JP3855428B2 - Inverted microscope and condenser device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an inverted microscope. In particular, the present invention relates to an inverted microscope that can confirm an image of a specimen and a manipulator when the specimen is manipulated by a manipulator.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, in order to elucidate the function of the nervous system, electrophysiological experiments for measuring action potentials caused by excitement of tissues and organs such as nerves have been performed using a microscope. At this time, a glass microelectrode filled with an electrolytic solution is used as a probe for measuring the potential difference inside and outside the cell. These minute electrodes can be moved spatially by an XYZ triaxial hydraulic drive mechanism or a minute feed mechanism. The situation at this time is shown in FIGS. A specimen is placed on the stage 30 of the inverted microscope 1 and observed by the eyepiece 33. A manipulator 32 to which a micro instrument 34 as a micro electrode is attached is attached to an attachment device 31 fixed to the stage 30 and is operated by an operation device (not shown). In order to make the microelectrode close to the target cell accurately in advance as a preparation for the experiment, it has been conventionally observed from directly above the specimen with a stereomicroscope. The micro instrument 34 and the specimen can be observed from the eyepiece through the objective lens of the microscope. However, since the focal depth of the objective lens is narrow and the depth is difficult to understand, a stereomicroscope is usually used as shown in FIG. Is used to position the micro device on the specimen. In FIG. 6, the attachment device 31, the manipulator 32, and the micro instrument 34 are indicated by broken lines, and the manipulator 32 is not shown in FIG.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the case of the prior art, as shown in FIG. 8, a stand 36 is arranged on the side of the microscope so that the stereomicroscope 35 can be arranged above the specimen and the manipulator. At this time, the illumination column 23 needs to be tilted to the rear of the mirror base, and vibration occurs when tilted or returned to the original state, and the set manipulator may move. In addition, the setting of the stereomicroscope takes time, which is inconvenient and inconvenient.
[0004]
In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an inverted microscope and a capacitor device that can observe a micro instrument and a sample while illuminating the sample with a simple configuration.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention according to claim 1 includes a condenser device (19) including a light source (40) and a condenser lens (2) that receives illumination light from the light source and irradiates the specimen. In an inverted microscope comprising an attachment device (31) for attaching a manipulator (32) to which a microscopic instrument (34) capable of contacting a specimen can be attached to the microscope, the microscope is disposed in an illumination light path between the light source and the condenser lens. A part of the illumination light is transmitted and a part of the reflected light from the specimen is separated from the illumination optical path, and the reflected light separated by the light separation means is condensed to form a specimen image. Observation means (4, 5, 6).
[0006]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the inverted microscope according to the first aspect, the light separating means is provided so as to be detachable with respect to the illumination optical path.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the inverted microscope according to the first aspect, the condenser device is provided above the condenser lens and can switch a plurality of optical elements for changing the illumination condition of the illumination light to the illumination optical path. And the light separating means is a prism or half mirror provided in the turret, and the observation means is provided in a divided optical path divided by the prism or half mirror of the turret. It has 2 objective lenses (4) and the image pick-up element (6a) provided in the capacitor | condenser apparatus, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
[0007]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the inverted microscope according to the first aspect, the light separating means has a prism or half mirror provided above the condenser lens, and the observation means is separated by the light separating means. The observation lens barrel (37) includes a second objective lens (27) for condensing light and an eyepiece lens (15).
[0008]
The invention according to claim 5 is a condenser device including a condenser lens (2) that receives illumination light from an inverted microscope and has an attachment device for attaching a manipulator capable of mounting a microscopic instrument that can contact the specimen to the microscope. And a light separating means (3) that is disposed on the illumination light incident side of the condenser lens and transmits a part of the illumination light and separates a part of the reflected light from the specimen from the optical path of the illumination light. The condenser device comprises observation means (4, 5, 6) for collecting the reflected light separated by the means to form a sample image.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the first embodiment of the inverted microscope of the present invention. Light from the light source 40 is applied to the specimen in the petri dish 20 through a transmission illumination optical system 23 provided with a collector lens, a reflecting mirror, and the like, and a condenser device 19 provided with the condenser lens 2. The capacitor device 19 is attached to the illumination column 1a of the inverted microscope. Light from the specimen is guided to the eyepiece lens 33 through the objective lens 17 and the observation optical system in the inverted microscope body. The specimen image is observed by this eyepiece. The stage 30 is provided with an attachment device 31, a manipulator 32, and a micro instrument 34 shown in FIG. 6, but the illustration of the manipulator 32 is omitted in FIG.
[0010]
The tip portion of the micro-instrument 34 and the reflected image of the sample illuminated by the transmission illumination optical system 23 are separated from the microscope optical path by the light branching prism provided in the condenser device 19 and imaged by the CCD camera 6. The image signal from the CCD camera is transferred to the monitor 21 and displayed on the monitor 21. That is, when viewed from the CCD camera, the condenser lens serves as an objective lens. Below, the detail until the part which images the light from a sample is imaged is demonstrated.
[0011]
FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the capacitor device 19.
The capacitor device 19 includes a support portion 10 attached to the illumination column 1a, a movable portion 8 attached so as to be movable along a guide of the support portion 10, and an operation handle 11 that moves the movable portion 8. An element holding portion 14 in which an optical element for changing the polarization characteristic of illumination light is mounted is attached to the upper part of the arm 8a of the movable member, and a plurality of optical elements such as filters and ring diaphragms are attached to the lower part of the arm 8a. And a turret 13 which can be selectively placed in the optical path of the microscope is attached. A condenser lens 2 is mounted on the microscope optical path below the turret 13. The element holding portion 14 and the turret 13 are configured to be detachable with respect to the arm 8a, and the condenser lens 2 is configured to be detachable with respect to the turret 13. The element holding part 14 is provided with a sled 14a for attaching a polarizer so that it can be inserted and removed from the optical path.
[0012]
The turret is configured such that a plurality of cassettes having the same shape for holding optical elements can be attached. Since the detailed configuration is disclosed in the specification of Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-135717, detailed description is omitted here. In the present embodiment, in addition to a cassette incorporating optical elements such as a filter and a ring diaphragm, an optical branching cassette incorporating a light branching prism is provided, and is configured to be switchable by a turret.
[0013]
The optical branching cassette 12 is shown in FIGS. The cassette 12 incorporates a light splitting prism 3 and a second objective lens 4, and an opening 15 is provided on a side surface. The prism 3 is positioned so as to be disposed on the optical axis AX of the objective lens 17 (condenser lens 2) when the cassette 12 is disposed in the optical path. In addition, openings 16 a, 16 b, and 16 c that are vacated in a direction parallel to the optical axis AX are provided in the periphery of the prism 3. This opening is for passing illumination light and irradiating the sample. Therefore, the number of openings may be one and the shape is not limited to a circle.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 2, a holding cylinder 7 for holding the CCD camera 6 is attached to the element holding portion 14. The holding cylinder 7 has a cylindrical shape, and a CCD camera 6 can be attached thereto. An opening 7a that penetrates from the side surface of the cylinder to the bottom surface inside the cylinder is provided at the lower portion of the holding cylinder 7, and a prism 5 is provided in the middle of the opening 7a at the cylinder bottom.
[0015]
The reflected light from the specimen passes through the condenser lens 2 and a part thereof is bent in the horizontal direction by the prism 3. The light bent by the prism 3 exits from the side surface of the cassette 12 through the second objective lens 4, enters the opening 7 a of the holding cylinder 7, is bent vertically by the prism 5, and is imaged on the imaging surface 6 a of the CCD camera 6. Led to.
[0016]
With the above configuration, it is possible to check the specimen and the micro instrument on the monitor 21 while illuminating the specimen without tilting the illumination column 1a. In addition, since the light branching prism is built in the cassette 12 that can be attached to and detached from the turret 13, normally, an appropriate optical element for observing the specimen image with the eyepiece 33 is built in. The cassette may be placed in the optical path, and if it is desired to check, the turret 13 is rotated and the cassette 12 is placed in the optical path. Therefore, the specimen and the micro instrument can be displayed on the monitor 21 with a simple operation without causing vibration.
[0017]
In this embodiment, the light branching prism is arranged in the cassette 12 to be mounted on the turret 13. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, a light separation member having a light separation element such as a half mirror can be attached between the element holding member and the arm portion 8a. You may make it the structure which images the light from the sample isolate | separated by the separation member with a CCD camera.
[0018]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the second embodiment in the inverted microscope of the present invention. The present embodiment is an example in which an observation barrel is used instead of the CCD camera used in the first embodiment. In FIG. 6, members having the same functions as those shown in FIG.
[0019]
Between the transmission illumination optical system 23 and the condenser lens 2, an optical path separating member 18 including a half mirror 25 and a total reflection mirror 26 disposed on the microscope optical path is provided. The element holding part 14, the condenser lens 2, and the optical path separating member 18 are attached to a vertical portion of the illumination column 1 a by an attachment device 19.
The light from the light source is transmitted through the half mirror 25 through the transmission illumination optical system 23, and the condenser lens 2 illuminates the tip of the micro instrument 34 and the sample. The reflected light from the specimen passes through the condenser lens 2 and is partially reflected by the half mirror 25 to be separated from the microscope optical path. The separated light is reflected by the mirror 26, guided to the lens barrel 37, and imaged by the second objective lens 27. Therefore, the image of the minute instrument and the specimen can be observed from the eyepiece lens 15.
[0020]
Further, the half mirror 25 can be inserted into and removed from the optical axis AX of the condenser lens by a guide mechanism (not shown), and after the setting of the manipulator is completed, the transmitted illumination light can be used 100% by being removed from the optical path.
Even with the configuration as described above, the same effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be obtained.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, an observation target including a specimen can be confirmed with a simple configuration while illuminating the specimen.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the light separating means can be removed from the illumination light path except when necessary, 100% of the illumination light can be used.
[0022]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the light separating means and the second objective lens are provided on the turret of the condenser device, the sample can be monitored only by switching to the turret, and vibration at the time of switching Can be very little.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a first embodiment in an inverted microscope of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the capacitor device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the optical branching cassette attached to the turret.
FIG. 4 is a top view of the optical branching cassette attached to the turret.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a second embodiment in the inverted microscope of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a side view showing a conventional inverted microscope.
FIG. 7 is a front view showing a conventional inverted microscope.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a micro instrument is set on a specimen using a stereomicroscope.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Inverted microscope 2 ... Condenser lens 3 ... Branching prism 4 ... 2nd objective lens 5 ... Prism 6 ... CCD camera 7 ... Holding cylinder 12 ... Light branching Cassette 13 ... Turret 21 ... Monitor

Claims (5)

A light source;
A condenser device including a condenser lens that receives illumination light from a light source and irradiates the specimen;
In an inverted microscope equipped with a mounting device for attaching a manipulator capable of mounting a microscopic instrument that can contact the specimen to the microscope,
A light separating unit disposed in an illumination light path between the light source and the condenser lens, and transmits a part of the illumination light from the light source and separates a part of the reflected light from the sample from the illumination light path; ,
And an observing means for condensing the reflected light separated by the light separating means to form a specimen image.   The inverted microscope according to claim 1, wherein the light separating means is provided so as to be detachable with respect to the illumination optical path.   The condenser device includes a turret provided above the condenser lens and arranged to switch a plurality of optical elements for changing the illumination conditions of the illumination light to the illumination light path, and the light separating means includes: A prism or a half mirror provided in the turret, and the observation means is provided in the condenser device and a second objective lens provided in a split optical path divided by the prism or half mirror of the turret The inverted microscope according to claim 1, further comprising an image sensor.   The light separation means includes a prism or a half mirror provided above the condenser lens, and the observation means includes a second objective lens that collects the light separated by the light separation means, an eyepiece lens, The inverted microscope according to claim 1, wherein the observation microscope is provided with an observation tube. In a condenser device having a condenser lens that receives illumination light of an inverted microscope and includes an attachment device that attaches a manipulator capable of mounting a microscopic instrument that can contact the specimen to the microscope .
A light separating unit that is disposed on the illumination light incident side of the condenser lens, transmits a part of the illumination light, and separates a part of the reflected light from the specimen from the optical path of the illumination light;
And a observing unit that collects the reflected light separated by the light separating unit to form a specimen image.

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