Scanning examination apparatus, lens unit, and objective-lens adaptor

• US 7,436,562 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2006
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Tanikawa, Yoshihisa, Nagasawa, Nobuyuki, Osa, Kazuhiko, Saito, Yoshiharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan; James
• Application Number:
  US11/375,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20060214095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 359/196.1
• 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: A61B 5/0068 Confocal scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0012 Surgical microscopes counterbalanced structures for surgical microscopes G02B7/001
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0028 specially adapted for specific applications, e.g. for endoscopes, ophthalmoscopes, attachments to conventional microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/006 focusing arrangements; selection of the plane to be imaged
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0816 by means of one or more reflecting elements

Abstract

It is possible to easily and accurately confirm the position of an optical axis of an objective lens relative to an examination site on a specimen, and positioning of the objective relative to the specimen can be carried out rapidly in a preparation stage. The invention provides scanning examination apparatus comprising a first light source; a light scanning unit configured to scan light from the first light source on a specimen; an objective lens configured to form an image of the light scanned in the light scanning unit at the specimen; a light-detecting unit configured to detect return light emitted from the specimen; a second light source configured to emit visible light; a deflecting optical element, disposed between the light scanning unit and the objective lens, for making visible light emitted from the second light source enter the objective lens along an optical axis of the objective lens; and a beam-shaping unit configured to form the visible light from the second light source, which is irradiated onto a surface of the specimen via the objective lens using the deflecting optical element, into a pattern that enables the optical axis of the objective lens to be indicated.

Claims

1. A scanning examination apparatus comprising:

a first light source;

a light scanning unit configured to scan light from the first light source on a specimen;

an objective lens configured to form an image of the light scanned in the light scanning unit at the specimen;

a light-detecting unit configured to detect return light emitted from the specimen;

a second light source configured to emit visible light;

a deflecting optical element, disposed between the light scanning unit and the objective lens, for making visible light emitted from the second light source enter the objective lens along an optical axis of the objective lens; and

a beam-shaping unit configured to form the visible light from the second light source, which is irradiated onto a surface of the specimen via the objective lens using the deflecting optical element, into a pattern that enables the optical axis of the objective lens to be indicated;

wherein the deflecting optical element is formed of a mirror and is disposed so as to be insertable in and removable from between the light scanning unit and the objective lens.

2. A scanning examination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the beam-shaping unit is configured to enable selective switching of the pattern of visible light from the second light source.

3. A scanning examination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second light source is a wavelength-switchable light source.

4. A scanning examination apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an examination apparatus main body;

a lens unit configured to be removably attached to the examination apparatus main body, the lens unit including the objective lens; and

a pointed insertion member formed of an optically transparent material, provided at the end of the lens unit to protrude along the optical axis, wherein the focal position of the lens unit is disposed outside the tip of the insertion member.

5. A scanning examination apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising, at a tip of the insertion member, a transmissive surface orthogonal to the optical axis.

6. A scanning examination apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising, at a tip of the insertion member, a reflecting mirror inclined relative to the optical axis.

7. A scanning examination apparatus comprising:

a first light source;

a light scanning unit configured to scan light from the first light source on a specimen;

an objective lens configured to form an image of the light scanned in the light scanning unit at the specimen;

a light-detecting unit configured to detect return light emitted from the specimen;

a second light source configured to emit visible light;

a deflecting optical element, disposed between the light scanning unit and the objective lens, for making visible light emitted from the second light source enter the objective lens along an optical axis of the objective lens; and

a beam-shaping unit configured to form the visible light from the second light source, which is irradiated onto a surface of the specimen via the objective lens using the deflecting optical element, into a pattern that enables the optical axis of the objective lens to be indicated;

wherein the beam-shaping unit is configured to enable selective switching of the pattern of visible light from the second light source.

8. A scanning examination apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the deflecting optical element is formed of a half-mirror.

9. A scanning examination apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second light source is a wavelength-switchable light source.

10. A scanning examination apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

an examination apparatus main body;

a lens unit configured to be removably attached to the examination apparatus main body, the lens unit including the objective lens; and

a pointed insertion member formed of an optically transparent material, provided at the end of the lens unit to protrude along the optical axis, wherein the focal position of the lens unit is disposed outside the tip of the insertion member.

11. A scanning examination apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising, at a tip of the insertion member, a transmissive surface orthogonal to the optical axis.

12. A scanning examination apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising, at a tip of the insertion member, a reflecting mirror inclined relative to the optical axis.

13. A scanning examination apparatus comprising:

a first light source;

a light scanning unit configured to scan light from the first light source on a specimen;

an objective lens configured to form an image of the light scanned in the light scanning unit at the specimen;

a light-detecting unit configured to detect return light emitted from the specimen;

a second light source configured to emit visible light;

a deflecting optical element, disposed between the light scanning unit and the objective lens, for making visible light emitted from the second light source enter the objective lens along an optical axis of the objective lens;

a beam-shaping unit configured to form the visible light from the second light source, which is irradiated onto a surface of the specimen via the objective lens using the deflecting optical element, into a pattern that enables the optical axis of the objective lens to be indicated;

an examination apparatus main body;

a lens unit configured to be removably attached to the examination apparatus main body, the lens unit including the objective lens;

a pointed insertion member formed of an optically transparent material, provided at the end of the lens unit to protrude along the optical axis, wherein the focal position of the lens unit is disposed outside the tip of the insertion member; and

at a tip of the insertion member, a reflecting mirror inclined relative to the optical axis.

14. A scanning examination apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the deflecting optical element is formed of a half-mirror.

15. A scanning examination apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the second light source is a wavelength-switchable light source.

16. A scanning examination apparatus comprising:

a first light source;

a light scanning unit configured to scan light from the first light source on a specimen;

an objective lens configured to form an image of the light scanned in the light scanning unit at the specimen;

a light-detecting unit configured to detect return light emitted from the specimen;

a second light source configured to emit visible light;

a deflecting optical element, disposed between the light scanning unit and the objective lens, for making visible light emitted from the second light source enter the objective lens along an optical axis of the objective lens;

a beam-shaping unit configured to form the visible light from the second light source, which is irradiated onto a surface of the specimen via the objective lens using the deflecting optical element, into a pattern that enables the optical axis of the objective lens to be indicated;

an examination apparatus main body;

a lens unit including an objective lens; and

an objective-lens adaptor attached at the end of the lens unit;

wherein the objective-lens adaptor includes a pointed insertion member formed of an optically transparent material and a mounting portion configured to attach the insertion member to the end of the lens unit in an on-axis manner, and when the objective-lens adaptor is attached to the lens unit, the focal position of the lens unit is disposed outside the insertion member;

a scanning examination apparatus further comprising, at the tip of the insertion member, a reflecting surface that is inclined relative to the optical axis when the objective-lens adaptor is attached to the end of the lens unit.