Optical: systems and elements – Compound lens system – Microscope
Patent
1998-12-11
2000-09-19
Henry, Jon
Optical: systems and elements
Compound lens system
Microscope
359202, 359213, 359385, G02B 2100, G02B 2610
Patent
active
061220981
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a confocal microscope for optical detection of an observation volume, as used, in particular, in fluorescence spectroscopy.
RELATED ART
A confocal microscope adapted to optically determine processes taking place in an observation volume is known from PCT/EP94/00117. This known microscope is employed in particular in fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). The known microscope comprises a light source, which, in particular, is a laser light source, generating a laser light beam. The laser light beam impinges on a dichroic mirror, possibly after being conditioned by a lens arrangement, which mirror reflects the light towards an objective lens arrangement having a mechanic aperture and focusing the light onto the observation chamber. The laser light entering the observation chamber excites fluorescence in, for example, a biological sample within the observation volume, depending on the composition thereof. The resulting fluorescent light reaches the objective lens arrangement from where it passes through the dichroic mirror to impinge on an observation optic arrangement with which the processes in the observation volume may be optically determined.
The known confocal microscope has proven generally successful in practice. However, depending on the samples to be studied, relatively long examination periods are required to observe the generation of fluorescent light in the sample and to collect a sufficient amount of (optical) data that would allow for a quantitative evaluation of the processes happening in the sample.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to provide a confocal microscope for optical detection of an observation volume to be used in fluorescence spectroscopy, which microscope allows for an optical detection of samples in a shorter period of time.
According to the invention, the object is solved with a confocal microscope provided with the light source, excitation light reflected by the dichroic mirror and focusing the light on the observation volume, and volume and passing through the dichroic mirror.
According to the invention, this confocal microscope is characterized in that deflection mirror arrangement is located having a planar deflection mirror at the side of the objective, which mirror is arranged to oscillate about a normal position, such that respective reflected excitation light intersect in a substantially common intersection in the area of the mechanical aperture of the objective lens arrangement, and the line of intersection of the plane, in which the objective-side deflection mirror lies, and the plane extending through the common intersection of the optical axes of the reflected excitation light and perpendicular to the optical axis of the reflected light, when the objective-side deflection mirror is in its normal position.
The present confocal microscope is provided with a deflection mirror arrangement comprising at least one deflection mirror (on the side of the objective). This objective-side deflection mirror is arranged for oscillation about a normal position. Oscillating this deflection mirror, the angle under which the excitation light impinges on the objective lens arrangement is varied. Here, the invention provides that the excitation light is moved in the mechanical aperture of the objective lens arrangement such that the beam of excitation light is at the center of the mechanical aperture under any angle of incidence. In other words: upon oscillation of the objective-side deflection mirror, the optical axes of the respective reflected excitation light intersect at a substantially common intersection that lies within the area of the mechanical aperture and is situated, in particular in the propagation direction of the excitation light, behind the mechanical aperture of the objective lens arrangement. Here, the axis about which the objective-side deflection mirror oscillates coincides with the line of intersection of the plane, in which the planar objective-side deflection mirror lies, and t
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patent: 5329352 (1994-07-01), Jacobsen
patent: 5381224 (1995-01-01), Dixon et al.
Hummel Stefan
Kask Peet
Evotec Biosystems A.G.
Henry Jon
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