JPH08122645A - Microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a microscope which enables speedy switching operation by holding switching operability excellent even when the number of switching stages of an optical member increases. CONSTITUTION: Plural optical members which are different in transmission characteristics of illumination light from a light source or light from a sample are put in the microscope so that they are arranged selectively in the optical path of an irradiation optical system or observation optical system. The microscope has an operation surface 25 below an observation lens barrel 24 almost perpendicular to the plane P1 including the optical axis AX2 of an ocular and the optical axis AX1 of an objective. This operation surface 25 slants to the perpendicular direction so that the operation surface faces perpendicularly upward. An operation means 26 for arranging an optical member in the optical path is arranged on the operation surface 25 on one of the sides across the plane P1 as a border.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a microscope, and more particularly to a device for switching optical members of an epi-fluorescence microscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in microscopes, optical members (for example, filters having different spectral transmittances) constituting an illumination optical system and an observation optical system are exchanged depending on the condition of the sample, the purpose of observation, and the like. . Therefore, a microscope is usually provided with an optical member switching device for selectively arranging a desired filter among a plurality of different types of filters in the optical path.

An optical member switching device in a fluorescence microscope, for example, will be described with reference to FIG. Light source 2
The illuminating light from the laser beam enters the excitation filter 4 via the irradiation optical system 3 including a collector lens and a field stop. The excitation filter 4 transmits only the light in the predetermined wavelength range from the illumination light. The excitation light transmitted through the excitation filter 4 is reflected by the dichroic mirror 5 and is applied to the sample S via the eyepiece lens 7. The sample S emits fluorescence upon irradiation with the excitation light. The fluorescence generated from the sample S passes through the dichroic mirror 5 and is irradiated onto the eyepiece lens 8 via the absorption filter 6. The observer observes the light from the sample S through the eyepiece lens 8. Also,
The optical axis AX1 of the objective lens 7 is substantially parallel to the vertical direction, and the optical axis AX2 of the eyepiece lens 8 is inclined by an angle (90 ° −θ) with respect to the optical axis AX1 when the depression angle is θ. .

The excitation filter 4, the dichroic mirror 5 and the absorption filter 6 are integrated by a box 10 (broken line shown in FIG. 1). The configuration of the box body 10 will be described below with reference to FIG. Dichroic mirror 5
Is disposed inside a hollow cubic box body (hereinafter referred to as "filter cassette") 10 with its surface inclined by 45 °. In addition, the excitation filter 4 and the absorption filter 6 are 45 degrees with respect to the plane of the dichroic mirror 5.
It is attached to the surface of the filter cassette 10 so as to be inclined. A plurality of the filter cassettes 10 are arranged inside the microscope main body 1 so that they can be arranged in the microscope optical path as an alternative. The filters and dichroic mirrors attached to the respective filter cassettes have different spectral transmittances and the like, and the combination of the types of filters and dichroic mirrors is preset by the observer. Then, a desired cassette is arranged in the optical path according to the characteristics of the sample and the fluorescent dye applied to the sample.

FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) are sectional views of such a filter cassette switching device as viewed from the left side (front side) in FIG. 1 with respect to the microscope main body. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views taken along the line AA 'in FIG. The two filter cassettes 10a and 10b are arranged side by side and integrated. On the side surface of one filter cassette 10b, a rod-shaped switching lever 20 extending in the same direction as the cassettes is arranged is attached. The switching lever 20 projects from the side surface of the microscope main body, and by inserting and removing the switching lever 20 with respect to the side surface of the main body, one of the filter cassettes is arranged in the optical path of the microscope. FIG. 3 (a)
Shows a state where the switching lever 20 is pushed toward the main body 1, and the filter cassette 10b is arranged in the optical path. FIG. 3B shows a state in which the switching lever is pulled with respect to the main body 1, and the filter cassette 10a is arranged in the optical path. In this way, the observer operates the switching lever 20 protruding from the side surface of the microscope body as described above with the right hand (or the left hand when the switching lever is provided on the left side) in the left-right direction when viewed from the front, thereby filtering the filter. You can replace the or dichroic mirror with a different type.

Another example of the above-described switching device which has been used conventionally is shown in FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (c) and FIG.
The same members as those in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. 4A to 4C are the same as those in FIG.
It is sectional drawing which looked at the switching device from the front similarly to (a) and (b). The filter cassettes 10a and 10b are independently arranged in the main body 1, and a switching lever 20a is mounted on the filter cassette 20a and a switching lever 20b is mounted on the filter cassette 20b. The switching lever 20a projects from the side surface on the right side when viewed from the front of the microscope body, and the switching lever 20b projects from the left side. FIG. 4A shows the switching lever 20.
The state where the a and 20b are pushed (or pulled) to the left is shown, and the filter cassette 10a is arranged in the optical path. FIG. 4B shows a state in which the switching levers 20a and 20b are pulled (or pushed) to the right, and the filter cassette 10b.
Is placed in the optical path. FIG. 4C shows a state in which the switching lever 20a is pulled to the right and the switching lever 20b is pulled to the left, and shows a state in which the respective filter cassettes are retracted from the optical path in the optical path. This is a state in which, for example, the microscope has a transmissive illuminator and the sample is transilluminated.

Further, a switching device for replacing the filter cassette with a turret, for example, has been conventionally used. This is as shown in FIG.
A turret plate 50 is arranged substantially horizontally therein, and the turret plate 50 is provided with four filter cassettes (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) described above concentrically. The turret plate 50 is rotatable about a center point 51 as a rotation axis. Further, knurls for preventing slippage are engraved on the side surface of the turret plate 50, and the turret plate 50 is projected (exposed) from the front surface of the microscope body 1. FIG. 5B is a front view of the filter cassette switching device. The observer can rotate the protruding portion of the turret plate to align the center of the desired filter box with the optical axis AX1 of the objective lens.

[0008]

Recently, in the epi-illumination fluorescence microscope, multiple dyeing in which several kinds of dyes are applied to a sample has been widely used, and the kinds of filters and dichroic mirrors to be arranged in the optical path have increased. There is. Also,
While observing one sample, the type of optical member such as a filter is frequently changed. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the number of filter cassettes to be arranged in the microscope main body and smoothly and quickly switch them.

The conventional switching device shown in FIG. 3 is the most general switching system, but since it is a lever on one side, the operating method is limited. For example, if the switching lever is on the right side, it can be operated only with the right hand. In addition, when the lever is in the way due to the installation location, it cannot be avoided. Especially when the number of switching steps is large, the length of the lever is long, and this is likely to occur.

The conventional switching device shown in FIG. 4 is a so-called "crying parting system". In this system, the number of steps for switching the optical path is limited, and in switching between the filter cassette 10a and the filter cassette 10b, both right and left sides are always used. Since it is necessary to operate the operation levers 20a and 20b of the above, the degree of freedom in operation is limited. Further, since the conventional switching device shown in FIG. 5 is a turret, compared to the method of sliding the filter cassette sideways. Therefore, it is difficult to switch quickly. Also, with the turret method, when trying to switch from a filter that is currently in the optical path to another filter, it is often difficult to decide which direction to turn in a moment and sometimes get lost. .

In view of such conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a microscope which maintains a good switching operability even when the number of switching steps of optical members is large and enables a quick switching operation. To do.

[0012]

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6A, for example, an irradiation optical system (2) for irradiating a sample (s) with illumination light is used. ,
3, 4, 5, 7), an objective lens (7) that collects light generated from the sample (s), and an optical axis (AX of the objective lens).
1), an observation optical system (5, 6, 7, 8) having an eyepiece lens (8) having an optical axis (AX2) inclined with respect to 1), and alternatively in the optical path of the irradiation optical system or the observation optical system. A plurality of optical members having different transmission characteristics of the illumination light or the light from the sample arranged so as to be arranged, and an operation means (26) for arranging a desired optical member among the plurality of optical members in the optical path. In a microscope having an eyepiece lens (8), the optical axis (AX
2) and the optical axis (AX1) of the objective lens (P)
1) has an operation surface (25) substantially perpendicular to the operation surface (25), and the operation surface (25) is inclined with respect to the vertical direction so that the operation surface faces the vertically upper side, and the operation means (26). Is the operating surface (2) on either side of the plane (P1).
5) Located on top.

The operating means (26) has an operating surface (2
5) It has an operation lever (26) that slides up, and is arranged on the operation surface (25) in the vicinity of the stop position of the operation lever when the operation means arranges the desired optical member in the optical path. Display means for displaying information on the optical member (3
1, 32, 33, 34) are provided.

[0014]

In the present invention, the operation surface on which the operation means is arranged is
The operation surface is inclined with respect to the vertical direction so as to face vertically upward, and the operation means operates on either side of a plane including the optical axis of the eyepiece lens and the optical axis of the objective lens. Since it is arranged on the surface, the observer can make the movement of the hand when switching the optical path more natural, and can perform a quick switching operation. When the display means is provided on the operation surface, the observer can confirm the type of the optical axis member arranged in the optical path with the display means in a posture close to the observation state.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, an epi-illumination fluorescence microscope will be described as an example. Since the illumination optical system and the observation optical system of the microscope are exactly the same as the conventional optical system as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, description thereof will be omitted here. Further, members having the same functions as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 6A, a plurality of objective lenses 7 having different magnifications are switchably provided on the lower side of the arm portion 29 of the fluorescence microscope main body. Also, the arm part 2
An illumination device 22 is provided on the upper side of 9 via a mount 21. In the illumination device 22, the light source 2 and the illumination optical system 3 shown in FIG. 1 are incorporated. Further, inside the illuminating device 22, a plurality of filter cassettes (in this embodiment, 4) that integrally hold the excitation filter 4, the dichroic mirror 5, and the absorption filter 6 are provided.
It is arranged. These filter cassettes
Operation lever 26 provided on the operation surface 25 of the lighting device 22
Can be switched by. The observer switches these filter cassettes according to the excitation method to observe the sample. The operation surface 25 is a plane perpendicular to the plane including the optical axis AX1 and the optical axis AX2. Further, the operation surface 25 is located vertically above the operation surface (upper side in FIG. 6A).
It is inclined by an angle φ with respect to the vertical direction so as to face. Here, the vertical direction in this embodiment means the optical axis AX.
The direction is parallel to 1, and θ is about 30 ° and φ is about 20 °. Further, FIG. 6B shows a state where the operation surface 25 is viewed from the front side (left side in FIG. 1). This switching lever 26
The operating range of is shifted to the right with respect to the optical axis AX1 and is set. Further, on the operation surface 25, information regarding each filter cassette (for example, excitation filter, absorption filter, type of dichroic mirror, etc.) is displayed.
One display unit 31, 32, 33, 34 is provided.
These display parts are respectively arranged above the stop positions (four positions) of the switching lever 26 when the filter cassettes are arranged in the optical path.

Next, the operation surface 25 and the operation lever 26
The operability regarding will be described with reference to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8. As shown in FIG. 7, the operation surface 25 in the present embodiment is in the most natural state when the observer puts his / her hand on the optical path switching lever 2 in the microscope observation state, that is, the lever is touched without bending the wrist. Such an angle (20 ° in this embodiment) is set. In this way, the operation surface 25
By tilting, the switching operation can be performed with a natural arm and hand posture, and the display portions 31, 32 of the types of filter cassettes arranged in the optical path can be displayed.
This has an advantage that the 33 and 34 can be easily recognized in a posture close to the observation state.

Next, the operating range of the switching lever 26 on the operation surface 25 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6B, the operating range of the switching lever 26 is set to be shifted to the right with respect to the optical axis AX1. By shifting the operation range in this way, the movement of the hand when switching the optical path can be made more natural. In FIG. 8A, the central position 30 of the operating range 31 of the switching lever 26 is the optical axis A.
This is the case when it matches with X1. The observer observes the sample with the plane P1 including the optical axis AX1 and the optical axis AX2 shown in FIG. In this case, the center position 30 of the operating range and the fulcrum 32 of the observer's elbow are displaced in the direction perpendicular to the plane P1 (the left-right direction when viewed from the observer), so As for the movement of the arm, the position of the fulcrum 32 of the elbow must be changed and the arm must be moved over the plane P1 to the opposite side, which deteriorates the operability.

On the other hand, FIG. 8 (b) shows the case of the present invention, in which the operating range 31 of the switching lever 26 is set to be shifted to the right with respect to the plane P1 when viewed from the observer. And operating range 3
The center position of No. 1 and the fulcrum 32 of the observer's elbow, which will be naturally placed at the time of microscopic observation, are aligned in the direction parallel to the plane P1 (the vertical direction in FIG. 8B). Therefore, as the movement of the observer's arm when the switching lever 26 is operated, it is sufficient to swing the upper arm to the left or right around the fulcrum 32 of the elbow. This is a movement that is very easy to operate.

Since the observer is right-handed in this embodiment,
Although the example in which the operating range is shifted to the right is shown, it goes without saying that this may be shifted to the left. Recent trends in epi-fluorescence devices include an increase in the number of built-in filter cassettes and an increase in the field of view. As the number of filter cassettes increases, the stroke of the switching lever increases accordingly, and the effect of arranging the switching lever on the operation surface becomes even greater. Further, if the field of view is made extremely wide, the observation lens barrel 24 shown in FIG. 6A becomes large and hinders the operation of the switching lever 26, but even in this case, the interference is minimized by shifting the operating range. In addition to being able to do so, the display unit can be confirmed in a posture close to the observation state.

As described above, the inclination of the operation surface 25 and the shift of the operation range of the switching lever 26 can be synergistically effective to improve the operability. In the present embodiment, the switching of the filter cassette is performed only by the switching lever 26, but in addition to this switching lever 26, a mechanism capable of mounting the conventional switching lever 20 shown in FIG. 3 may be used. Further, if the mechanism is such that the switching lever can be mounted on both the left and right sides, the switching lever can be mounted on at least one of the left and right sides according to the preference of the observer, and the filter can be switched by the switching lever. This allows the observer to switch filters more smoothly.

Further, the switching device in this embodiment switches the filter cassette in which the excitation filter, the absorption filter and the dichroic mirror are integrated, but it is a device for switching only the excitation filter and the absorption filter, for example. Good. The present embodiment can be applied to microscopes other than the fluorescence microscope, and it goes without saying that various configurations can be adopted without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0023]

According to the present invention, the optical members arranged in the optical path of the microscope can be switched in a natural posture while observing the microscope, and the switching operation can be performed quickly. It is very effective when the optical path switching operation is frequently performed. Furthermore, since the display unit that displays information about the optical members arranged in the optical path is arranged on the operation surface near the stop position of the lever, and the operation surface is inclined with respect to the vertical direction, It is easy to recognize what is in the optical path and identify the position where the operating lever should be stopped.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a conventional fluorescence microscope.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a filter cassette.

FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are cross-sectional views showing an example of a schematic configuration of a conventional switching device.

FIG. 4 (a), FIG. 4 (b), and FIG. 4 (c) are
Sectional drawing which shows the other example of the conventional switching device.

5A is a cross-sectional view showing another example of a conventional switching device, and FIG. 5B is a front view of the switching device.

FIG. 6A is a side view of the switching device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 6B is a front view of the switching device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing how an observer uses this embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the device lever by an observer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1. Fluorescent microscope body 3. Illumination optical system 4. Excitation filter 5. Dichroic mirror 6. Absorption filter 7. Objective lens 8. Eyepiece lens 10. Filter cassette AX1, AX2 .. Optical axis 22 ..Lighting device 25..Operating surface 26..Operating levers 31, 32, 33, 34 ..

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An irradiation optical system for irradiating a sample with illumination light,
In the optical path of the irradiation optical system or the observation optical system, an observation optical system having an objective lens that collects light generated from the sample and an eyepiece lens that has an optical axis inclined with respect to the optical axis of the objective lens. A plurality of optical members having different transmission characteristics of the illumination light or the light from the sample arranged so as to be arranged alternatively, and a desired optical member among the plurality of optical members is arranged in the optical path. In a microscope having an operating means for, an operating surface that is substantially perpendicular to a plane including the optical axis of the eyepiece lens and the optical axis of the objective lens is provided below the observation barrel that holds the eyepiece lens. However, the operation surface is inclined with respect to the vertical direction so that the operation surface is directed to the vertically upper side, the operation means, on one side of the operation surface with the plane as a boundary. Characterized by being arranged Microscope. 2. The operation means has an operation lever that slides on the operation surface, and the operation surface of the operation lever when the operation means arranges a desired optical member in the optical path. 2. The microscope according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying information regarding the arranged optical member in the vicinity of the stop position.