumination device includes a first field stop projection lens and a second lens on the first illumination port side and the second illumination port side of the microscope body. Each with a field stop projection lens
The heights of the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion on the exterior side of the arrangement position of the first field stop projection lens and the second field stop projection lens are the first field stop projection. The inverted microscope according to claim 7, wherein the inverted microscope is smaller than outer diameters of the lens and the second field stop projection lens.

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