Abstract: Provided is a microscope apparatus including a macro-image, acquisition section that acquires a macro image of a glass slide having a specimen mounted thereon; an extraction section that extracts the specimen in the acquired macro image; a block setting section that sets, when the extracted specimen is scattered to form a plurality of lumps, a plurality of blocks that include the lumps of the specimen; an area dividing section that divides an area that includes the specimen in each of the blocks into a plurality of small regions; and a micro-image acquisition section that acquires, for each of the small regions, a micro image while performing an automatic focusing operation for the specimen in the small region, in which the micro-image acquisition section searches for an autofocusing in-focus position in each of the blocks set by the block setting section.

Abstract: It is possible to create a virtual slide of a subject of observation in a simple configuration without setting a movement pattern in advance.

Abstract: The distribution of a fluorescent material in a specimen can be observed and the fluorescent material can be obtained as clear, highly quantitative image data.

Abstract: A fluorescence observation apparatus includes an image storage unit for storing a plurality of pairs of bright-field images and fluorescence images of a small laboratory animal in such a manner that relative positions thereof are aligned; a display unit for displaying the plurality of fluorescence images stored in the image storage unit so as to be arrayed in at least one direction; an outline extracting unit for extracting an outline shape of the small laboratory animal in each bright-field image; and an image-position adjusting unit for adjusting a display position of each associated fluorescence image so that the outline shapes of the small laboratory animal extracted by the outline extracting unit are aligned with each other in a direction orthogonal to the arrayed direction.

Abstract: Provided is a microscope apparatus including a macro-image, acquisition section that acquires a macro image of a glass slide having a specimen mounted thereon; an extraction section that extracts the specimen in the acquired macro image; a block setting section that sets, when the extracted specimen is scattered to form a plurality of lumps, a plurality of blocks that include the lumps of the specimen; an area dividing section that divides an area that includes the specimen in each of the blocks into a plurality of small regions; and a micro-image acquisition section that acquires, for each of the small regions, a micro image while performing an automatic focusing operation for the specimen in the small region, in which the micro-image acquisition section searches for an autofocusing in-focus position in each of the blocks set by the block setting section.

Abstract: It is possible to create a virtual slide of a subject of observation in a simple configuration without setting a movement pattern in advance.

Abstract: An object is to easily and reliably reach an examination site. The present invention provides an examination method of carrying out in-vivo examination using an in-vivo examination apparatus capable of fluorescence examination and reflected-light examination and includes the steps of setting a reference position so as to set an examination site by carrying out reflected-light examination, switching from reflected-light examination to fluorescence examination, and moving from the reference position to the examination site.

Abstract: An examination apparatus that has a simple structure and that is capable of determining the condition inside the apparatus and improving the ease of use of the apparatus when a specimen is changed is provided. The examination apparatus includes a stage on which a specimen is disposed; an optical system configured to form an enlarged or reduced image of the specimen; a cover configured to cover the stage and the optical system; an opening and closing member provided as part of the cover; a detection unit configured to detect whether the opening and closing member is in a closed state or an open state; and a stage driving unit configured to move the state. Only when the detection unit detects that the opening and closing member is open, the stage is moved by the stage driving unit to the outside of the cover through an opening covered by the opening and closing member.

Abstract: A site of interest to be observed is clearly observed in an image during fluoroscopy of a small laboratory animal, even when the fluorescence is extremely low. The invention provides a fluorescence observation apparatus including a light source that emits excitation light; an optical system that irradiates an image-acquisition site on a small laboratory animal with the excitation light from the light source; a light-blocking unit that blocks light in a prescribed region of the small laboratory animal or in an image of the prescribed region; an image-acquisition unit that acquires a fluorescence image of the small laboratory animal; and a control unit configured to identify a high-fluorescence region having a prescribed fluorescence level or above in the fluorescence image of the small laboratory animal acquired by the image-acquisition unit and to control the light-blocking unit so as to block light at the identified high-fluorescence region.

Abstract: The distribution of a fluorescent material in a specimen can be observed and the fluorescent material can be obtained as clear, highly quantitative image data.

Abstract: Provided is a fluorescence observation apparatus that enables efficient data acquisition by simplifying the positioning process of a small laboratory animal and that enables easy comparative examination of many images. The fluorescence observation apparatus includes a display unit configured to display a plurality of combined images arrayed in at least one direction, each of the combined images being generated by combining a bright-field image and a fluorescence image of a small laboratory animal; an outline-extracting unit configured to extract an outline of the small laboratory animal in the bright-field image included in each combined image; and an image-position adjusting unit configured to adjust the display positions of the combined images such that the outlines of the small laboratory animal extracted by the outline-extracting unit match each other in a direction orthogonal to the arrayed direction.

Abstract: It is possible to efficiently perform data acquisition by simplifying an operation for positioning a small laboratory animal, and comparative observation of multiple images is straightforward. The invention provides a fluorescence observation apparatus including an image storage unit for storing a plurality of pairs of bright-field images and fluorescence images of a small laboratory animal in such a manner that relative positions thereof are aligned; a display unit for displaying the plurality of fluorescence images stored in the image storage unit so as to be arrayed in at least one direction; an outline extracting unit for extracting an outline shape of the small laboratory animal in each bright-field image; and an image-position adjusting unit for adjusting a display position of each associated fluorescence image so that the outline shapes of the small laboratory animal extracted by the outline extracting unit are aligned with each other in a direction orthogonal to the arrayed direction.

Abstract: An object is to easily and reliably reach an examination site. The present invention provides an examination method of carrying out in-vivo examination using an in-vivo examination apparatus capable of fluorescence examination and reflected-light examination and includes the steps of setting a reference position so as to set an examination site by carrying out reflected-light examination, switching from reflected-light examination to fluorescence examination, and moving from the reference position to the examination site.

Abstract: When examining a living organism exhibiting dynamic behavior such as pulsing, the dynamic behavior is suppressed and clear images are acquired. The invention provides an objective lens unit including a lens barrel for supporting optical components, wherein an end surface of the lens barrel is disposed farther towards the distal side than an optical component at the extreme distal end, and channel-shaped indented portions extending in the diametrical direction are formed in the end surface of the lens barrel.

Abstract: An examination apparatus that has a simple structure and that is capable of determining the condition inside the apparatus and improving the ease of use of the apparatus when a specimen is changed is provided. The examination apparatus includes a stage on which a specimen is disposed; an optical system configured to form an enlarged or reduced image of the specimen; a cover configured to cover the stage and the optical system; an opening and closing member provided as part of the cover; a detection unit configured to detect whether the opening and closing member is in a closed state or an open state; and a stage driving unit configured to move the state. Only when the detection unit detects that the opening and closing member is open, the stage is moved by the stage driving unit to the outside of the cover through an opening covered by the opening and closing member.

Abstract: When examining a living organism exhibiting dynamic behavior such as pulsing, the dynamic behavior is suppressed and clear images are acquired. The invention provides an objective lens unit including a lens barrel for supporting optical components, wherein an end surface of the lens barrel is disposed farther towards the distal side than an optical component at the extreme distal end, and channel-shaped indented portions extending in the diametrical direction are formed in the end surface of the lens barrel.

Abstract: There is provided a method of fabricating a lateral MOS transistor, including the steps of (a) forming a gate oxide film on a semiconductor substrate, (b) forming a gate electrode on the gate oxide film, (c) forming a mask covering one of regions of the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the gate electrode, (d) ion-implanting the semiconductor substrate with impurities having a first electrical conductivity as the semiconductor substrate is being rotated around the gate electrode, at an angle relative to the semiconductor substrate to form a channel region in an uncovered region, (e) ion-implanting the semiconductor substrate with impurities having a second electrical conductivity around the gate electrode in self-aligned manner to thereby form source and drain regions. It is preferable that ion-implantation in the step (d) is carried out in the desired number of times.

Abstract: A fabrication method of a semiconductor device that makes it possible to reduce the number of necessary process steps. After an insulating layer is formed on a semiconductor substructure, a polysilicon layer is formed on the insulating layer. Then, dopant atoms are implanted into the polysilicon layer so that the peak depth of the distribution of the implanted dopant atoms is located at approximately the middle level of the polysilicon layer. The implanted polysilicon layer is subjected to a heat-treatment to thereby form a dielectric region at the middle level of the polysilicon layer due to reaction of the implanted dopant atoms with silicon atoms existing in the polysilicon layer. The remaining lower and upper parts of the polysilicon layer form lower and upper polysilicon regions, respectively. Subsequently, the implanted and heat-treated polysilicon layer is patterned to have a predetermined shape. As the dopant atom to be implanted, oxygen (O) and/or nitrogen (N) is preferably used.