Abstract: A microscope device includes an interface detector that detects the position of an interface present in a container containing an observation object and a controller that performs focus maintenance control for maintaining the focal position of an objective lens in a reference position distant from the interface detected by the interface detector in the direction of the optical path of the objective lens by a predetermined distance (an offset value) and, in a time period when an image capture unit is capturing images, changes the focal position from the reference position by moving at least one of the objective lens and observation object in the direction of the optical path with reference to the reference position.

Abstract: A microscope device includes an interface detector that detects the position of an interface present in a container containing an observation object and a controller that performs focus maintenance control for maintaining the focal position of an objective lens in a reference position distant from the interface detected by the interface detector in the direction of the optical path of the objective lens by a predetermined distance (an offset value) and, in a time period when an image capture unit is capturing images, changes the focal position from the reference position by moving at least one of the objective lens and observation object in the direction of the optical path with reference to the reference position.

Abstract: Statistical data of a fluorescence population is obtained easily with high accuracy. To achieve this, an evaluation apparatus of fluorescence population of the present application includes an input unit inputting a fluorescence observation image (If) of a fluorescence population and a transillumination observation image (It) having a same field of view as the fluorescence observation image, a first detecting unit (Mt) detecting, as a first area, an area in which a cellular image exists on the transillumination observation image being input, a setting unit (If?) setting, as a reference area, an area corresponding to the first area on the fluorescence observation image being input, and an obtaining unit obtaining fluorescence intensity data of a fluorescence image from the reference area in the fluorescence observation image.

Abstract: Statistical data of a fluorescence population is obtained easily with high accuracy. To achieve this, an evaluation apparatus of fluorescence population of the present application includes an input unit inputting a fluorescence observation image (If) of a fluorescence population and a transillumination observation image (It) having a same field of view as the fluorescence observation image, a first detecting unit (Mt) detecting, as a first area, an area in which a cellular image exists on the transillumination observation image being input, a setting unit (If?) setting, as a reference area, an area corresponding to the first area on the fluorescence observation image being input, and an obtaining unit obtaining fluorescence intensity data of a fluorescence image from the reference area in the fluorescence observation image.

Abstract: The cell observation device and method aims to easily study the correlation between initial states of cells and their reactions without using a synchronous culture method. For this purpose, the cell observation device includes an image acquisition unit acquiring an image of a specimen including a plurality of cells; a stimulating unit applying a predetermined stimulation to the plural cells; a determining unit determining initial states of the plural cells from the image which is acquired by the image acquisition unit before the stimulating unit applies the stimulation; a finding unit finding reactions of the plural cells to the stimulation, from the image acquired by the image acquisition unit after the stimulating unit applies the stimulation; and a generating unit generating information on correlation between the initial states and the reactions of the plural cells.

Abstract: An intracellular-reaction measuring apparatus for measuring intracellular reactions by the use of a specimen in which a plurality of cell colonies are contained in a non-contact state, the apparatus includes a device that specifies the intensity of first light emitted from the specimen in accordance with the presence of a stated protein is detected to specify, of the plurality of cell colonies, a noted colony containing cells where the stated protein is present, and a device in which the intensity of second light emitted from the specimen in accordance with the intracellular reactions is detected to select, of the detected intensity of the second light, the intensity of the second light emitted from the noted colony.

Abstract: The cell observation device and method aims to easily study the correlation between initial states of cells and their reactions without using a synchronous culture method. For this purpose, the cell observation device includes an image acquisition unit acquiring an image of a specimen including a plurality of cells; a stimulating unit applying a predetermined stimulation to the plural cells; a determining unit determining initial states of the plural cells from the image which is acquired by the image acquisition unit before the stimulating unit applies the stimulation; a finding unit finding reactions of the plural cells to the stimulation, from the image acquired by the image acquisition unit after the stimulating unit applies the stimulation; and a generating unit generating information on correlation between the initial states and the reactions of the plural cells.

Abstract: A well plate holding a specimen to be observed is placed on a fixed stage, and the specimen is observed through an objective lens disposed below the well plate. A well set on the optical axis is illuminated through transmitted illumination provided by a transmitted illumination device. The transmitted illumination device includes a plurality of LEDs disposed to form a ring shape, and a through hole is formed further inward relative to the LEDs. When injecting a reagent into the well being observed, the reagent is drawn by using a head at a pipette device, and then the head is moved to a point above the well being observed through the hole formed at the transmitted illumination device.

Abstract: A well plate holding a specimen to be observed is placed on a fixed stage, and the specimen is observed through an objective lens disposed below the well plate. A well set on the optical axis is illuminated through transmitted illumination provided by a transmitted illumination device. The transmitted illumination device includes a plurality of LEDs disposed to form a ring shape, and a through hole is formed further inward relative to the LEDs. When injecting a reagent into the well being observed, the reagent is drawn by using a head at a pipette device, and then the head is moved to a point above the well being observed through the hole formed at the transmitted illumination device.

Abstract: In an intracellular-reaction measuring apparatus for measuring intracellular reactions by the use of a specimen in which a plurality of cell colonies are contained in a non-contact state, the apparatus has i) specifying means in which the intensity of first light emitted from the specimen in accordance with the presence of a stated protein is detected to specify, of the plurality of cell colonies, a noted colony containing cells where the stated protein is present, and ii) selection means in which the intensity of second light emitted from the specimen in accordance with the intracellular reactions is detected to select, of the detected intensity of the second light, the intensity of the second light emitted from the noted colony. Also disclosed is an intracellular-reaction measuring method making use of this apparatus.

Abstract: Provided is a polarization characteristic measuring method and apparatus for accurately measuring a polarization characteristic of fluorescence or Raman-scattered light emitted when a sample is exposed to light. The sample is exposed to excitation light radiated from a pulsed excitation light source and converted to p-polarized light by polarizer and half-wave plate, and photodetectors measure an intensity I.sub.pp of a p-polarized component and an intensity I.sub.ps of an s-polarized component of fluorescence emitted from the sample under irradiation with the excitation light. In similar fashion, the sample is exposed to the excitation light of s-polarized light and the detectors measure an intensity I.sub.sp of a p-polarized component and an intensity I.sub.ss of an s-polarized component of fluorescence emitted from the sample under irradiation. From these measured values, G factor is calculated according to the following equation:G=[(I.sub.pp .multidot.I.sub.sp)/(I.sub.ps .multidot.I.sub.ss)].sup.