US4884880A — Kit for converting a standard microscope into a s…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 130 words

A kit for converting a standard microscope for viewing a specimen into a confocal scanning microscope, the standard microscope including a light source for producing incident light for illuminating the specimen, a beam splitter means for separating incident light from light returning from the specimen, and an objective lens for focusing the light at a plane whereat the specimen is positioned (specimen plane), the kit comprising optic means to create a field plane in the incident light path, a means to re-position the objective lens to create a field plane in the returning light path, said field planes being conjugate to the specimen plane, an aperture means, the aperture means being positioned at the conjugate field planes, and means to controllably scan the aperture means within the conjugate field plane.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 130 words

A kit for converting a standard microscope for viewing a specimen into a confocal scanning microscope, the standard microscope including a light source for producing incident light for illuminating the specimen, a beam splitter means for separating incident light from light returning from the specimen, and an objective lens for focusing the light at a plane whereat the specimen is positioned (specimen plane), the kit comprising optic means to create a field plane in the incident light path, a means to re-position the objective lens to create a field plane in the returning light path, said field planes being conjugate to the specimen plane, an aperture means, the aperture means being positioned at the conjugate field planes, and means to controllably scan the aperture means within the conjugate field plane.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 14 words

The kit of claim 1 wherein the optic means comprises a standard objective lens.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 26 words

The kit of claim 2 wherein the kit further comprises means to position the standard objective lens at a distance substantially equal to its tube length.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 25 words

The kit of claim 2 wherein said optic means lens and the microscope objective lens are both traversed by both incident and reflected light, the

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 52 words

The device of claim 4 wherein the kit further comprises a second optic means positioned between the microscope objective lens and the aperture means, said second optic means having means to permit placement of the microscope objective lens closer to the aperture means than its tube length without degradation of the image.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 30 words

The kit of claim 4 further comprising means to divert both the incident and returning light to thereby position the conjugate field planes in an offset manner to the microscope.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 30 words

The kit of claim 1 wherein the kit further comprises a non-standard objective lens to use in place of the microscope objective lens. conjugate field planes created thereby being coincident.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

The kit of claim 1 wherein the aperture scanning means comprises a motor, and a computer means to control said motor.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

The kit of claim 1 wherein the optic means is positioned between the microscope objective lens and the beam splitter means of the standard microscope.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 18 words

The kit of claim 9 wherein the conjugate field planes are coincident thereby requiring only one aperture means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 46 words

The kit of claim 10 wherein the microscope objective lens is attached to the microscope by screwing it thereinto, the kit having means to screw into the microscope in place of the microscope objective lens, and means for the objective lens to screw into the kit.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 131 words

A kit for converting a standard epi-illumination microscope for viewing a specimen into a reflected light confocal scanning microscope (RLCSM), the standard microscope including a light source for producing incident light for illuminating the specimen, a beam splitter means for separating incident light from light returning from the specimen, and an objective lens for focusing the light at a plane whereat the specimen is positioned (specimen plane); the kit comprising an assembly for attachment between the objective lens and the microscope, the assembly being thereby positioned in both the incident and returning light paths, the assembly including means to create a single field plane conjugate to the specimen plane, an aperture means positioned at the conjugate field plane, and means to controllably scan the aperture means within the conjugate field plane.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 131 words

A kit for converting a standard epi-illumination microscope for viewing a specimen into a reflected light confocal scanning microscope (RLCSM), the standard microscope including a light source for producing incident light for illuminating the specimen, a beam splitter means for separating incident light from light returning from the specimen, and an objective lens for focusing the light at a plane whereat the specimen is positioned (specimen plane); the kit comprising an assembly for attachment between the objective lens and the microscope, the assembly being thereby positioned in both the incident and returning light paths, the assembly including means to create a single field plane conjugate to the specimen plane, an aperture means positioned at the conjugate field plane, and means to controllably scan the aperture means within the conjugate field plane.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 31 words

The kit of claim 12 wherein the assembly further comprises means to divert the incident and returning light to thereby accommodate the positioning of the aperture means remote from the microscope.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 33 words

The kit of claim 13 wherein the conjugate field plane creating means comprises a pair of lens means, one lens means of the pair being positioned on each side of the aperture means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 18 words

The kit of claim 14 wherein the assembly has means to facilitate the replacement of the aperture means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 24 words

The kit of claim 14 further comprising means to facilitate changing one of said lens means to thereby change the magnification of the microscope.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 27 words

The kit of claim 14 further comprising means to adjust the effective size of the aperture means to thereby adjust the optical section viewed by the microscope.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 182 words

A kit for converting a standard epi-illumination microscope for viewing a specimen into a reflected light confocal scanning microscope (RLCSM), the standard microscope including a light source for producing incident light for illuminating the specimen, a beam splitter means for separating incident light from light returning from the specimen, and an objective lens for focusing the light at a plane whereat the specimen is positioned (specimen plane); the kit comprising an assembly for attachment between the objective lens and the microscope, the assembly including a plurality of mirrors to divert both the incident and reflected light along the same path and through the assembly, a pair of lenses positioned in the light path in the assembly to define a field plane conjugate to the specimen plane, said field plane being thereby conjugate in both the incident and returning light path, means to interchange one of said lenses to thereby change the magnification of the microscope, an aperture means, means to mount said aperture means at the conjugate field plane, and means to controllably scan the aperture means through the conjugate field plane.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 182 words

A kit for converting a standard epi-illumination microscope for viewing a specimen into a reflected light confocal scanning microscope (RLCSM), the standard microscope including a light source for producing incident light for illuminating the specimen, a beam splitter means for separating incident light from light returning from the specimen, and an objective lens for focusing the light at a plane whereat the specimen is positioned (specimen plane); the kit comprising an assembly for attachment between the objective lens and the microscope, the assembly including a plurality of mirrors to divert both the incident and reflected light along the same path and through the assembly, a pair of lenses positioned in the light path in the assembly to define a field plane conjugate to the specimen plane, said field plane being thereby conjugate in both the incident and returning light path, means to interchange one of said lenses to thereby change the magnification of the microscope, an aperture means, means to mount said aperture means at the conjugate field plane, and means to controllably scan the aperture means through the conjugate field plane.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 36 words

The kit of claim 1, wherein the assembly further comprises means to adjust the physical positioning of the aperture means with respect to the light path to thereby adjus the optical section viewed by the microscope.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 38 words

A method for converting a standard epi-illumination microscope into a reflected light confocal scanning microscope (RLCSM) comprising the step of interfitting the kit of claim 18 between an objective lens and a nosepiece of a standard epi-illumination microscope.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 157 words

A kit for converting a standard microscope for viewing a specimen into a confocal scanning microscope, the standard microscope including a light source for producing incident light for illuminating the specimen, a beam splitter means for separating incident light from light returning from the specimen, and an objective lens for focusing the light at a plane whereat the specimen is positioned (specimen plane), the kit comprising an assembly for mounting directly to the microscope and between the microscope and the objective lens, the assembly including a pair of matched lens sets for creating a field plane conjugate to the specimen plane, an aperture means positioned at the conjugate field plane, means to controllably scan the aperture means within the conjugate field plane, and a set of mirrors mounted within the assembly to divert both the incident and reflected light substantially perpendicular to the light path within the microscope and through the matched lens sets and aperture means.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 157 words

A kit for converting a standard microscope for viewing a specimen into a confocal scanning microscope, the standard microscope including a light source for producing incident light for illuminating the specimen, a beam splitter means for separating incident light from light returning from the specimen, and an objective lens for focusing the light at a plane whereat the specimen is positioned (specimen plane), the kit comprising an assembly for mounting directly to the microscope and between the microscope and the objective lens, the assembly including a pair of matched lens sets for creating a field plane conjugate to the specimen plane, an aperture means positioned at the conjugate field plane, means to controllably scan the aperture means within the conjugate field plane, and a set of mirrors mounted within the assembly to divert both the incident and reflected light substantially perpendicular to the light path within the microscope and through the matched lens sets and aperture means.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 58 words

The kit of claim 21 wherein one of said matched lens sets comprises a plurality of lens sets, said plurality of lens sets being mounted to a mechanical lens changer, and means to move said mechanical lens changer to thereby place any one of said plurality in the optical path to thereby change the magnification of the microscope.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 40 words

The kit of claim 22 wherein said plurality of lenses comprise the matched lens set positioned between the aperture means and the beam splitter, the other matched lens set being positioned between the aperture means and the microscope objective lens.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-12-04	1993-06-05	1993-12-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-12-04	1997-06-05	1997-12-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-12-04	2001-06-05	2001-12-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Kit for converting a standard microscope into a single aperture confocal scanning epi-illumination microscope

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