Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090237765 | OPTICAL ARRANGEMENT FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A LIGHT-SHEET - The invention is directed to an optical arrangement with a light source for emitting a light bundle and with optical elements for transforming this light bundle into the shape of a light sheet, particularly suitable for illuminating individual planes of a three-dimensional specimen in selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM). According to the invention, means are provided for varying the cross section of the light sheet, for varying the length of the light sheet and/or for influencing the direction in which individual beam components extending within the light sheet are directed to the specimen substance. This makes it possible to adapt the geometry of the light sheet to the illumination requirements for observing one and the same specimen plane with a plurality of different objectives and, if required, to reduce shadows occurring within the observed specimen plane as a result of the illumination. | 09-24-2009 |
20090294694 | Luminescence Microscopy with Enhanced Resolution - The invention is directed to a resolution-enhanced luminescence microscopy method in which a sample is excited to the emission of luminescence radiation through irradiation by excitation radiation, and an image of the luminescing sample is acquired. A first partial volume of the sample is irradiated by a first laser radiation field of the excitation radiation, and a second partial volume of the sample is irradiated by a second laser radiation field of the excitation radiation. The first partial volume of the sample and the second partial volume of the sample overlap one another partially but not completely. Only the first laser radiation field is modulated with a first frequency, and luminescence radiation is detected from the first partial volume of the sample with modulation filtering so that luminescence radiation from the second partial volume of the sample is suppressed. | 12-03-2009 |
20100067104 | SAMPLE HOLDER FOR A MICROSCOPE - The invention is directed to a sample holder for a microscope. The sample holder comprises a sample chamber which is filled with an immersion liquid and in which a sample is located. The sample chamber has an upper opening. It further comprises means for translating the sample relative to a detection objective of the microscope, and means for rotating the sample around an axis of rotation extending in a substantially horizontal plane which encloses an angle other than zero degrees with the optical axis of the detection objective. In a sample holder of this kind, the sample is embedded in a transparent embedding medium having at least partially a greater solidity than the immersion liquid. Further, the sample chamber has means for horizontally supporting the embedded sample against the effect of gravity. | 03-18-2010 |
20100134881 | OBJECTIVE REPLACEMENT DEVICE FOR MICROSCOPES - The invention relates to an objective replacement device for a microscope, wherein the sample is located in a sample chamber and surrounded by an immersion medium within the sample chamber, means for positioning and aligning the sample relative to the focus of an objective being present, wherein the detection beam path is aligned horizontally, which is to say perpendicular to the direction of action of gravity. For an objective replacement device for a microscope of the type described above, according to the invention a device is provided for exchanging the objective, at the focus of which the sample is positioned and aligned, with at least another objective, the position and alignment of the sample within the sample chamber remaining the same. | 06-03-2010 |
20100177381 | Sample Holding System for a Microscope - The invention relates to a sample holding system for a microscope, comprising a sample chamber which has an upper opening and is filled with an immersion liquid, and in which a sample embedded in a transparent embedding compound is placed in a holder. The sample holding system also comprises means for the translatory movement of the sample in relation to a detection objective of the microscope, and means for rotating the sample about an essentially vertical rotational axis in a plane forming an angle different from zero with the optical axis of the detection objective. The means for rotating the sample in such a sample holding system comprise a rotational drive provided with a magnetic coupling or a belt drive and/or toothed wheel rotational drive arranged above the sample chamber, said drives transmitting the rotational movement to the holder, or the rotational movement is generated directly by the movement of the entire sample chamber. | 07-15-2010 |
20100193673 | OPTICAL ARRANGEMENT FOR PHOTOMANIPULATION - The invention is directed to an optical arrangement for photomanipulation of a sample comprising a sample holder for receiving the sample, an illumination device comprising an illumination light source and an illumination beam path for illuminating the sample with a light sheet. It further comprises a detection device for detecting light that is radiated from the sample and imaging optics which image the sample on the detection device by means of an imaging objective in an imaging beam path, wherein the light sheet is substantially planar in the focus of the imaging objective, and wherein the imaging objective has an optical axis which intersects the plane of the light sheet at an angle different from zero. Further, the arrangement also has means for photomanipulation of the sample. | 08-05-2010 |
20100201784 | METHOD FOR THE MICROSCOPIC THREE-DIMENSIONAL REPRODUCTION OF A SAMPLE - A method for the three-dimensional imaging of a sample in which image information from different depth planes of the sample is stored in a spatially resolved manner, and the three-dimensional image of the sample is subsequently reconstructed from this stored image information is provided. A reference structure is applied to the illumination light, at least one fluorescing reference object is positioned next to or in the sample, images of the reference structure of the illumination light, of the reference object are recorded from at least one detection direction and evaluated. The light sheet is brought into an optimal position based on the results and image information of the reference object and of the sample from a plurality of detection directions is stored. Transformation operators are obtained on the basis of the stored image information and the reconstruction of the three-dimensional image of the is based on these transformation operators. | 08-12-2010 |
20100239138 | METHOD FOR POSITIONING BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES IN A MICROSCOPIC ARRANGEMENT - The invention relates to methods for positioning at least one preferably biological specimen in the specimen space of a microscope arrangement, and to devices for carrying out these methods. Methods and devices are proposed, wherein the specimen's orientation relative to a detection objective's optical axis can be repeatedly changed and, in doing so, the specimen is held so that a substantially unobstructed view of the specimen is ensured from every detection direction. In different constructional variants, the specimen is held at a supporting device by adhesive forces or by a flowing medium, the specimen is held at a capillary opening by capillary action, or at least one specimen is embedded in a body of transparent gel, and the gel body is fixed in the specimen space by means of a rotatable holding device, and the detection direction is changed by rotating the holding device by a given angle of rotation. | 09-23-2010 |
20100265575 | MICROSCOPE - A microscope including an imaging objective for imaging a sample on a detector and means for illuminating the sample with a light sheet in the focus plane of the imaging objective. The illumination means includes an illumination source which emits coherent light, and Bessel optics which generate at least two plane waves from the light beam and give propagation directions for the plane waves. The propagation direction of each of the plane waves encloses an acute angle with the focus plane in each instance, the magnitude of the acute angle being identical for each of the plane waves, so that the plane waves undergo constructive interference in the focus plane so that a light sheet is generated. Similarly, the illumination means can also include an optical element by which a rotationally symmetric Bessel beam is generated from the light beam for dynamic generation of a light sheet. | 10-21-2010 |
20100309548 | METHOD AND OPTICAL ASSEMBLY FOR ANALYSING A SAMPLE - A method and an arrangement for analyzing a specimen, wherein the specimen is supported so as to be rotatable around an axis of rotation and displaceable in all three spatial directions and is illuminated by a first illumination device. Light radiated from the specimen is imaged on a detection device. A plurality of sectional images of the specimen are recorded at different settings of the rotational angle, and the specimen is rotated. The recorded sectional images are fused to form a data set of spatial image data of the specimen. The specimen is then illuminated by a second illumination device perpendicular to the axis of rotation, wherein a plurality of shadow images of the specimen are recorded and the specimen is rotated. A second data set of spatial image data of the specimen is constructed from the recorded shadow images by means of a back projection algorithm. | 12-09-2010 |
20110031414 | DEVICE FOR MICROSCOPY HAVING SELECTIVE ILLUMINATION OF A PLANE - A microscopy device, particularly for use in an imaging fluorescence lifetime microscopy method is provided. The microscopy device comprises an illumination means for generating an illumination beam, an imaging detector for spatially resolved acquisition of an emission radiation emitted by an object to be examined, an illumination beam path between the illumination means and the object to be examined, and a detection beam path between the object to be examined and the detector. The illumination beam path comprises illumination optics which are designed to generate a light sheet of illumination radiation extending transverse to the axis of the illumination beam path, wherein the axis of the detection beam path is oriented substantially perpendicular to a section plane of the light sheet and of the object to be examined. The illumination means comprise a pulsed laser. | 02-10-2011 |
20110036996 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HIGH SPATIAL RESOLUTION IMAGING OF A STRUCTURE OF A SAMPLE - Apparatus and method for high spatial resolution imaging of a sample's structure, including a diffraction-limited resolution volume with a plurality of dye molecules which can be switched between different states and have a distribution density which is greater than the inverse of the diffraction-limited resolution volume, where at least one state is fluorescing, the fluorescence being collected by an objective lens and imaged on a spatially resolving detector by an optical system. At least one light source provided for emitting a switching radiation and for emitting an excitation radiation. At least one of the light sources is arranged to radiate through the sample, and a switching and/or fluorescence excitation of the dye molecules is carried out. The switching is a photoactivation or a photodeactivation of the dye molecules. A focusing arrangement is provided for switching and/or for excitation to generate a line-like illumination region extending in a direction of illumination. | 02-17-2011 |
20110094318 | METHOD FOR EMBEDDING A BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE IN A TRANSPARENT MATRIX FOR ANALYSIS USING SINGLE PLANE ILLUMINATION MICROSCOPY - The invention is directed to method for positioning and aligning a preferably biological sample in the detection area of the objective of a microscope arrangement. According to the invention, the method mentioned above has the following method steps: a sample is introduced into a transparent medium, preferably agarose gel, which is initially liquid; the medium is changed from the liquid state to the solid state, wherein the sample is fixated within the medium, but the transparency of the medium is retained; the solidified medium is positioned in the microscope arrangement in such a way that the sample enclosed therein is situated in the detection area of the objective. Further, a device is proposed for positioning and aligning a preferably biological sample in the detection area of the objective of a microscope arrangement. | 04-28-2011 |
20110170182 | DEVICE FOR HOLDING AND POSITIONING A SAMPLE RELATIVE TO A MICROSCOPE LENS - An arrangement for holding and positioning a sample in the detection area of the objective of a microscope, the detection area being located in a chamber which is filled with an immersion liquid. This arrangement includes (1) a sample holder to which the sample is affixed so as to lie upon a point P in a coordinate system X, Y, Z, coordinate Z being defined by the optical axis of the microscope objective and the coordinate origin laying within the detection area, (2) a device by which the position of point P can be varied within the coordinate system X, Y, Z, wherein the range of variation comprehends the detection area, and (3) a device for rotating the sample affixed to the sample holder around point P, wherein a straight line G which encloses with coordinate Z an angle α whose size can be changed is the axis of rotation. | 07-14-2011 |
20120097865 | Luminescence Microscopy with Enhanced Resolution - The invention is directed to a resolution-enhanced luminescence microscopy method in which a sample is excited to the emission of luminescence radiation through irradiation by excitation radiation, and an image of the luminescing sample is acquired. A first partial volume of the sample is irradiated by a first laser radiation field of the excitation radiation, and a second partial volume of the sample is irradiated by a second laser radiation field of the excitation radiation. The first partial volume of the sample and the second partial volume of the sample overlap one another partially but not completely. Only the first laser radiation field is modulated with a first frequency, and luminescence radiation is detected from the first partial volume of the sample with modulation filtering so that luminescence radiation from the second partial volume of the sample is suppressed. | 04-26-2012 |
20120176674 | MICROSCOPE - A microscope including an illumination device for a light sheet having an approximately planar extension along an illumination axis of an illumination beam path with a transverse axis to the illumination axis. Light emitted from the sample region on axis of detection the illumination axis and the axis of detection as well as the transverse axis and the axis of detection being oriented relative at an non-zero angle. The illumination device includes structure deflecting light to different beam path and thus produces an additional sheet of light, together illuminating the sample region on common illumination axis, and with switches between beam paths. Detection device has a detection lens system for light from by the sample region. The switches include a rapidly switching element with a time <10 ms, a predetermined integration of the surface detector synchronized so the sample region is illuminated twice during integration. | 07-12-2012 |
20120200693 | MICROSCOPE WITH A SHEET OF LIGHT - A family of microscopes with illumination systems directing a sheet of light having an approximately planar extension in an illumination axis of an illumination beam path and in a transverse axis orthogonally oriented to the illumination axis. The microscopes have detection devices used to detect light that is emitted by a sample region. The detection devices including a detection lens system disposed in the detection beam path and an optical detection element spaced from a front lens of the detection lens system and independently adjustable thereof. The optical detection element continuously varies the size of a detection image field and/or continuously displaces a focal plane of detection in the P-region. | 08-09-2012 |
20120229791 | MICROSCOPE - A microscope including an illumination device providing a light sheet illuminating a sample region, said sheet having a planar extension along an illumination axis of an illumination beam path and a transverse axis lying normal to the illumination axis. A detection device detects light emitted from the sample region on a detection axis the illumination axis and detection axis as well as the transverse axis and the detection axis being oriented relative each other at an angle unequal zero. The detection device has a detection lens system arranged in the detection beam path and splitting means for splitting the detection beam path into two beam sub-paths. A dichroic beam splitter in the infinity region of the surface detectors is about 3 mm thick. Wobble plate(s) disposed orthogonal to each other relative to the detection axis arranged in one of the two beam sub-paths so measured values can be automatically superimposed. | 09-13-2012 |
20120281264 | MICROSCOPE - A family of microscopes include an illumination device which produces a planar light sheet along an illumination axis of an illumination beam path and a transverse axis normal to the illumination axis. A detection device detects light emitted from the sample region along an axis of detection of a detection beam path. The illumination and detection axes as well as the transverse axis and the axis of detection being oriented relative each other at an angle unequal to zero. A light sheet generator also produces rotationally symmetrical light and includes structure and control for rapidly scanning the sample region along the transverse axis. The illumination device includes a second light sheet generator having a first astigmatically active optical element with at least one astigmatic lens for producing a static sheet of light. Selection elements used to select either the first or the second light sheet or both together to produce the sheet of light. | 11-08-2012 |
20120282667 | METHOD FOR POSITIONING BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES IN A MICROSCOPIC ARRANGEMENT - The invention relates to methods for positioning at least one preferably biological specimen in the specimen space of a microscope arrangement, and to devices for carrying out these methods. Methods and devices arc proposed, wherein the specimen's orientation relative to a detection objective's optical axis can be repeatedly changed and, in doing so, the specimen is held so that a substantially unobstructed view of the specimen is ensured from every detection direction. In different constructional variants, the specimen is held at a supporting device by adhesive forces or by a flowing medium, the specimen is held at a capillary opening by capillary action, or at least one specimen is embedded in a body of transparent gel, and the gel body is fixed in the specimen space by means of a rotatable holding device, and the detection direction is changed by rotating the holding device by a given angle of rotation. | 11-08-2012 |
20130094755 | METHOD FOR THE MICROSCOPIC THREE-DIMENSIONAL REPRODUCTION OF A SAMPLE - A method for the three-dimensional imaging of a sample in which image information from different depth planes of the sample is stored in a spatially resolved manner, and the three-dimensional image of the sample is subsequently reconstructed from this stored image information is provided. A reference structure is applied to the illumination light, at least one fluorescing reference object is positioned next to or in the sample, images of the reference structure of the illumination light, of the reference object are recorded from at least one detection direction and evaluated. The light sheet is brought into an optimal position based on the results and image information of the reference object and of the sample from a plurality of detection directions is stored. Transformation operators are obtained on the basis of the stored image information and the reconstruction of the three-dimensional image of the is based on these transformation operators. | 04-18-2013 |
20130302905 | INCREASED DEPTH-RESOLUTION MICROSCOPY - A method for high-resolution luminescence microscopy of a sample marked with marking molecules that can be activated to excite particular luminescent radiation, including: repeated activation of a subset of the marking molecules to emit luminescent radiation; repeated imaging of the sample along a depth direction and with a predetermined optical resolution; and producing images from the repeated imaging. Locations of the marking molecules are determined with a spatial resolution that is increased above the predetermined optical resolution. Activation of the marking molecules can be through radiation introduced into multiple regions, each extending along a plane substantially perpendicular to the depth direction. The regions can be arranged so that the regions are behind one another and overlap only partially. Separate images of the sample may be recorded for activation in each of the regions in order to obtain depth information relating to the marking molecules from the separate images. | 11-14-2013 |
20140202265 | METHOD FOR EMBEDDING A BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE IN A TRANSPARENT MATRIX FOR ANALYSIS USING SINGLE PLANE ILLUMINATION MICROSCOPY - The invention is directed to method for positioning and aligning a preferably biological sample in the detection area of the objective of a microscope arrangement. According to the invention, the method mentioned above has the following method steps: a sample is introduced into a transparent medium, preferably agarose gel, which is initially liquid; the medium is changed from the liquid state to the solid state, wherein the sample is fixated within the medium, but the transparency of the medium is retained; the solidified medium is positioned in the microscope arrangement in such a way that the sample enclosed therein is situated in the detection area of the objective. Further, a device is proposed for positioning and aligning a preferably biological sample in the detection area of the objective of a microscope arrangement. | 07-24-2014 |
20140254005 | Microscope and Method for SPIM Microscopy - A method for SPIM microscopy, wherein the sample is moved continuously, and a plurality of images are taken at time intervals by means of a detection arrangement during the movement. The image capture duration or exposure time is dimensioned such that the movement path of the sample lies within a predetermined resolution range of the detection objective. The speed of the sample movement is determined and set by the image capture duration or exposure time and/or the distortion of the point spread function generated by the sample movement of the sample. The image blur is corrected computationally by the respective image capture duration and the movement speed. A sharp image is generated in this way. The actual optical section thickness of the light sheet is determined from the light sheet thickness, and the movement speed is determined therefrom and from user settings. | 09-11-2014 |
20140285814 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING ROUGHNESS DATA AND/OR TOPOGRAPHY DATA OF SURFACES IN MATERIAL MICROSCOPY - A method for determining roughness data and/or topography data of surfaces in material microscopy, particularly from flat samples, based on a shearing polarization interferometrical sequence with a microscopic “TIC” module (“Total Interference Contrast Module”) of a microscope, wherein the method can be carried out both polychromatically and monochromatically. At least two tilted wave fronts are generated, which after reflection or transmission on a sample generate two images of said sample in the form of fringe patterns, said images being offset relative to one another and interfering with one another, from which roughness values and height topographies of the surface of the sample are determined by application of image evaluation. | 09-25-2014 |
20150054937 | Light microscope and method for image recording using a light microscope - The invention relates to a light microscope comprising a polychromatic light source for emitting illumination light in the direction of a sample, focussing means for focussing illumination light onto the sample, wherein the focussing means, for generating a depth resolution, have a longitudinal chromatic aberration, and a detection device, which comprises a two-dimensional array of detector elements, for detecting sample light coming from the sample. According to the invention, the light microscope is characterized in that, for detecting both confocal portions and non-confocal portions of the sample light, a beam path from the sample to the detection device is free of elements for completely masking out non-confocal portions. In addition, the invention relates to a method for image recording using a light microscope. | 02-26-2015 |
20150070757 | Microscope - A microscope including an imaging objective for imaging a sample on a detector and means for illuminating the sample with a light sheet in the focus plane of the imaging objective. The illumination means includes an illumination source which emits coherent light, and Bessel optics which generate at least two plane waves from the light beam and give propagation directions for the plane waves. The propagation direction of each of the plane waves encloses an acute angle with the focus plane in each instance, the magnitude of the acute angle being identical for each of the plane waves, so that the plane waves undergo constructive interference in the focus plane so that a light sheet is generated. Similarly, the illumination means can also include an optical element by which a rotationally symmetric Bessel beam is generated from the light beam for dynamic generation of a light sheet. | 03-12-2015 |
20150077845 | Device and method for microscopy - The invention relates to a device for microscopy, with at least one light source for providing illumination light, with a detection unit for detecting light radiated back from a sample, with a microscopy optical unit for guiding illumination light onto the sample and for guiding light radiated back from the sample in the direction of the detection unit and with, arranged in an illumination beam path, an excitation mask ( | 03-19-2015 |