WO2018066940A1

WO2018066940A1 - Multiplex endoscope coupling module

Info

Publication number: WO2018066940A1
Application number: PCT/KR2017/011004
Authority: WO
Inventors: 김준기
Original assignee: 재단법인 아산사회복지재단
Priority date: 2016-10-06
Filing date: 2017-09-29
Publication date: 2018-04-12

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multiplex endoscope coupling module. A multiplex endoscope coupling module according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: an objective lens fastening part connected to an objective lens of an optical microscope or an objective lens holder from which the objective lens has been removed; an optical path converting adaptor for switching a path of a plurality of laser lights provided from the optical microscope; an optical adjustment adaptor connected to the optical path converting adaptor to split a plurality of laser lights; and a plurality of probe mounts connected to the optical adjustment adaptor to provide a particular laser light to a biological specimen, wherein the optical path converting adaptor includes one or more coupling adaptors, the probe mount includes an endoscope probe which is to be inserted into the biological specimen, the coupling adaptor includes a dichroic mirror for reflecting or transmitting a plurality of laser lights on the basis of a predetermined reference wavelength, to split the plurality of laser lights, and the optical microscope provides a plurality of laser lights along the same optical axis, then splits the provided laser lights reflected by a biological specimen, and generates an image of each of the laser lights.

Description

Multiple Endoscope Combined Module

Various embodiments of the present invention are implemented to be coupled to an existing optical microscope, and relates to a multiple endoscope coupling module for simultaneously observing a plurality of observation points (ie, biological tissues of different organs) or a plurality of biological samples in a living biological sample will be.

Microscopes are widely used to magnify images of samples, but there are some difficulties in observing a living biological sample in various ways.

For example, when a specific drug or the like is added to a biological sample and the reaction to the specific drug is to be simultaneously confirmed in a plurality of regions of the biological sample, conventionally, the use of a plurality of microscopes has been confirmed.

However, there is a problem in that it is practically difficult to use a plurality of microscopes for the same biological sample due to the limitation of the physical structure of the microscope.

1 is a view showing a general optical microscope. Referring to FIG. 1, the optical microscope 10 is difficult to observe when there is a biological sample to be observed in the transverse direction because the direction of the objective lens 11 is substantially fixed. In addition, since the space between the objective lens 11 and the object stage 12 is limited, it is difficult to position a plurality of lenses, and thus there is a limit in observing various parts of the biological sample at the same time.

Recently, equipment such as a confocal microscope endoscope capable of in situ diagnosis and lesion detachment during endoscopy has become widespread, but there is a problem in that a separate expensive equipment has to be prepared in addition to a microscope generally provided in many biomedical laboratories and histology laboratories.

In addition, only one observation point can be confirmed using a conventional optical microscope. Confocal laser microscopy, which provides a plurality of laser lights, also provides multiple laser lights for a particular point of observation to confirm the results of reaction to each laser light. That is, there is no method that can identify several biological samples or multiple observation points in one biological sample at the same time using a single microscope.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a multiple endoscope coupling module, which is configured to be coupled to the existing microscope structure, to identify multiple biological samples or multiple observation points in one biological sample at the same time using a single microscope. do.

In addition, various embodiments of the present invention is to provide a multiple endoscope coupling module that can be easily attached to and detached from a variety of optical microscopes possessed by many biomedical laboratories and tissue laboratory.

Problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

Multiple endoscope coupling module according to various embodiments of the present invention for solving the above problems, multiple endoscope coupling module coupled to the optical microscope to observe a plurality of biological samples or a plurality of points in a specific biological sample at the same time through the optical microscope An objective lens fastening part connected to the objective lens of the optical microscope or the objective lens holder from which the objective lens is removed; A light path converting adapter for switching a path of the plurality of laser lights provided from the optical microscope; A light control adapter connected to the light path conversion adapter to split a plurality of laser lights; And a plurality of probe mounts coupled to the light control adapter to provide specific laser light to the biological sample, wherein the optical path conversion adapter includes one or more binding adapters, and the probe mount is inserted into the biological sample. And an endoscope probe, wherein the coupling adapter includes a dichroic mirror that reflects or transmits and splits a plurality of laser lights based on a specific reference wavelength. After providing the optical axis, the laser light reflected from the biological sample is divided to generate an image for each laser light.

In another embodiment, the dichroic mirror may reflect laser light having a wavelength shorter than a specific reference wavelength among the laser lights, and transmit the remaining light.

In another embodiment, when the light control adapter includes N-1 coupling adapters (N is a natural number of 2 or more), the k-1th coupling adapter (k is larger than 1 and smaller than N-1). The reference wavelength of the dichroic mirror in the same natural number) is shorter than the reference wavelength of the dichroic mirror in the k-th coupling adapter, and the light adjusting adapter separates the N laser lights by reflection or transmission. It is done.

In another embodiment, when the light control adapter includes N-1 coupling adapters (N is a natural number of 2 or more), the first coupling adapter is coupled to the optical path conversion adapter, and the k-th coupling adapter is used. Is coupled to the k-1 coupling adapter, the first probe mount is coupled to a direction in which the laser light reflected by the dichroic mirror in the first coupling adapter travels, and the k-1 probe mount is And is coupled to a direction in which the laser light reflected by the dichroic mirror in the k-th coupling adapter travels.

In another embodiment, the light control adapter further comprises an N-th coupling adapter connected to the N-th coupling adapter and including a general mirror, and the probe mount is reflected from the N-th coupling adapter. It further comprises an N-th probe mount coupled to the direction in which the laser light proceeds.

In another embodiment, the optical path converting adapter may include: a first reflector reflecting a laser light in a vertical direction provided from the objective lens holder to change an optical path in a horizontal direction; And a first lens and a second lens for controlling the reflected laser light.

In another exemplary embodiment, the optical path conversion adapter may further include a second reflector disposed after the second lens and converting the laser light traveling in a horizontal direction in a vertical direction. The coupling adapter is sequentially coupled in the vertical direction to the optical path conversion adapter.

In addition, in another embodiment, the objective lens fastening portion is to be replaced or the aperture is adjusted according to the type of the optical microscope.

In another embodiment, the endoscope probe is made of a material that can be bent.

In another embodiment, the probe mount may include an objective lens receiving laser light from the coupling adapter; And a first adjuster configured to perform a translational movement in the x-y axis direction of the endoscope probe to match the optical axis provided from the objective lens with the optical axis of the endoscope probe.

According to the present invention as described above, has the following various effects.

First, by selectively reflecting laser light provided by one optical microscope (ie laser light combined with light of various wavelengths) using a dichroic mirror, a plurality of observation points for a plurality of observation points through each laser light Fluorescence images can be generated at the same time, providing the effect of confirming the change of several observation points at the same time, which was previously impossible to identify with a single optical microscope.

Second, since the conventional optical microscope separates each laser light reflected from the biological sample to generate a separate image, the user does not need to perform a separate operation other than connecting the multiple endoscope coupling module to the existing optical microscope. Specifically, in the case of an optical microscope providing a plurality of laser lights having different wavelengths and generating an image for each laser light after being reflected from a sample, separating and separately detecting each reflected light inside the optical microscope Because it includes a dichroic mirror structure, a user can combine multiple endoscope coupling modules capable of distributing a plurality of laser beams having different wavelengths at each observation point to a single optical microscope simply by combining them with an existing optical microscope. It can be extended to check the observation point of the same time.

Third, it is possible to provide multiple endoscope coupling modules that can be easily attached and detached to various kinds of optical microscopes owned by many biomedical laboratories and tissue laboratories.

Fourth, the multiple endoscope coupling module according to the embodiments of the present invention allows the biological sample to be placed and viewed in a spaced apart area, rather than below or above the narrow optical microscope, by the optical path conversion adapter.

Effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

1 is a view showing a general optical microscope.

2 is a structural diagram of a multiple endoscope coupling module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3A is an exemplary diagram of a multiple endoscope coupling module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3b is an exemplary view of combining a prototype of a multiple endoscope coupling module according to an embodiment of the present invention to an existing optical microscope.

Figure 4 is an exemplary view showing a coupling relationship between the objective lens fastening portion and the optical path conversion adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is an exemplary view of an optical structure inside the optical path converting adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is an exemplary view showing a coupling relationship between a coupling adapter and a probe mount according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 and 8 are exemplary diagrams illustrating a coupling relationship between a light path conversion adapter, a plurality of coupling adapters, and a plurality of probe mounts according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but can be embodied in various different forms, and the present embodiments only make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. It is provided to fully inform the skilled worker of the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the scope of the claims.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. In this specification, the singular also includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise in the phrase. As used herein, "comprises" and / or "comprising" does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components in addition to the mentioned components. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout, and "and / or" includes each and all combinations of one or more of the mentioned components. Although "first", "second", etc. are used to describe various components, these components are of course not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another. Therefore, of course, the first component mentioned below may be a second component within the technical spirit of the present invention.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used in the present specification (including technical and scientific terms) may be used in a sense that can be commonly understood by those skilled in the art. In addition, terms that are defined in a commonly used dictionary are not ideally or excessively interpreted unless they are specifically defined clearly.

The spatially relative terms " below ", " beneath ", " lower ", " above ", " upper " It can be used to easily describe a component's correlation with other components. Spatially relative terms are to be understood as including terms in different directions of components in use or operation in addition to the directions shown in the figures. For example, when flipping a component shown in the drawing, a component described as "below" or "beneath" of another component may be placed "above" the other component. Can be. Thus, the exemplary term "below" can encompass both an orientation of above and below. Components may be oriented in other directions as well, so spatially relative terms may be interpreted according to orientation.

An existing confocal laser microscope provides a plurality of lasers having different wavelength bands inside a microscope to a specific sample, and receives and shows each laser light reflected or transmitted from the sample to the user. Confocal means removing the light out of focus of the sample and using the light that is in focus. The elements that can be observed in a particular sample differ depending on the wavelength of the laser light, and conventional confocal microscopes provide laser light of different wavelength bands so that various elements in the sample can be identified at a time. To this end, conventional confocal microscopy uses dichroic mirrors to separate a plurality of lasers transmitted or reflected through a sample.

However, conventional confocal microscopy is used to provide lasers of different wavelengths at the same point of a particular sample, so as to check the results by lasers of different wavelength bands at the same point at one time, There was a discomfort that prevented simultaneous observations of multiple samples or multiple points on the same subject.

In the laboratory, there are many situations where multiple points must be identified at once. For example, after injecting a drug into a rat, it is necessary to see how each part of the rat responds over time. At this time, since only one site can be identified at a time by using a conventional confocal laser microscope, it is not possible to confirm what reactions occur at various time points. While the same experiment can be performed on several experimental mice, the change of each site can be identified. However, since the conditions of the experimental mouse are not the same, the change of each part over time is difficult to see as an accurate result performed under the same condition.

Therefore, a plurality of laser beams can be combined to provide a single sample, and a plurality of laser beams reflected or transmitted from the sample can be divided into confocal laser microscopes that can be generated as separate images. You need a module that can do that.

In the present specification, the optical microscope 10 may be various microscopes such as a confocal microscope, a multiphoton microscope, a brightfield / darkfield microscope, and the like, which are held by a laboratory, a histology laboratory, and the like. In the present specification, the case where the multiple endoscope coupling module 20 is used in combination with the inverted microscope is described as an example. However, the multiple endoscope coupling module 20 according to the present embodiment may be used in combination with other microscopes such as an upright microscope. Of course.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a structural diagram of a multiple endoscope coupling module 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a view illustrating a state in which the multiple endoscope coupling module 20 is coupled to the inverted optical microscope 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2, the multiple endoscope coupling module according to an embodiment of the present invention, the objective lens fastening portion 100; Light path conversion adapter 200; Light control adapter 300 and probe mount 400.

The objective lens fastening part 100 may be coupled to the objective lens part of the silver optical microscope 10. For example, the objective coupling part 100 is directly connected to the optical microscope 10 to correspond to the objective lens or connected to the objective lens holder in a state in which the objective lens is removed. The objective lens coupling unit 100 may be equipped with an objective lens 110 serving as an objective lens of the optical microscope 10.

In the multiple endoscope coupling module 20, the objective lens coupling part 100 coupled to the optical microscope 10 is configured to be compatible with various optical microscopes 10. For example, the objective fastener 100 may be implemented in consideration of the objective holder holder (internal thread) of several microscope suppliers. For example, the fastening part may have a structure in which the object lens holder of the optical microscope 10 is fastened or rotated in the form of a female screw or a male screw. That is, as shown in Figure 4, the objective lens fastening portion 100 may be connected to the optical path conversion adapter 200 is replaced according to the type of optical microscope used.

In addition, in another embodiment, the objective lens coupling portion 100 of the multiple endoscope coupling module 20 may be adjustable in size. For example, the objective lens coupling unit 100 may be adjusted in the size of the insertion hole is inserted into the objective lens holder in accordance with the operation by the user (for example, by screwing).

The optical path conversion adapter 200 serves to change the path of the laser light provided from the objective lens unit of the optical microscope 10. That is, the optical path converting adapter 200 converts the optical paths so that the sample may be placed and observed in a space spaced apart from the optical microscope 10 without being limited to a narrow space below or above the optical microscope 10. give. Specifically, the optical path converting adapter 200 changes the path of the upright observation light into the horizontal observation light, so that the observation image in the vertical or horizontal direction inside the sample acquired through the probe mount 400. Can be observed through the optical microscope (10).

In one embodiment, the light path conversion adapter 200 may be divided into a light reflecting unit 210 and a light refracting unit 220, as shown in FIG. The objective lens fastening part 100 is connected to the light reflection part 210 and coupled to the optical microscope, and the light refraction part 220 may be fitted to one side of the light reflection part 210. Through this, the user can easily combine the optical path conversion adapter 200 to the optical microscope 10.

The light path conversion adapter 200 may be designed to receive related optical elements, as in FIG. 5. For example, the optical path converting adapter 200 may include a reflector 211 for changing the optical path by reflecting light exiting from the objective lens holder of the optical microscope 10, a first lens 221 for controlling the reflected light, and It may include a second lens 222.

The light path conversion adapter 200 is for flipping a conjugate scanning plane, and according to an embodiment, may be formed of a 4f lens system. The first lens 221 is spaced one focal length f from the scanning plane, and the second lens 222 is spaced two focal lengths 2f from the first lens 221. The objective lens in the probe mount 400 may be spaced apart from the second lens 222 by one focal length f.

The light control adapter 300 serves to provide the light provided from the light path conversion adapter 200 to the probe mount 400 to be described later through reflection or transmission.

In one embodiment, the light conditioning adapter 300 includes one or more coupling adapters 310. The coupling adapter may be manufactured in the form of a module to be coupled to and separated from the light control adapter 300. As shown in FIG. 7 or 8, the

coupling adapters

310 and 320 include

dichroic mirrors

311 and 321 to transmit laser light of a specific reference wavelength or more and to reflect laser light having a wavelength shorter than the specific reference wavelength. do. A dichroic mirror is a reflector made of a thin layer of a material having a different refractive index. The dichroic mirror reflects light of a certain color (for example, a light source) and transmits light of a different color. A plurality of dichroic mirrors used in embodiments of the present invention are used in different kinds to transmit or reflect light sources of different wavelengths or colors.

For example, when directly coupling one coupling adapter 310 to the optical path conversion adapter 200, the laser light shorter than the reference wavelength among the laser light provided by the optical path conversion adapter (for example, provided from an optical microscope) When the laser light includes red light, green light and blue light, and the reference wavelength is between the green light wavelength and the blue light wavelength, blue light) is reflected, and the remaining laser light is transmitted. In this case, the coupling adapter 310 may connect the probe mount to the reflected blue light path and the transmitted red light and green light path. In this way, the coupling adapter 310 is connected to an optical microscope that provides a plurality of lasers having different wavelengths with the same optical axis, and divides the laser based on a specific wavelength to identify the plurality of points.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when two coupling adapters are connected to the optical path conversion adapter 200 and used, the first coupling adapter 310 is connected to the optical path conversion adapter 200. The second coupling adapter is coupled to the transmitted light propagation path of the first coupling adapter 310. The reference wavelength of the dichroic mirror 311 of the first coupling adapter 310 is between the blue light wavelength and the green light wavelength, and the reference wavelength of the dichroic mirror 321 of the second coupling adapter 320 is the green light wavelength and the red light. In the case of the wavelength, the first coupling adapter 310 reflects the blue light and provides it to the first probe mount 410, and the second coupling adapter 320 passes through the first coupling adapter 310 and the red light. Green light is reflected to the second probe mount 320. The red light passing through the first coupling adapter and the second coupling adapter is provided to the third probe mount 330. In addition, for example, a third coupling adapter in which a general mirror other than a dichroic mirror is installed may be connected to the second coupling adapter 320 to reflect red light to provide the third probe mount.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, after the optical path conversion adapter 200 reflects the laser light incident in the vertical direction through the objective lens coupling part 100 from the second reflection surface, the optical path conversion adapter 200 converts the laser light into the horizontal direction. The optical path can be converted again in the vertical direction on the second reflecting surface. In this case, the plurality of

coupling adapters

310 and 320 included in the light control adapter 300 may be coupled to the light path conversion adapter 200 in order. When the laser light includes blue light, green light, and red light, a first coupling adapter 310 reflecting only blue light is connected to the optical path conversion adapter 200 to reflect the blue light to provide to the first probe mount 410. It transmits green light and red light. The second coupling adapter 320 is connected to the first coupling adapter 310 to reflect the green light to the second probe mount 420, and transmits the red light. A base adapter 330 having a general mirror 331 instead of a dichroic mirror is connected to the second coupling adapter 320 and reflects red light to provide to the third probe mount 430.

The plurality of coupling adapters included in the light control adapter 300 may be continuously coupled to the light path conversion adapter 200. That is, when N (N is a natural number greater than 2) light is combined and provided by the optical microscope 10, N-1 (for example, without using a separate coupling adapter for the N-th light) When provided to the probe mount in the transmitted state, or N (for example, when a coupling adapter equipped with a general mirror reflecting the Nth light is connected), the coupling adapter is sequentially connected to the optical path conversion adapter 200. Can be connected. That is, the first coupling adapter 310 is connected to the optical path conversion adapter 200, and the second coupling adapter 320 is connected to the opposite side of the position of the first coupling adapter 310 connected to the optical path conversion adapter 200. The third coupling adapter 330 is connected to the opposite side of the position of the second coupling adapter 320 to which the first coupling adapter 310 is connected. Through this, the user can simultaneously check N points through one optical microscope 10 providing a plurality of lights.

When the coupling adapter is implemented in a modular form, the

coupling adapters

310 and 320 may open at least a portion of the module surface to receive light reflected from the

dichroic mirrors

311 and 321 in each module. It can be prepared as. Accordingly, the user may check the desired number of images by combining the coupling adapter with another coupling adapter according to the number of images to be additionally checked.

Further, according to various embodiments, without the module coupling, one or more coupling adapters may be referred to as indicating respective areas where the inner region of the light conditioning adapter 300 or the light path conversion adapter 200 is arbitrarily partitioned. For example, the first coupling adapter is included in the optical path conversion adapter 200, and only the coupling adapter additionally connected may be manufactured in a separate module form.

As a result, the laser light separated from one imaging system reaches the biological sample through three objective lenses, so that the user may simultaneously check three different fluorescent images on the biological sample.

In addition, each coupling adapter (310, 320, 330, etc.) in the light control adapter 300 may be manufactured to be rotatable after being connected to the optical path conversion adapter 200 or other coupling adapter. That is, the coupling adapter may move the transmitted laser light along the same optical path, and change the direction in which the reflected laser light is provided. For example, when the first coupling adapter 310 transmits the red light and the green light in the laser light combined with the red light, the green light, and the blue light, and the dichroic mirror 311 reflects the blue light, the first coupling adapter may be It can be switched from the arrangement to reflect the blue light in the direction to the arrangement to reflect to the side by rotation. At this time, as the first coupling adapter 310 rotates, the direction of the first probe mount connected to the first coupling adapter is also changed and disposed in the lateral direction.

The probe mount 400 is coupled to one side of the light control adapter 300 to provide a laser light separated from the sample. That is, the probe mount 400 is connected to each coupling adapter. The probe mount 400 may include an objective lens for providing a laser beam provided from the light control adapter 300 to the probe. For example, probe mounts may be included in place of objective lenses placed in an optical microscope.

The probe mount 400 includes an endoscope probe 401 at least partially inserted into the biological sample. One end of the endoscope probe 401 is positioned in contact with the portion of the biological sample to be observed. The laser light provided from the light source of the optical microscope 10 passes through the light path conversion adapter 200, the light control adapter 300, and the endoscope probe 401 to the biological sample, and the reflected light from the biological sample is transmitted to the endoscope probe ( 401, the light control adapter 300, and the light path conversion adapter 200 are transmitted to the inside of the optical microscope 10 so that the user can observe the biological sample through the optical microscope 10. The optical microscope 10 may generate a separate image by dividing the laser light reflected at each position after being mixed and received again. That is, the optical microscope 10 divides the laser light reflected from a plurality of points of the biological sample by the dichroic mirror provided therein to produce an individual image.

The probe mount 400 may be connected to various types of probes. In one embodiment, the probe mount may include endoscope probes p1, p2, p3 having flexible connections, as probes. The endoscope probe is aligned with the same optical axis as the laser light reflected or transmitted from the coupling adapter by the probe mount, so that the laser light is incident.

Also, in another embodiment, a particular probe mount may comprise a rigid probe. For example, instead of observing different points of one biological sample, but simultaneously looking at the responses that occur to the same stimulus in multiple biological samples, each probe mount 400 is equipped with a rigid probe to each biosample. It can be inserted in.

In addition, as an exemplary embodiment, the endoscope probe 401 may be a GRIN probe including a gradient index lens. The endoscope probe 401 may be composed of a single lens or a plurality of lenses, and its length, diameter, and material (eg, hard probe, soft probe, etc.) may vary according to a biological sample to be observed.

In addition, in one embodiment, the probe mount 400 of the multiple endoscope coupling module 20 is inserted into at least a portion of the biological sample endoscope probe 401, the endoscope at one end of the endoscope probe 401 for observing the biological sample Of the biological sample obtained through the holder 431 holding the probe 401, the first adjusting unit 432 for enabling the xy-axis translational movement of the endoscope probe 401, and the endoscope probe 401. In-situ rotational movement of the objective lens 433, the second adjusting unit (Obj. Lens Z stage, 434) to enable the translation of the z-axis of the objective lens 433 to enlarge the image of the image, and the endoscope probe 401. It may include all or part of the third adjusting portion (R stage knob, 435) to enable.

For example, the objective lens 433 and the endoscope probe 401 in the probe mount 400 should be aligned with the same optical axis, so that the laser beam passing through the objective lens 433 may be provided into the endoscope probe 401. To this end, when the probe mount 400 includes the first adjusting unit 432, the endoscope probe 401 is moved in the two-dimensional direction (xy plane) by the first adjusting unit 432, so that the laser light It is matched with the direction provided by the objective lens.

In addition, according to the embodiment, the third control unit 435 may include a fine rotation stage. The in-situ rotational motion of the endoscope probe 401 may be controlled by the rotation of the microrotation stage, and when the microrotation stage rotates, it may be transmitted to the endoscope probe 401 through a holder 431 connected to one end of the microrotation stage. have.

Using multiple endoscope coupling modules 20 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, researchers have previously observed several observation points (eg, different points or different points of a living biological sample) that could not be simultaneously identified with one optical microscope. Physiological changes occurring in the individual) can be monitored simultaneously.

As a specific example, the researchers can connect endoscopes to multiple points in a living biological sample to compare the amount and rate of drug delivery to the body. That is, the user can compare and analyze the pharmacokinetics / pharmacodynamics of the drug. For example, you can determine which liver or kidney arrives first, which cells respond first, and so on.

In addition, as a specific example, the researcher can observe the activation state of the brain cells at the same time while watching the response of the immune cells present in the intestine. That is, the researcher can grasp the relationship between intestinal immune cells and brain cell activation in response to external stimuli in one individual by using the multiple endoscope coupling module 20 according to the embodiments of the present invention in one optical endoscope. .

In addition, it is possible to compare the individual changes in real time after giving a chemical or optical stimulation of the same environment to different individuals or after administering a therapeutic drug. For example, you can give different individuals different drug stimuli and compare changes in different individuals at the same time.

However, various cases in which the multiple endoscope coupling module 20 according to the embodiments of the present invention can be used by connecting to the optical microscope 10 are not limited thereto, and one optical fiber providing a plurality of laser lights having different wavelengths. The microscope 10 can be used in various situations where multiple observation points must be identified simultaneously.

In the above, embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may implement the present invention in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features. I can understand that. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive.

Claims

A multiple endoscope coupling module coupled to an optical microscope and simultaneously viewing a plurality of biological samples or a plurality of points within a specific biological sample through the optical microscope,

An objective lens fastening part connected to the objective lens of the optical microscope or the objective lens holder from which the objective lens is removed;

A light path converting adapter for switching a path of the plurality of laser lights provided from the optical microscope;

A light control adapter connected to the light path conversion adapter to split a plurality of laser lights; And

And a plurality of probe mounts connected to the light control adapter to provide specific laser light to a biological sample.

The light path conversion adapter includes one or more coupling adapters,

The probe mount includes an endoscope probe inserted into the biological sample,

The coupling adapter may include a dichroic mirror that reflects or transmits and splits a plurality of laser lights based on a specific reference wavelength.

The optical microscope provides a plurality of laser light in the same optical axis, and then divides the provided laser light reflected from the biological sample to generate an image for each laser light, multiple endoscope combining module.
The method of claim 1,

The dichroic mirror is,

And reflecting the laser light having a wavelength shorter than a specific reference wavelength among the laser light, and transmitting the remaining light.
The method of claim 2,

When the light control adapter includes N-1 (N is a natural number of two or more) binding adapter,

Wherein the reference wavelength of the dichroic mirror in the k-1th coupling adapter (k is a natural number greater than 1 and less than or equal to N-1) is shorter than the reference wavelength of the dichroic mirror in the kth coupling adapter,

The light adjusting adapter is characterized in that for separating the N laser light through reflection or transmission, multiple endoscope coupling module.
The method of claim 3,

When the light control adapter includes N-1 (N is a natural number of two or more) binding adapter,

A first coupling adapter is coupled to the light path conversion adapter,

The k th coupling adapter is coupled to the k-1 th coupling adapter,

The first probe mount is coupled to the direction in which the laser light reflected by the dichroic mirror in the first coupling adapter proceeds,

The k-1 th probe mount is coupled to the direction in which the laser light reflected by the dichroic mirror in the k-1 coupling adapter travels.
The method of claim 4, wherein

The light control adapter,

A N-th coupling adapter connected to the N-1th coupling adapter and including a general mirror;

The probe mount,

And an N-th probe mount coupled to a direction in which the laser light reflected from the N-th coupling adapter travels.
The method of claim 1,

The optical path conversion adapter,

A first reflector reflecting a laser beam in a vertical direction provided from an objective lens holder of the optical microscope to change an optical path in a horizontal direction; And

And a first lens and a second lens for controlling the reflected laser light.
The method of claim 6,

The optical path conversion adapter,

A second reflector disposed after the second lens and configured to convert the laser light traveling in a horizontal direction in a vertical direction;

Wherein the one or more coupling adapters are sequentially coupled in a vertical direction to the light path conversion adapter.
The method of claim 1,

The objective lens fastening portion,

Will replace or adjust the aperture according to the type of the optical microscope, multiple endoscope coupling module.
The method of claim 1,

The endoscope probe is made of a material that can be bent, multiple endoscope coupling module.
The method of claim 1,

The probe mount,

An objective lens receiving laser light from the coupling adapter; And

And a first adjusting unit configured to perform a translational movement in the x-y axis direction of the endoscope probe to match the optical axis provided from the objective lens with the optical axis of the endoscope probe.