High numerical aperture imaging device

1 . A microscope assembly kit, comprising:

(a) multiple diffraction limited lens assemblies each having an unique combination among said lens assemblies of effective focal length and numerical aperture;

(b) a microscope housing configured to contain combinations of said lens assemblies each forming a microscope assembly that includes an objective lens and a tube lens disposed on object and image sides, respectively, of an aperture stop;

(c) wherein said microscope assembly is configured to form images with both (i) a numerical aperture equal to the numerical aperture of the objective lens, and (ii) a magnification equal to a ratio of effective focal lengths of the tube lens and the objective lens;

(d) wherein the microscope assembly kit comprises one or more combinations of said lens assemblies each forming said microscope assembly with a numerical aperture above 0.1 and a magnification of 2× or more.

2 . The microscope assembly kit of claim 1 , comprising a wide field of view lens attachment lens assembly that includes two meniscus lenses.

3 . The microscope assembly kit of claim 2 , wherein the wide field of view lens attachment lens assembly further includes a biconvex lens.

4 . The microscope assembly kit of claim 2 , wherein the wide field of view lens attachment lens assembly further includes two biconvex lenses.

5 . A microscope assembly kit, comprising:

(e) multiple diffraction limited lens assemblies each having an unique combination among said lens assemblies of effective focal length and numerical aperture;

(f) a microscope housing configured to contain combinations of said lens assemblies each forming a microscope assembly that includes an objective lens and a tube lens disposed on object and image sides, respectively, of an aperture stop;

(g) wherein said microscope assembly is configured to form images with both (i) a numerical aperture equal to the numerical aperture of the objective lens, and (ii) a magnification equal to a ratio of effective focal lengths of the tube lens and the objective lens;

(h) wherein the microscope assembly kit comprises two or more combinations of said lens assemblies each forming said microscope assembly with a numerical aperture above 0.1 and a magnification of 2× or more.

6 . A microscope assembly kit, comprising:

(i) multiple diffraction limited lens assemblies each having an unique combination among said lens assemblies of effective focal length and numerical aperture;

(j) a microscope housing configured to contain combinations of said lens assemblies each forming a microscope assembly that includes an objective lens and a tube lens disposed on object and image sides, respectively, of an aperture stop;

(k) wherein said microscope assembly is configured to form images with both (i) a numerical aperture equal to the numerical aperture of the objective lens, and (ii) a magnification equal to a ratio of effective focal lengths of the tube lens and the objective lens;

(l) wherein the microscope assembly kit comprises one or more combinations of said lens assemblies each forming said microscope assembly with a numerical aperture above 0.14 and a magnification of 2× or more.

7 . The microscope assembly kit of claim 6 , comprising a wide field of view lens attachment lens assembly that includes two meniscus lenses.

8 . The microscope assembly kit of claim 7 , wherein the wide field of view lens attachment lens assembly further includes a biconvex lens.

9 . The microscope assembly kit of claim 8 , wherein the wide field of view lens attachment lens assembly further includes two biconvex lenses.

10 . A microscope assembly kit, comprising:

(m) multiple diffraction limited lens assemblies each having an unique combination among said lens assemblies of effective focal length and numerical aperture;

(n) a microscope housing configured to contain combinations of said lens assemblies each forming a microscope assembly that includes an objective lens and a tube lens disposed on object and image sides, respectively, of an aperture stop;

(o) wherein said microscope assembly is configured to form images with both (i) a numerical aperture equal to the numerical aperture of the objective lens, and (ii) a magnification equal to a ratio of effective focal lengths of the tube lens and the objective lens;

(p) wherein the microscope assembly kit comprises two or more combinations of said lens assemblies each forming said microscope assembly with a numerical aperture above 0.14 and a magnification of 2× or more.

11 . The microscope assembly kit of claim 10 , comprising a wide field of view lens attachment lens assembly that includes two meniscus lenses.

12 . The microscope assembly kit of claim 11 , wherein the wide field of view lens attachment lens assembly further includes a biconvex lens.

13 . The microscope assembly kit of claim 11 , wherein the wide field of view lens attachment lens assembly further includes two biconvex lenses.

14 . The microscope assembly kit of claim 13 , wherein the wide field of view lens attachment lens assembly further includes a biconvex lens.

15 . The microscope assembly kit of claim 13 , wherein the wide field of view lens attachment lens assembly further includes two biconvex lenses.

16 . A microscope assembly kit, comprising:

(q) multiple diffraction limited lens assemblies each having an unique combination among said lens assemblies of effective focal length and numerical aperture;

(r) a microscope housing configured to contain combinations of said lens assemblies each forming a microscope assembly that includes an objective lens and a tube lens disposed on object and image sides, respectively, of an aperture stop;

(s) wherein said microscope assembly is configured to form images with both (i) a numerical aperture equal to the numerical aperture of the objective lens, and (ii) a magnification equal to a ratio of effective focal lengths of the tube lens and the objective lens;

(t) wherein the microscope assembly kit comprises one or more combinations of said lens assemblies each forming said microscope assembly with a numerical aperture not less than 0.18 and a magnification of 2× or more.

17 . The microscope assembly kit of claim 16 , comprising a wide field of view lens attachment lens assembly that includes two meniscus lenses.

18 . A microscope assembly kit, comprising:

(u) multiple diffraction limited lens assemblies each having an unique combination among said lens assemblies of effective focal length and numerical aperture;

(v) a microscope housing configured to contain combinations of said lens assemblies each forming a microscope assembly that includes an objective lens and a tube lens disposed on object and image sides, respectively, of an aperture stop;

(w) wherein said microscope assembly is configured to form images with both (i) a numerical aperture equal to the numerical aperture of the objective lens, and (ii) a magnification equal to a ratio of effective focal lengths of the tube lens and the objective lens;

(x) wherein the microscope assembly kit comprises two or more combinations of said lens assemblies each forming said microscope assembly with a numerical aperture not less than 0.18 and a magnification of 2× or more.

19 . A microscope assembly kit, comprising:

(y) multiple diffraction limited lens assemblies each having an unique combination among said lens assemblies of effective focal length and numerical aperture;

(z) a microscope housing configured to contain combinations of said lens assemblies each forming a microscope assembly that includes an objective lens and a tube lens disposed on object and image sides, respectively, of an aperture stop;

(aa) wherein said microscope assembly is configured to form images with both (i) a numerical aperture equal to the numerical aperture of the objective lens, and (ii) a magnification equal to a ratio of effective focal lengths of the tube lens and the objective lens;

(bb) wherein the microscope assembly kit comprises at least one 3× magnification lens assembly with a numerical aperture not less than 0.18.

20 . The microscope assembly kit of claim 19 , comprising a wide field of view lens attachment lens assembly that includes two meniscus lenses.