JPS622288B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a micromanipulator used for supplying liquid to a specimen using micro-manipulation devices such as injection needles, micropipettes, and microelectrodes while observing the specimen under a microscope. It concerns Yureta.

This type of micromanipulator is known, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 11235/1983. This known micromanipulator is provided separately from the microscope and has its own three
The configuration is complicated since it is necessary to provide a dimensional positioning mechanism. Furthermore, the micro-operation equipment has poor operability, making the work difficult even for highly skilled workers, and has the disadvantage that it is impossible to improve the efficiency.

In order to solve this drawback, the applicant previously proposed a micromanipulator in which the micromanipulation device could be moved at least in the direction of the optical axis of the objective lens of the microscope (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1987-1995). 67461]). In the micromanipulator according to the above proposal, by providing the micromanipulation device through the center of the condenser lens, the positioning operation can be performed using the positioning mechanism of the condenser lens, so the operability is significantly improved. improve. Similar advantages can also be obtained when the micro-manipulation device is provided through the center of the objective lens. However, in either case, it is necessary to form a through hole in the lens, which not only makes processing difficult, but also
This results in a loss of light intensity, and if the micro-manipulation equipment is damaged, it becomes necessary to remove the entire lens system from the microscope in order to replace it.

It is conceivable that these difficulties can be solved by arranging a micro-manipulation device between the lens and the test object instead of forming a through hole in the lens.
However, in reality, the required magnification of the microscope is high, and the lens must be brought very close to the object to be examined.Also, unlike transmission microscopes, epi-illuminated microscopes do not require thin sections of even opaque objects. Due to the large diameter of the lens barrel, it is not recommended to place a micro-manipulation device between the lens and the test object.
As shown in No. 44-11235, when the micro-operation device is inserted obliquely from the outside, the distance between the needle tip and the needle support increases, making it susceptible to external vibrations.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned disadvantages and to enable observation of a subject using a high-magnification epi-illumination dark-field microscope.
An object of the present invention is to provide a micromanipulator with good operability as a micromanipulation device.

That is, the micromanipulator of the present invention has an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder arranged substantially concentrically,
In a high magnification epi-illuminated dark-field microscope in which an observation optical system is housed in the inner tube and an irradiation optical path is formed in an annular space between the inner tube and the outer tube, It is characterized by comprising a micro-operation device that protrudes from the illumination light exit aperture to approximately the focal position of the observation optical system.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to illustrated embodiments.

In the drawings reference numeral 1 designates a stage of a microscope provided with a micromanipulator according to the invention, 2
indicates the objective lens unit. In the present invention, an epi-illumination dark-field microscope is used as the microscope. That is, the objective lens unit 2 is provided with an inner tube 3 and an outer tube 4, an observation lens 5 is housed in the inner tube 3, and an illumination lens 6 is housed in an annular space between the inner tube 3 and the outer tube 4. Forms an illumination optical path. The upper end and lower end of the space are opened as an input end and an output end of illumination light, respectively.
An annular mirror 7 tilted at an angle of 45 degrees is placed above this incident end, and a condenser lens 8 and an illumination light source 9 are sequentially placed on the sides of the annular mirror 7. Needless to say, in the epi-illuminated dark-field microscope having the above configuration, the focus of the illumination optical system and the focus of the observation optical system are made to substantially coincide.

In the present invention, an injection needle, a micropipette, a microelectrode, or the like as the micromanipulation device 10 is positioned at the exit opening of the annular space, and its tip is placed at a position that substantially coincides with the focal point of the observation optical system. When the micromanipulator according to the present invention is used, for example, in electrophysiological research of cells, the glass container 11 with cells implanted on the bottom is placed on the stage 1, and the cells as a subject are observed under a microscope. Meanwhile, a chemical solution such as an enzyme is supplied to the cell using an injection needle, enucleation is performed using a micropipette, and characteristics such as ion concentration are measured by bringing an electrode into contact with the cell. Therefore, the required tube or wiring 12 is connected to the mounting end of the micro-operation device and is drawn out through a hole formed in the side surface of the outer cylinder 4.

According to the above-described configuration of the present invention, the micro-manipulation device of the present invention is arranged in the illumination optical path in the annular space of the epi-illumination dark-field microscope, and its tip protrudes from the exit aperture through this illumination optical path. Even when the tip of the micro-manipulation device does not reach the field of view of the lens, the micro-manipulation device protruding from the exit aperture appears to shine when exposed to the illumination light. There is no need for preparation, and the preparation work of positioning within the field of view of the objective lens becomes very easy.

Incidentally, the injection needle, electrode, etc. and the tube connected to one end of these can be integrated into a micro-manipulation device, and even in this case, the tip of the micro-manipulation device is positioned almost at the focal point of the observation optical system, and the other end is positioned at the focal point of the observation optical system. is configured to extend outward from the side surface of the outer cylinder 4 through the illumination optical path of the annular space.

As is clear from the above description, the present invention can incorporate a micromanipulation device into an epi-illumination microscope with a large diameter lens barrel, and provides a micromanipulator with a simple configuration and excellent operability. can. Furthermore, the tip of the operating device can be positioned within the field of view of the microscope, making setting easier.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawing is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a micromanipulator according to the present invention. 1...stage, 2...objective lens unit,
3... Inner tube, 4... Outer tube, 5... Observation lens,
6...Lens for illumination, 10...Micro operation equipment.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 It has an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder arranged almost concentrically,
In an epi-illuminated dark-field microscope in which an observation optical system is housed in the inner cylinder and an irradiation optical path is formed in an annular space between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, illumination light is transmitted through the irradiation optical path of the epi-illuminated dark-field microscope. A micromanipulator comprising a micromanipulator that protrudes from an exit aperture to approximately the focal point of an observation optical system.