Fluorescence microscope system

Claim 2

A fluorescence microscope system for measuring the analytical characteristic of a sample from either the fluorescence spectrum or the excitation spectrum of a fluorescence probe introduced into the sample, charac­terized by comprising: a light source (2) for emitting excitation light to excite the fluorescent probe; a first filter unit (6) for filtering the excita­tion light emitted from said light source (2), having a plurality of interference filters (5) for allowing the passage of excitation light beams each having a dif­ferent wavelength; a drive mechanism (26, 27, 28, 30, 31) for moving said first filter unit (6), thereby to position, in the optical axis of said light source (2), a specified interference filter allowing the passage of an excita­tion light beam of a desired wavelength; a first optical system (7, 8) for causing the exci­tation light beam passing through said specified inter­ference filter (5) to fall onto a predetermined area of a sample (10) into which a fluorescence probe has been introduced; an interference filter (19) located in the optical path of the fluorescent light emitted from the specified area of the sample (10), for allowing the passage of only that beam of the fluorescent light which has a pre­determined wavelength; beam-splitting means (11) located in the optical path of the fluorescent light beam passing through the interference filter (19), for splitting the fluorescent light beam into first and second beams; a second optical system (60s, 60b, 61), including an ocular lens (12), for focusing the first beam, thereby to form a fluorescent image of the specified area of the sample (10); a third optical system (60c, 56) for focusing the second beam, thereby to form a fluorescent image of the specified area of the sample (10); a television camera (13) for converting, into electric image data, the fluorescent image formed by said third optical system (60c, 56); and an image processing device (14, 15) for processing the image data provided by said television camera (13), thereby to form an image representing the distribution of the values of the analytical characteristic measured in the specified area of the sample (10).

Claim 3

A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said interference filter (19) for filtering the fluorescent light is a second filter unit (52) compris­ing a plurality of interference filters (44) which allow the passage of fluorescent light beams each having a different wavelength; and a drive mechanism (51, 55) is provided for moving the second filter unit, thereby to position, in the optical path of said fluorescent light, a specified interference filter (44) of said second filter unit (52) which allows the passage of a fluo­rescent light beam of a desired wavelength.

Claim 4

A fluorescence microscope system for measuring the analytical characteristic of a sample from either the fluorescence spectrum or the excitation spectrum of a fluorescence probe introduced into the sample, charac­terized by comprising: a light source (2) for emitting excitation light to excite the fluorescence probe; an interference filter (5) located in the optical axis of said light source (2), for allowing the passage of only that beam of the excitation light which has a predetermined wavelength; a first optical system (7, 8) for causing the excitation light beam passing through said inter­ference filter (5) to fall onto a specified area of a sample (10) into which a fluorescence probe has been introduced; a filter unit (52) for filtering the fluorescent light emitted from the specified area of the sample (10) when the excitation light beam is applied to this area, said unit (52) having a plurality of interference filters (44) for allowing the passage of fluorescent light beams each having a different wavelength; a drive mechanism (51, 55) for moving said filter unit (52), thereby to position, in the optical path of the fluorescent light, a specified interference filter (44) allowing the passage of a fluorescent light beam of a desired wavelength; beam-splitting means (11) located in the optical path of the fluorescent light beam passing through the specified interference filter (44), for splitting the fluorescent light beam into first and second beams; a second optical system (60a, 60b, 61), including an ocular lens (12), for focusing the first beam, thereby to form a fluorescent image of the specified area of the sample (10); a third optical system (60c, 56) for focusing the second beam, thereby to form a fluorescent image of the specified area of the sample (10); a television camera (13) for converting, into electric image data, the fluorescent image formed by said third optical system (60c, 56); and an image processing device (14, 15) for processing the image data provided by said television camera (13), thereby to form an image representing the distribution of the values of the analytical characteristic measured in the specified area of the sample (10).

Claim 5

A fluorescence microscope system for measuring the analytical characteristic of a sample from either the fluorescence spectrum or the excitation spectrum of a fluorescence probe introduced into the sample, charac­terized by comprising: a light source (2) for emitting excitation light to excite the fluorescence probe; an interference filter (5) located in the optical axis of said light source (2), for allowing the passage of only that beam of the excitation light which has a predetermined wavelength; a first optical system (7, 8) for causing the excitation light beam passing through said inter­ference filter (5) to fall onto a specified area of a sample (10) into which a fluorescence probe has been introduced; a filter unit (52) for filtering the fluorescent light emitted from the specified area of the sample (10) when the excitation light beam is applied to this area, said unit (52) having a plurality of interference filters (44) for allowing the passage of fluorescent light beams each having a different wavelength; a drive mechanism (51, 55) for moving said filter unit (52), thereby to position, in the optical path of the fluorescent light, a specified interference filter (44) allowing the passage of a fluorescent light beam of a desired wavelength; beam-splitting means (11) located in the optical path of the fluorescent light beam passing through the specified interference filter (44), for splitting the fluorescent light beam into first and second beams; a second optical system (60a, 60b, 61), including an ocular lens (12), for focusing the first beam, thereby to form a fluorescent image of the specified area of the sample (10); a third optical system (60c, 56) for focusing the second beam, thereby to form a fluorescent image of the specified area of the sample (10); a television camera (13) for converting, into electric image data, the fluorescent image formed by said third optical system (60c, 56); and an image processing device (14, 15) for processing the image data provided by said television camera (13), thereby to form an image representing the distribution of the values of the analytical characteristic measured in the specified area of the sample (10).

Claim 6

A system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, charac­terized by further comprising vibration-absorbing means (24, 29) attached to said drive means.

Claim 10

A system according to claim 7, characterized in that the value of the analytical characteristic at each portion of the sample (10) is calculated from the ratio between the intensities of two fluorescent light beams which the fluorescence probe emits when excited by two excitation beams having different wavelengths.

Claim 11

A system according to claim 7, characterized in that the value of the analytical characteristic at each portion of the sample (10) is calculated from the ratio between the intensities of two fluorescent light beams having different wavelengths.

Claim 12

A system according to claim 7, 8, or 9, characterized in that said image data processing device (15) assigns a specific color to the value of the analy­tical characteristic at each portion of the sample (10), thereby to form a color image which represents the distribution of the values of the portions of the sample (10).