IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,018,819
Granted Patent B2
US 10,018,819 · App. 15/094,847 · Granted Jul 10, 2018

Light sheet illumination microscope which illuminates a sample from a direction substantially perpendicular to a detection axis, while reducing likelihood of creating shadows

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,018,819
App. No.
15/094,847
Granted
Jul 10, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A light sheet illumination microscope includes an illumination optical system configured to illuminate a sample from a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of a detection optical system. The illumination optical system includes a first optical element configured to convert light emitted from a light source into a light sheet that forms an illumination area having a sheet shape substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the detection optical system when the sample is irradiated with the light sheet. The illumination optical system further includes a second optical element that configured to act on the light emitted from the light source such that the light sheet is converged, diverged or diffracted in a width direction of the light sheet.

Claims (31)

1. A light sheet illumination microscope comprising an illumination optical system configured to illuminate a sample from a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of a detection optical system, wherein

the illumination optical system includes

a first optical element configured to convert light emitted from a light source into a light sheet that forms an illumination area having a sheet shape substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the detection optical system when the sample is irradiated with the light sheet, and

a second optical element configured to act on the light emitted from the light source such that the light sheet is converged or diverged in a width direction of the light sheet and

the illumination optical system is configured to cause the light sheet to enter the sample at a predetermined constant angle from different positions in the width direction.

2. The light sheet illumination microscope according to claim 1 , wherein

the second optical element is an optical element array that has a plurality of optical element components that are aligned in the width direction, and

the illumination optical system is configured to irradiate the sample with a plurality of light sheets that are formed by the optical element array.

3. The light sheet illumination microscope according to claim 2 , wherein

the illumination optical system further includes

a scanner that is configured to scan the sample in the width direction with the plurality of light sheets and is arranged in a position in which the light emitted from the light source is focused, and

a collector lens that is configured to convert the light deflected by the scanner into a collimated beam and is arranged such that the scanner is located in a front focal position of the collector lens.

4. The light sheet illumination microscope according to claim 1 , wherein

the second optical element is a cylindrical lens array.

5. The light sheet illumination microscope according to claim 1 , wherein

the illumination optical system further includes

a scanner that has a deflection surface that deflects light and is configured to scan the sample in the width direction with the light sheet, and

a collector lens which the light deflected by the scanner enters, arranged such that the scanner is located in a front focal position of the collector lens, wherein

the second optical element is configured to collect the light emitted from the light source into a line on the deflection surface of the scanner.

6. The light sheet illumination microscope according to claim 5 , wherein

the second optical element is a cylindrical lens.

7. A light sheet illumination microscope comprising an illumination optical system configured to illuminate a sample from a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of a detection optical system, wherein

the illumination optical system includes

a first optical element configured to convert light emitted from a light source into a light sheet that forms an illumination area having a sheet shape substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the detection optical system when the sample is irradiated with the light sheet, and

a second optical element that has a plurality of optical element components aligned in a width direction and that acts on the light emitted from the light source such that the light sheet is converged, diverged or diffracted in a width direction of the light sheet.

8. The light sheet illumination microscope according to claim 7 , wherein

the illumination optical system further includes

a scanner that is configured to scan the sample in the width direction with the plurality of light sheets and is arranged in a position in which light emitted from the light source is focused, and

a collector lens that is configured to convert the light deflected by the scanner into a collimated beam and is arranged such that the scanner is located in a front focal position of the collector lens.

9. The light sheet illumination microscope according to claim 7 , wherein

the second optical element is a diffractive optical element or a cylindrical lens array.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2023
From: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
To: EVIDENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 062492/0267 →