High spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus

• US 4,920,386 A
• Filed: 04/19/1989
• Issued: 04/24/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics KK
• Original Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics KK
• Inventors: Tsuchiya, Yutaka, Takiguchi, Yoshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): McGraw, Vincent P.
• Application Number:
  US07/339,920
• Time in Patent Office: 370 Days
• Field of Search: 356/317, 356/318, 356/417, 356/432, 250/213 VT
• US Class Current: 356/417
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/1738 Optionally different kinds of measurements; Method being valid for different kinds of measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6408 with measurement of decay time, time resolved fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6456 Spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0696 Pulsed
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/00 Microscopes

Abstract

A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus for optically measuring a fine area in an object to be measured, the apparatus comprising a stage for mounting a specimen thereon, a light source for generating a first light, a first optical system for leading the first light from the light source to the specimen, an objective lens for magnifying an image of a second light from the specimen, a second optical system for imaging a part of the image in a form of a slit, a streak tube having a photocathode at a position of image formation of the second optical system for receiving the part of the image and forming a streak image thereof, a housing for shielding the first optical system, the objective lens and the second optical system from stray light.

Claims

1. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus for optically measuring a desired area in a specimen, said apparatus comprising:

a stage for mounting the specimen thereon;

a light source for generating a first light;

first optical means for directing said first light from said light source to said specimen;

objective means for forming an image of second light emanating form said specimen;

a width variable slit located at the image plane of said objective means for limiting the visual field of the specimen;

relay lens means for forming an image of light emanating from said width variable slit at an image plane;

a streak tube including a photocathode at the image plane of said relay lens means, said streak tube forming a streak image of an image formed by said relay lens means on said photocathode; and

a housing for shielding said first optical means, said objective means, said width variable slit, and said relay lens from ambient light.

3. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said stage is slightly movable in the direction of an optical axis of said objective means and in the direction perpendicular to said optical axis.

4. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first light is incident on said specimen from the side opposite to said stage with respect to said specimen.

5. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first light is incident on said specimen through said stage.

6. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first light is incident on said specimen both from the side opposite to said stage with said specimen and through said stage.

7. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said light source comprises a laser.

8. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said light source comprises a pulse light source.

9. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said light source comprises a short-pulse-continued light source variable in pulse interval.

10. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first optical means includes a filter.

11. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said objective means comprises a microscopic objective lens.

12. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said objective means comprises a still camera lens.

13. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said objective means comprises a microscopic objective lens and a still camera lens arranged tandem.

14. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said relay lens means includes a filter.

15. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, said apparatus further comprising a reflecting mirror, wherein said objective means is disposed so that the optical axis of said objective means intersects the optical axis of said streak tube at a desired angle, and wherein said reflecting mirror is disposed at a point of intersection and is rotatable round an axis perpendicular to said two optical axes of said objective means and said streak tube.

16. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first light is excitation light for said specimen and said second light is fluorescent light.

17. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said streak tube is used in a focusing mode to make one of slit width and a slit image width variable to thereby adjust said objective means.

18. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, said apparatus further comprising a television camera for picking up said streak image or a phosphor screen of said streak tube, and a controller for controlling drive of said stage, light emission of said light source, a deflection voltage of said streak tube, and said television camera.

19. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said streak tube is used in a focusing mode to make one of a slit width and slit image width variable to thereby adjust said objective means.

22. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said filter comprises a density filter.

23. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said filter comprises an interference filter.

24. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said filter comprises a polarizing filter.

25. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said filter comprises a density filter.

26. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said filter comprises an interference filter.

27. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said filter comprises a polarizing filter.

2. A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus for optically measuring a desired area in a specimen, said apparatus comprising:

a stage disposed along an optical axis for mounting the specimen thereon, said stage being inclined relative to the optical axis to prevent light reflected by said stage from propagating along said optical axis;

a light source for generating a first light;

first optical means for directing said first light from said light source along an optical axis to said specimen;

objective means for forming an image of second light emanating from said specimen along said optical axis;

a width variable slit disposed at the image plane of said objective means along said optical axis for limiting the visual field of the specimen;

relay lens means disposed along said optical axis for forming an image of light emanating from said width variable slit at an image plane;

a streak tube including a photocathode disposed along said optical axis at the image plane of said relay lens means, said streak tube forming a streak image of an image formed by said relay lens means on said photocathode; and

a housing for shielding said first optical means, said objective means, said width variable slit, and said relay lens from ambient light.

20. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said first optical means includes a first filter disposed along said optical axis, said first filter being inclined relative to the optical axis to prevent light reflected by said filter from propagating along said optical axis.

21. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said relay lens means includes a second filter disposed along said optical axis, said second filter being inclined relative to the optical axis to prevent light reflected by said second filter from propagating along said optical axis.