Abstract: It is a proposition to reduce user's burden when performing tracking observation of a specimen. Therefore, an image processing apparatus includes a storage unit which takes in a plurality of slice images acquired from a specific area of a specimen by each of Z-stack shootings performed at different time point, associates the plurality of slice images each with a shooting time point and slice height z, and stores the plurality of slice images as one of slice image groups, a manual selecting unit which allows user to manually select a representing image (Ia, Ib, Ic, . . . ) from one of slice image groups, and an automatic selecting unit which automatically selects a representing image from another one of slice image groups based on a result of the manual selection.

Abstract: An observing apparatus includes: a photographic unit that takes a region where cells are present as an observation object region based upon a macro image captured at low magnification of an interior of a cell culture vessel, and photographs the cells in the observation object region; an illuminating unit that irradiates light upon the cells only during photography by the photographic unit; and an output unit that outputs a fluorescent image photographed by the photographic unit while irradiating light only during photography by the illuminating unit.

Abstract: An automatic culture device 1 having an automatic quality determination system is equipped with an analysis program 12. The analysis program 12 extracts cell characteristics from a captured image of a cell by driving a characteristic quantity extraction program 13, which is an image processing program for extracting characteristics (characteristic quantities) of this cell. The quality of the cell is then determined from the extracted characteristic or a combination of a plurality of characteristics by driving an identification program 15 that determines the quality of a cell. This allows cell quality determination to be automated.

Abstract: An incubator including a temperature-controlled room adjusted to a predetermined environment condition for culturing a sample of an incubation container at inside of the temperature-controlled room, the incubator including a shifting mechanism for moving a position of the incubation container at inside of the temperature-controlled room by a motor, a temperature adjusting section for adjusting a temperature at inside of the temperature-controlled room, an operating information generating section for generating operating information with regard to a position of operating and a time period of operating the motor prior to operating the motor, an estimated variation outputting section for outputting an estimation variation of a temperature state by operating the motor based on the operating information, and a controlling section for controlling the temperature adjusting section to cancel a temperature change of an amount of the estimated variation in synchronism with operating the motor.

Abstract: A culture device containing a culture vessel for culturing a cell, in which the culture device includes a thermostatic vessel having a stacker containing a plurality of culture vessels for culturing a cell, and an observation portion arranged to be isolated from an atmosphere at inside of the thermostatic vessel and having an object lens, an object lens drive portion, and a camera portion to observe a cell at inside of the culture vessel installed at an observation position at inside of the thermostatic vessel.

Abstract: A microscope, in the microscope for observing a sample cultured with a culture vessel, can automatically obtain information about growing conditions of the sample. For this purpose, the microscope is a microscope for observing a sample cultured with a culture vessel, and includes a focusing unit focusing on at least two faces including a first face where the sample exists in the culture vessel and a second face differing from the first face based on predetermined conditions, and an imaging unit imaging for the first face and the second face to create images.