Abstract: An optical microscope for optically measuring a sample (30) includes: a fluorescent thin membrane (13) which at least partly contains fluorescent substance and on which the sample (30) is placed; an electron source (11) for generating an electron beam; an electron lens (12) for focusing the electron beam generated by the electron source (11) in such a manner as to excite a minute light source having a wavelength shorter than a visible light wavelength from the fluorescent thin membrane (13) so as to irradiate the fluorescent thin membrane (13) with the electron beam, and further, scanning the focused electron beam; and an optical detector (22) for detecting a measurement light beam which is generated in the minute light source and acts on the sample (30).

Abstract: An evanescent catheter system having a tip portion of an optical fiber capable of securely measuring fluorescence intensity or fluorescence spectrum of a substance around a catheter tip, without being hindered by optical absorption of hemoglobin in erythrocytes in blood, and being capable of calculating an existing amount of a fluorescence-emitting substance existing in an evanescent light generating part. A protecting layer 22 and a cladding 23 are removed from an upper semicircular part of a core 24 at a tip of a catheter 21 to expose the core 24. When excitation light 29 is incident, evanescent light 25 is generated on the upper semicircular part of the core 24 and a fluorescent substance generates emits fluorescence 30. An interference filter 26 filters out the excitation light and only the fluorescence 30 reaches the photodiode 28, permitting a measuring device to measure an existing amount of the fluorescent substance.

Abstract: An optical microscope for optically measuring a sample (30) includes: a fluorescent thin membrane (13) which at least partly contains fluorescent substance and on which the sample (30) is placed; an electron source (11) for generating an electron beam; an electron lens (12) for focusing the electron beam generated by the electron source (11) in such a manner as to excite a minute light source having a wavelength shorter than a visible light wavelength from the fluorescent thin membrane (13) so as to irradiate the fluorescent thin membrane (13) with the electron beam, and further, scanning the focused electron beam; and an optical detector (22) for detecting a measurement light beam which is generated in the minute light source and acts on the sample (30).

Abstract: An evanescent catheter system is provided as a system having a structure of a tip portion of an optical fiber capable of securely measuring a fluorescence intensity or fluorescence spectrum of a substance around a catheter tip, without being hindered by optical absorption of hemoglobin in erythrocytes in blood, and being capable of calculating an existing amount of a fluorescence-emitting substance existing in an evanescent light generating part. A protecting layer 22 and a cladding 23 are removed from an upper semicircular part of a core 24 at a tip of a catheter 21 to expose the core 24. An optical filter 26 and a photodiode 28 are located opposite to a lower semicircular part. When excitation light 29 is incident, evanescent light 25 is generated on the upper semicircular part of the core 24 and a fluorescent substance generates emits fluorescence 30.

Abstract: A drill unit equipped with a camera, a body of which has a camera hole at the center, and two holes formed to the left and right side of the camera hole 4 including a discharge hole 2 for discharging air and water to the drilled portion, and a suction hole 3 for sucking water and air from the drilled portion. A first and a second drill holes are formed at the top and bottom of the camera hole. Illuminating holes are also formed to illuminate the drilled portion. The camera serves to project an image of the drilled portion. The first and the second drilling members are used to fracture the body tissues, to clean the fractured portion with water, and to suck water used for the cleaning so as to be discharged. The body of the drill unit is rotated to change the drilling position for the fracture in the same way for forming the hole led to the affected portion.

Abstract: A device for measuring an intracellular ion concentration in a living cell into which a fluorescent probe dye has been introduced. A concentration of an ion in the cell is measured based on intensities of fluorescence generated by irradiating the cell with excitation beams, and comparing the intensities of fluorescence emitted by the cell with fluorescence intensities generated from each of 3 reference solutions irradiated with excitation beams. The device is composed of a container means for holding an object to be measured, an excitation beam irradiating means, a fluorescence intensity detecting means, a first processing means for receiving output signals of the fluorescence intensity detecting means and a second processing means for solving simultaneous equations to determine a concentration of the ion to be measured within the cell.

Abstract: In a method for measuring an intracellular ion concentration of the present invention, 4 or more solutions of a fluorescence probe dye and the ions to be measured, 3 or more solutions of an interfering biosubstance and the fluorescent probe dye, and 3 or more solutions of the interfering biosubstance, the fluorescent probe dye and the ions to be measured are prepared. Each solution is irradiated with excitation beams at three different wavelengths, and a fluorescence intensity generated from each solution is measured. Three kinds of equilibrium constants in equilibrium constant equations and 12 kinds of fluorescence coefficients in fluorescence intensity calculating equations are optimized in accordance with a method of successive approximation. With the optimized 15 constants, the equilibrium constant equations and the fluorescence intensity calculation equations are solved to obtain the concentration of ions to be measured.

Abstract: A fluorescence probe dye is introduced into a cell, and excitation beams at three defferent wavelengths are irradiated to the cell to measure intensities of the fluorescence generated by the excitation beams, corresponding to the three wavelengths. Then, an equilibrium reaction equation for concentrations of the fluorescence probe dye, protein, free ions and their complexes in the cell, and a relationship equation between the fluorescence probe dye, protein, free ions and their complexes are used as simultaneous equations to give concentrations of the respective components. This process can correct interactions among various components of the cell due to bonding among them and a correct ion concentration can be determined.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of forming a two-dimensional concentration distribution image of specific ions to be assayed in a living cell, on the basis of the variation in fluorescent spectrum or excitation spectrum of a fluorescent probe.