SOLID STATE FLUORESCENCE LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND MICROSCOPE

• US 20080043324A1
• Filed: 08/14/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Westover Scientific, Inc. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Westover Scientific, Inc. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cassady, Kevin, Lytle, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,502,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/388
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/082 for incident illumination only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/16 adapted for ultraviolet illumination ; Fluorescence microscopes G02B21/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2207/113 Fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1073 characterized by manufacturing or alignment methods
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/141 using dichroic mirrors

Abstract

An illumination system for a fluorescence microscope is provided. The illumination system includes a carriage removably receivable within the microscope and a plurality of filter cubes movably arranged on the carriage, wherein each filter cube is moveable between an active position and an inactive position. Each filter cube includes a housing having first and second openings and a solid state light source secured to the housing. The solid state light source emits light when the filter cube is moved into the active position. Each filter cube further comprises at least one optical filter disposed within the housing, wherein the optical filter corresponds to the solid state light source.

Claims

1. An illumination system for a fluorescence microscope, the illumination system comprising:

(a) a carriage removably receivable within a microscope;

(b) a plurality of filter cubes movably arranged on the carriage, wherein each filter cube is moveable on the carriage between an active position and an inactive position, each filter cube comprising;

(i) a housing having first and second openings;

(ii) a solid state light source secured to the housing, wherein the solid state light source is adapted to emit light when the filter cube is moved into the active position; and

(ii) at least one optical filter disposed within the housing, the at least one optical filter corresponding to the solid state light source.

2. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical filter is a beamsplitter adapted to reflect light emitted from the solid state light source toward the first opening, and adapted to direct light of a predetermined wavelength towards the second opening.

3. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the solid state light source is a light emitting diode.

4. The illumination system of claim 1, further comprising a barrier filter corresponding to the solid state light source, the barrier filter disposed within the second opening and adapted to selectively pass light through the second opening.

5. The illumination system of claim 1, further comprising an excitation filter corresponding to the solid state light source, the excitation filter disposed within the housing and adapted to select an excitation wavelength of light from the light source.

6. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the carriage includes a power connector in communication with a power source.

7. The illumination system of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of filter cubes includes a contact adapted to engage the power connector when the filter cube is moved into the active position.

8. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the filter cubes are removably received on the carriage.

9. An illumination system for a fluorescence microscope, the illumination system comprising:

(a) a carriage removably receivable within a microscope;

(b) a plurality of filter cubes movably arranged on the carriage, wherein each filter cube is moveable on the carriage between an inactive position and an active position, each filter cube comprising;

(i) a housing having first and second openings;

(ii) a solid state light source secured to the housing; and

(ii) at least one optical filter disposed within the housing, the at least one optical filter corresponding to the solid state light source; and

(c) means for illuminating one of the solid state light sources when the corresponding filter cube is moved into the active position.

10. The illumination system of claim 9, wherein the means for illuminating the solid state light source comprises:

(a) a power connector disposed on the carriage and in electrical communication with a power source; and

(b) a contact provided on each of the plurality of filter cubes, wherein each contact is adapted to engage the power connector when the corresponding filter cube is moved into the active position.

11. The illumination system of claim 9, wherein the at least one optical filter is a beamsplitter adapted to reflect light emitted from the solid state light source toward the first opening, and adapted to direct light of a predetermined wavelength towards the second opening.

12. The illumination system of claim 9, wherein the solid state light source is a light emitting diode.

13. The illumination system of claim 9, further comprising a barrier filter corresponding to the solid state light source, the barrier filter disposed within the second opening and adapted to selectively pass light through the second opening.

14. The illumination system of claim 9, wherein the filter cubes are removably received on the carriage.

15. The illumination system of claim 9, further comprising an excitation filter corresponding to the solid state light source, the excitation filter disposed within the housing and adapted to select an excitation wavelength of light from the light source.

16. A fluorescence microscope, comprising:

(a) an objective assembly;

(b) a receptacle disposed above the objective assembly;

(b) a carriage removably receivable within the receptacle;

(c) a plurality of filter cubes movably arranged on the carriage, wherein each filter cube is moveable on the carriage between an active position and an inactive position, each filter cube comprising;

(i) a housing having first and second openings;

(ii) a solid state light source secured to the housing, wherein the solid state light source is adapted to emit light when the filter cube is moved into the active position; and

(ii) at least one optical filter disposed between the first and second openings of the housing, the at least one optical filter corresponding to the solid state light source; and

(d) an eyepiece assembly disposed above the second opening of the housing.

17. The microscope of claim 16, further comprising a barrier filter disposed within the second opening of the housing and corresponding to the solid state light source.

18. The microscope of claim 16, wherein the at least one optical filter is a beamsplitter adapted to reflect light emitted from the corresponding solid state light source toward the objective assembly and allow light of a predetermined wavelength to pass from the first opening to the second opening.

19. The microscope of claim 16, further comprising an excitation filter corresponding to the solid state light source, the excitation filter disposed within the housing and adapted to select an excitation wavelength of light from the light source.

20. The microscope of claim 16, further comprising means for selectively placing one of the plurality of filter cubes into electrical communication with a power source when the filter cube is moved into the active position.

21. The microscope of claim 20, wherein the means for selectively placing one of the plurality of filter cubes into electrical communication with a power source comprises:

(a) a power connector disposed on the carriage and in electrical communication with the power source; and

(b) a contact provided on each of the plurality of filter cubes, wherein each contact is adapted to engage the power connector when the corresponding filter cube is moved into the active position.

22. The microscope of claim 16, wherein the solid state light source is a light emitting diode.

23. The microscope of claim 16, further comprising a barrier filter corresponding to the solid state light source, the barrier filter disposed within the second opening and adapted to selectively pass light through the second opening.

24. The microscope of claim 16, wherein the filter cubes are removably received on the carriage.

25. A fluorescence microscope, comprising:

(a) an objective assembly;

(b) a receptacle disposed above the objective assembly;

(b) a carriage removably receivable within the receptacle;

(c) a plurality of filter cubes movably arranged on the carriage, wherein each filter cube is moveable on the carriage between an active position and an inactive position, each filter cube comprising;

(i) a housing having first and second openings;

(ii) a solid state light source secured to the housing; and

(ii) at least one optical filter disposed between the first and second openings of the housing, the at least one optical filter corresponding to the solid state light source;

(d) an eyepiece assembly disposed above the second opening of the housing; and

(c) means for illuminating one of the solid state light sources when the corresponding filter cube is moved into the active position.

26. The microscope of claim 25, further comprising a barrier filter corresponding to the solid state light source, the barrier filter disposed within the second opening and adapted to selectively pass light through the second opening.

27. The microscope of claim 25, wherein the at least one optical filter is a beamsplitter adapted to reflect light emitted from the corresponding solid state light source toward the objective assembly and allow light of a predetermined wavelength to pass from the first opening to the second opening.

28. The microscope of claim 25, further comprising an excitation filter corresponding to the solid state light source, the excitation filter disposed within the housing and adapted to select an excitation wavelength of light from the light source.

29. The microscope of claim 25, wherein the means for illuminating the solid state light source comprises:

(a) a power connector disposed on the carriage and in electrical communication with a power source; and

(b) a contact provided on each of the plurality of filter cubes, wherein each contact is adapted to engage the power connector when the corresponding filter cube is moved into the active position.

30. The microscope of claim 25, wherein the solid state light source is a light emitting diode.

31. The microscope of claim 25, wherein the filter cubes are removably received on the carriage.