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  Total reflection fluorescent microscopeUSPTO Application #: 20070183030Title: Total reflection fluorescent microscope Abstract: A fluorescent microscope comprises a light source, an optical illumination system which forms an optical path to irradiate a specimen with a light beam from the light source, an objective lens which condenses the light beam of the optical illumination system onto the specimen, an optical device which is disposed on the optical path of the optical illumination system and which decenters the light beam by decentering an optical axis of the optical path, and a slit which passes the light beam decentered by the optical device through a total reflection illumination region on an emission pupil surface of the objective lens. (end of abstract)
Agent: Frishauf, Holtz, Goodman & Chick, PC - New York, NY, US Inventors: Atsuhiro TSUCHIYA, Kenichi Kusaka, Yasushi Aono USPTO Applicaton #: 20070183030 - Class: 359388000 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070183030. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is a Divisional Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/848,626 filed May 18, 2004, which is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-143382, filed May 21, 2003, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a total reflection fluorescent microscope, which can perform fluorescent observation by total reflection illumination. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] In recent years, functions of biological cells have been vigorously analyzed. In the function analysis of the cells, attentions have been paid especially to a total reflection fluorescent microscope which acquires a total reflection fluorescent image from a cell membrane and its vicinity as a device for observing the function of the cell membrane. [0006] Total reflection illumination which locally illuminates only a sample in the vicinity of a glass surface is used in the total reflection fluorescent microscope. In the total reflection illumination, an evanescent light is used which oozes to a sample side by about several hundreds of nanometers in a boundary surface between glass and sample, and a background noise (scattered light and the like) is remarkably low. Therefore, fluorescent observation of even a molecular of fluorescent dyestuff is possible by the total reflection fluorescent microscope. [0007] Additionally, in general, in the total reflection fluorescent microscope, a laser light beam is used as a light source. A total reflection fluorescent microscope in which the laser light beam is introduced into an optical illumination system of the microscope via a glass fiber is described, for example, in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2002-169097. [0008] However, the laser light source which produces the laser light beam is expensive, and additionally a monochromatic light is produced. Therefore, for example, in order to cope with fluorescent reagents having various excitation wavelength characteristics, a plurality of laser light sources have to be prepared. Therefore, the total reflection fluorescent microscope becomes further expensive, and additionally a large occupying space is also required for installing a plurality of laser light sources. [0009] To solve the problem, as described in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2002-236258, a total reflection fluorescent microscope has been proposed in which inexpensive white light sources such as a mercury lamp and a xenon lamp are used instead of the laser light source. The total reflection fluorescent microscope according to the Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2002-236258 is configured as follows. A ring slit for transmitting a light beam in an annular form is disposed in the optical illumination system disposed on an optical path of the light emitted from the white laser light beam. Moreover, when an image of the ring slit is projected onto an emission pupil surface of an objective lens, an illuminative light is guided only to an orbicular total reflection region around an emission pupil of the objective lens. Moreover, total reflection is performed in a boundary surface between a specimen and cover glass to produce is the evanescent light, and a fluorescent dyestuff is excited. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] A fluorescence microscope according to a first aspect of the present invention is characterized by comprising a light source; an optical illumination system which forms an optical path to irradiate a specimen with a light beam from the light source; an objective lens which condenses the light beam of the optical illumination system onto the specimen; an optical device which is disposed on the optical path of the optical illumination system and which decenters the light beam by decentering an optical axis of the optical path; and a slit which passes the light beam decentered by the optical device through a total reflection illumination region on an emission pupil surface of the objective lens. [0011] A fluorescence microscope according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a light source; an optical illumination system which forms an optical path to irradiate a specimen with a light beam from the light source; an objective lens which condenses the light beam of the optical illumination system onto the specimen; and a slit which passes the light beam from the light source through a total reflection illumination region on an emission pupil surface of the objective lens, in which an emission position of the light beam emitted from the light source is movable between an optical axis of the optical illumination system and a position shifting from the optical axis by a predetermined distance. [0012] Advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and configure a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. [0014] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention; [0015] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a main part of the first embodiment; [0016] FIGS. 3A to 3C are explanatory views of a slit for use in the first embodiment; [0017] FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a state in which a wedge prism and slit are removed from an optical path is of an optical illumination system in the first embodiment; [0018] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a main part of a second embodiment; [0019] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a light flux refracted by the wedge prism for use in the second embodiment: [0020] FIGS. 7A to 7D are explanatory views of a slit having a crescent opening for use in the second embodiment; Continue reading... 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