Patent US5737121A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5737121A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Real time scanning optical macroscope
Assignee: Biomedical Photometrics Inc
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Filing: 1996-07-01
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Granted: 1998-04-07
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Expires: 2016-07-01
Abstract
Abstract A new real-time confocal scanning laser macroscope is disclosed which images macroscopic specimens in reflected light and fluorescence or photoluminescence. The optical arrangement of a Nipkow disk microscope has been altered to include a telecentric scan lens which enables a large area of a specimen to be imaged with micron resolution, and when interchanged with a microscope objective, allows a small area of the specimen to be imaged with submicron resolution.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur E. Dixon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:40
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B21/00; G02B21/0004; G02B21/002; G02B21/0024; G02B21/0036; G02B21/0048; G02B21/0044; G02B21/0052; G02B21/0068; G02B21/008; G02B21/0084
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A real-time scanning optical macroscope or imaging system comprising: means for supporting a specimen to be observed and measured; an illumination source for producing a light beam directed toward a rotating Nipkow disk, said Nipkow disk containing pinholes, said pinholes causing said beam to become a plurality of expanding beams that are directed toward said specimen, said specimen being located on a side of said Nipkow disk opposite to said source; a scan lens with a focusing lens rigidly mounted a distance equal to its focal length above an entrance pupil of said scan lens, and further placed such that said focusing lens is a distance equal to its focal length below said Nipkow disk, such that said focusing lens and said scan lens in combination focus the expanding beams from said Nipkow disk to diffraction-limited spots in a prescribed specimen plane; means for focusing the light returning through said Nipkow disk from said diffraction-limited spots in said specimen plane to produce a real image; and means for at least one of detecting and viewing said real image.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
A real-time scanning optical macroscope or imaging system comprising: means for supporting a specimen to be observed and measured; an illumination source for producing a light beam directed toward a rotating Nipkow disk, said Nipkow disk containing pinholes, said pinholes causing said beam to become a plurality of expanding beams that are directed toward said specimen, said specimen being located on a side of said Nipkow disk opposite to said source; a scan lens with a focusing lens rigidly mounted a distance equal to its focal length above an entrance pupil of said scan lens, and further placed such that said focusing lens is a distance equal to its focal length below said Nipkow disk, such that said focusing lens and said scan lens in combination focus the expanding beams from said Nipkow disk to diffraction-limited spots in a prescribed specimen plane; means for focusing the light returning through said Nipkow disk from said diffraction-limited spots in said specimen plane to produce a real image; and means for at least one of detecting and viewing said real image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The real-time scanning optical macroscope or imaging system of claim 1 wherein said scan lens is a telecentric scan lens.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
192 words
A real-time scanning optical macroscope or imaging system comprising: means for supporting a specimen to be observed and measured; an illumination source for producing a light beam directed toward a rotating Nipkow disk, said Nipkow disk containing pinholes, said pinholes causing said beam to become a plurality of expanding beams that are directed toward said specimen, said specimen being located on a side of said Nipkow disk opposite to said source; a scan lens with a focusing lens rigidly mounted a distance equal to its focal length above an entrance pupil of said scan lens, and further placed such that said focusing lens is a distance equal to its focal length below said Nipkow disk; a microscope objective; means for interchanging said microscope objective and said scan lens, such that either said microscope objective or said scan lens can be moved into position to focus the light beams to diffraction-limited spots in a prescribed specimen plane; means for focusing the light returning through said Nipkow disk from said diffraction-limited spots in said specimen plane to produce a real image; and means for at least one of detecting and viewing said real image.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
192 words
A real-time scanning optical macroscope or imaging system comprising: means for supporting a specimen to be observed and measured; an illumination source for producing a light beam directed toward a rotating Nipkow disk, said Nipkow disk containing pinholes, said pinholes causing said beam to become a plurality of expanding beams that are directed toward said specimen, said specimen being located on a side of said Nipkow disk opposite to said source; a scan lens with a focusing lens rigidly mounted a distance equal to its focal length above an entrance pupil of said scan lens, and further placed such that said focusing lens is a distance equal to its focal length below said Nipkow disk; a microscope objective; means for interchanging said microscope objective and said scan lens, such that either said microscope objective or said scan lens can be moved into position to focus the light beams to diffraction-limited spots in a prescribed specimen plane; means for focusing the light returning through said Nipkow disk from said diffraction-limited spots in said specimen plane to produce a real image; and means for at least one of detecting and viewing said real image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The real-time scanning optical macroscope or imaging system of claim 3 wherein said scan lens is a telecentric scan lens.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The real-time scanning optical macroscope or imaging system of claim 3 wherein said microscope objective is mounted in an optical subassembly which is further comprised of a means for parfocalizing said microscope objective and said scan lens.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-04-06 | 2001-10-06 | 2002-04-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-04-06 | 2005-10-06 | 2006-04-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-04-06 | 2009-10-06 | 2010-04-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |