DEVICE FOR MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION

• US 20140146158A1
• Filed: 11/27/2013
• Published: 05/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
• Original Assignee: Astrium GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: KERN, Peter, TREICHEL, Rainer
• Granted Patent: US 10,330,909 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/79
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/16 adapted for ultraviolet illumination ; Fluorescence microscopes G02B21/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/24 Base structure
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/26 Stages; Adjusting means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/36 arranged for photographic purposes or projection purposes G02B21/18 takes precedenceor digital imaging or video purposes including associated control and data processing arrangements image data processing per se G06T
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/362 Mechanical details, e.g. mountings for the camera or image sensor, housings G02B21/364 takes precedence

Abstract

A device for microscopic examination includes an image output unit, at least two image input units, which are arranged in a spatially distributed manner and which have different sample receiving regions, at least one object carrier unit which supports at least one sample, in particular at least one biological sample, and includes a coupling unit, which couples the image output unit and one of the at least two image input units optically to form a microscope unit.

Claims

1. A device for microscopic examination comprising an image output unit, at least two image input units, which are arranged in a spatially distributed manner and which have different sample receiving regions, at least one object carrier unit which supports at least one sample, in particular at least one biological sample, and comprising a coupling unit, which couples the image output unit and one of the at least two image input units optically to form a microscope unit.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the microscope unit is embodied in a multipartite fashion in a mounted and aligned state.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one object carrier unit is embodied as a centrifuge.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein, in at least one operating state, at least one of the image input units is coupled at least substantially rotationally to at least one allocated object carrier unit.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein, in the at least one operating state, the at least one image input unit rotates relative to the image output unit.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein at least one derotator unit is arranged in a beam path between at least one image input unit and the image output unit.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein at least one rotational speed halving unit by means of which the derotator unit rotates at least substantially at half a rotational speed of the at least one image input unit.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the image output unit is optically connected to the at least one image input unit via at least one deflection element.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one channel switching unit which is provided for switching the image output unit between different sample channels each of which is allocated to one sample.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the channel switching unit has at least one image output switching unit which is provided for moving or positioning at least one image output unit between at least two working positions each of which is allocated to at least one sample channel.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the channel switching unit has at least one image input switching unit which is provided for switching at least one of the at least two image input units between a plurality of sample channels.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the image input switching unit changes over the at least one of the at least two image input units by a rotational movement between a plurality of sample channels.

13. The device at least according to claim 9, wherein a multiple carrier structure, at which the channel switching unit, at least one image output unit and a plurality of object carrier units and allocated image input units are arranged.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein at least one object carrier unit is embodied as a multiple sample carrier unit at which a plurality of samples is arranged.

15. The device according to claim 13, wherein, to each object carrier unit at least one separate image input unit is allocated.

16. The device at least according to claim 13, wherein the multiple carrier structure is embodied as a polygon structure.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein, to each sample a separate image input unit is allocated.

18. The device according to claim 1, wherein the microscope unit is embodied as a fluorescence microscope unit.

19. A method of using the device according to claim 1 under conditions of reduced gravitational force.