Abstract: A focus error detecting optical system has an optical parameter which makes a focus lock-in range by a focus error signal be a value capable of detecting focus on a front surface of a cover glass and focus on a back surface thereof separately. A control section, based on the focus error signal obtained by the focus error detecting optical system, brings a focal point of an observational optical system to a focus position. Further, focus error detecting optical systems include optical units each having an optical parameter corresponding to a numerical aperture of respective objective lenses. A control section selects the optical unit of the focus error detecting optical system corresponding to the objective lens in use. The control section, using a focus error signal obtained by the selected focus error detecting optical system, brings a focal point of an observational optical system to a focus position.

Abstract: There is achieved a confocal scanner capable of being adjusted can be achieved with ease so as to be in a well-balanced state where a utilization ratio of an excited light is high and light quantity distribution on the cross-section of beams is excellent in evenness even in the case of being coupled with an optical fiber varying in a beam spread-angle. The confocal scanner is provided with a collimator lens for causing beams outgoing from an emission end of an optical fiber for guiding an excited light, with a predetermined spread-angle, to be converted into collimated beams before falling on a microlens disk, wherein a beam spread-angle adjusting means for adjusting the spread-angle is provided between the emission end, and the collimator lens.

Abstract: A drug creating screening apparatus characterized in a drug creating screening apparatus including a well plate provided with a plurality of wells and glass brought into contact with a bottom face of the well plate for carrying out drug creating screening based on information of fluorescence emitted by irradiating exciting light to samples mounted between a plurality of the wells and the glass, wherein at least one opening portion for measuring a thickness of the glass is provided at the well plate.

Abstract: A confocal microscope uses fluorescent or reflected light obtained by irradiating a plurality of beam spots to a sample so as to observe the sample. The confocal microscope has a phase modulator element which modulates phase of laser light to form the beam spots, a liquid crystal element which forms a plurality of pinholes through which only the fluorescent or the reflected light is transmitted, and a control section which controls the phase modulator element and the liquid crystal element.

Abstract: A confocal optical scanner of Nipkow disk type for measuring a sample, in which each component of two or more color pigments, has a high reflection mirror for separating an excited light to be radiated onto the sample and a fluorescence emitted from the sample, wherein a reflectance of the high reflection mirror is from 80% to 100% in a measured wavelength region including at least an excited light wavelength region and a fluorescence wavelength region. Thereby, the confocal optical scanner capable of measuring a polychromatic fluorescent image at the same time is realized with the enhanced light receiving efficiency of fluorescence, using one high reflection mirror without using a plurality of dichroic mirrors by exchange.

Abstract: A focus error detecting optical system has an optical parameter which makes a focus lock-in range by a focus error signal be a value capable of detecting focus on a front surface of a cover glass and focus on aback surface thereof separately. A control section, based on the focus error signal obtained by the focus error detecting optical system, brings a focal point of an observational optical system to a focus position. Further, focus error detecting optical systems include optical units each having an optical parameter corresponding to a numerical aperture of respective objective lenses. A control section selects the optical unit of the focus error detecting optical system corresponding to the objective lens in use. The control section, using a focus error signal obtained by the selected focus error detecting optical system, brings a focal point of an observational optical system to a focus position.

Abstract: There is achieved a confocal scanner capable of being adjusted can be achieved with ease so as to be in a well-balanced state where a utilization ratio of an excited light is high and light quantity distribution on the cross-section of beams is excellent in evenness even in the case of being coupled with an optical fiber varying in a beam spread-angle. The confocal scanner is provided with a collimator lens for causing beams outgoing from an emission end of an optical fiber for guiding an excited light, with a predetermined spread-angle, to be converted into collimated beams before falling on a microlens disk, wherein a beam spread-angle adjusting means for adjusting the spread-angle is provided between the emission end, and the collimator lens.

Abstract: The present invention provides a confocal scanning microscope whereby fluorescence observations can be made using a plurality of types of excitation light without the need for attaching and detaching a light source to and from the optical fiber. The confocal scanning microscope comprises: a light source unit for emitting excitation light that excites a sample; a scanner unit for scanning the sample with the excitation light; and an imaging camera for capturing an image of the sample by receiving fluorescent light emitted from the sample; the light source unit having a plurality of light sources for emitting laser light with different wavelengths and a multicore optical fiber cable for transmitting light from the plurality of light sources, one end of the multicore optical fiber cable being separated into a plurality of optical fibers, and light from each of the plurality of light sources being input to one end of each of the separate optical fibers.

Abstract: A confocal microscope uses fluorescent or reflected light obtained by irradiating a plurality of beam spots to a sample so as to observe the sample. The confocal microscope has a phase modulator element which modulates phase of laser light to form the beam spots, a liquid crystal element which forms a plurality of pinholes through which only the fluorescent or the reflected light is transmitted, and a control section which controls the phase modulator element and the liquid crystal element.

Abstract: In A confocal microscope, a mirror reflects illumination light to focus on a focal point face of a sample through an object lens. The mirror is rotated to scan a focal point of the illumination light. A confocal image provided based on returned light from the sample. The confocal microscope has a first multipinhole array which has a plurality of pinholes, and to which light emitted from a light source is illuminated, and a second multipinhole array which has a plurality of pinholes, and intercepts light from other than the focal point face out of the returned light from the sample. The first multipinhole array functions as a plurality of point light sources, and the illumination light is light which passes through the pinholes of the first multipinhole array.

Abstract: A screening apparatus detects images of a plurality of wells provided at a plate to perform screening in a new drug process. The screening apparatus has a plurality of detecting portions which are fixedly arranged and individually detect images of wells different from each other, a movable stage on which the plate is mounted, a carrying portion which moves the stage so that positions of the wells of the plate correspond with measuring positions of the detecting portions, and a detection controlling portion which controls the detecting portions to simultaneously detect the images of the wells different from each other.

Abstract: A confocal microscope for performing an observation of a sample using a confocal image, the confocal microscope comprises a microscope, a confocal scanner of a Nipkow disk type, and a laser beam output section which is connected to the microscope and outputs a first laser beam for applying photic stimulation on the sample.

Abstract: This invention realizes a three-dimensional confocal microscope in which mechanical vibrations do not occur in the scanning unit for scanning in the direction of optical axis, and in which scanning in the direction of optical axis can be carried out at a high speed. This invention has the following features. In the confocal microscope having a confocal scanner attached to an optical microscope and constructed to enable acquisition of an image of a sample as a confocal image by the confocal scanner, a variable-focus lens of surface tension control type having no moving part is uses as the field lens.

Abstract: This invention realizes a three-dimensional confocal microscope in which mechanical vibrations do not occur in the scanning unit for scanning in the direction of optical axis, and in which scanning in the direction of optical axis can be carried out at a high speed. This invention has the following features. In the confocal microscope having a confocal scanner attached to an optical microscope and constructed to enable acquisition of an image of a sample as a confocal image by the confocal scanner, a variable-focus lens of surface tension control type having no moving part is uses as the field lens.

Abstract: The present invention provides a confocal scanning microscope whereby fluorescence observations can be made using a plurality of types of excitation light without the need for attaching and detaching a light source to and from the optical fiber. The confocal scanning microscope comprises: a light source unit for emitting excitation light that excites a sample; a scanner unit for scanning the sample with the excitation light; and an imaging camera for capturing an image of the sample by receiving fluorescent light emitted from the sample; the light source unit having a plurality of light sources for emitting laser light with different wavelengths and a multicore optical fiber cable for transmitting light from the plurality of light sources, one end of the multicore optical fiber cable being separated into a plurality of optical fibers, and light from each of the plurality of light sources being input to one end of each of the separate optical fibers.

Abstract: The present invention is characterized in that it is possible to provide a three-dimensional confocal microscope system configured so that an objective lens can be scanned in the optical-axis direction using an actuator to obtain sliced confocal images of a sample, wherein the actuator is driven using a scanning waveform signal, which is triangular or step-like and has been corrected so that acceleration is kept virtually constant at discontinuous points of change in the scanning waveform signal, thereby consistently providing sliced confocal images of the sample.

Abstract: The present invention realizes a screening method and device able to obtain the entire image of a cell as a detailed and accurate (with a good SN ratio) image at high speed by observing the cell image while a Nipkow system confocal scanner is used and the focal position of an objective lens is changed in the optical axis direction. In the present invention, a reagent and a fluorescent marked cell are injected into a well. The focal position is changed in the optical axis direction by using the Nipkow system confocal scanner. Excitation light is irradiated to the well in each focal position, and fluorescent light generated from the cell is received and the degree of activity, and so on, of the cell is measured and displayed on the basis of a slice image of the cell.

Abstract: The present invention realizes a screening method and device able to obtain the entire image of a cell as a detailed and accurate (with a good SN ratio) image at high speed by observing the cell image while a Nipkow system confocal scanner is used and the focal position of an objective lens is changed in the optical axis direction. In the present invention, a reagent and a fluorescent marked cell are injected into a well. The focal position is changed in the optical axis direction by using the Nipkow system confocal scanner. Excitation light is irradiated to the well in each focal position, and fluorescent light generated from the cell is received and the degree of activity, and so on, of the cell is measured and displayed on the basis of a slice image of the cell.

Abstract: The present invention is characterized in that it is possible to provide a three-dimensional confocal microscope system configured so that an objective lens can be scanned in the optical-axis direction using an actuator to obtain sliced confocal images of a sample, wherein the actuator is driven using a scanning waveform signal, which is triangular or step-like and has been corrected so that acceleration is kept virtually constant at discontinuous points of change in the scanning waveform signal, thereby consistently providing sliced confocal images of the sample.

Abstract: A confocal optical scanner of Nipkow disk type for measuring a sample, in which each component of two or more color pigments, has a high reflection mirror for separating an excited light to be radiated onto the sample and a fluorescence emitted from the sample, wherein a reflectance of the high reflection mirror is from 80% to 100% in a measured wavelength region including at least an excited light wavelength region and a fluorescence wavelength region. Thereby, the confocal optical scanner capable of measuring a polychromatic fluorescent image at the same time is realized with the enhanced light receiving efficiency of fluorescence, using one high reflection mirror without using a plurality of dichroic mirrors by exchange.