Abstract: Dynamic movement of a specimen in a pressing direction and in directions intersecting the pressing direction is effectively suppressed, while maintaining the viability of the specimen. A stabilizer for in vivo examination that is placed in contact with a biological specimen during examination of the specimen to suppress movement thereof includes a contact-area increasing portion that is provided on a contact surface with the biological specimen and that is configured to increase the contact area with the biological specimen by virtue of a pressure applied during the contact.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for low-light sample comprises: an image-forming optical system which includes an objective lens and an image-forming lens and forms the sample image of an sample having a point light source, where the point light source emits weak light including fluorescence; an illumination optical system which radiates light from an illumination light source to the sample to make the sample emit fluorescence; and an image capturing means which includes a plurality of pixels and captures the image corresponding to the sample image.

Abstract: An examination apparatus that observes a specimen in a stationary state while suppressing the blurring caused by a control delay. The apparatus includes a first optical system and a second optical system for imaging light produced in a specimen, a first image-acquisition unit with a plurality of first image-acquisition devices for detecting an image formed by the first optical system, a second image-acquisition unit with a second image-acquisition device for acquiring an image formed by the second optical system, and a driving unit that causes the images to be formed at the same position in the second image-acquisition unit. The value obtained by dividing the pixel size Y of the first image-acquisition devices by the magnification X of the first optical system is smaller than the value obtained by dividing the pixel size Y? of the second image-acquisition device by the magnification X? of the second optical system.

Abstract: A clear image having suppressed blurring due to pulsing is obtained by in-vivo examination of biological tissue or various internal organs of mammals, including small laboratory animals.

Abstract: A scanning examination apparatus 1 is provided, the apparatus including a detachable objective lens 6 or 6?, a scanner 3 for two-dimensionally scanning light F from a specimen 100 focused by the objective lens 6 or 6?, a scanner control device 13 for controlling the operation of the scanner 3, and an optical detector 9 for detecting light scanned by the scanner 3, wherein the scanner control device 13 changes the scanning direction of the light F depending on an image formation mode of the light F at the objective lens 6 or 6? which is attached.

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: A microscope examination apparatus including a light source; an illumination optical system configured to guide light from the light source to a specimen; an objective lens configured to collimate return light from the specimen, the objective lens being provided in such a manner as to be displaceable at least in a direction intersecting an optical axis of the objective lens; an image-forming lens configured to image the return light from the specimen, which is collimated by the objective lens; an optical detector configured to detect the return light imaged by the image-forming lens; a microscope main body including the image-forming lens and the optical detector; and an objective-lens driving mechanism configured to drive the objective lens in a direction correcting image blur due to a displacement of the specimen.

Abstract: An in vivo examination apparatus including an objective unit capable of being readily replaced during examination is provided. The in vivo examination apparatus includes a main body, a vibration suppressor configured to suppress vibrations in an examination region of an object under examination, and an objective optical system configured to observe the examination region where the vibrations are suppressed. The objective optical system and the vibration suppressor are attached to the main body. The objective optical system is attachable to and detachable from the main body in a direction crossing an optical-axis direction of the objective optical system.

Abstract: When carrying out in vivo examination of a living organism, the behavior in the interior thereof is continuously observed with clear images.

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 invention provides a microscope examination apparatus including a light source; an illumination optical system configured to guide light from the light source to a specimen; an objective lens configured to collimate return light from the specimen, the objective lens being provided in such a manner as to be displaceable at least in a direction intersecting an optical axis of the objective lens; an image-forming lens configured to image the return light from the specimen, which is collimated by the objective lens; an optical detector configured to detect the return light imaged by the image-forming lens; a microscope main body including the image-forming lens and the optical detector; and an objective-lens driving mechanism configured to drive the objective lens in a direction correcting image blur due to a displacement of the specimen.

Abstract: A focusing method for an examination apparatus that can quickly and easily perform focusing for fluoroscopy is provided. The focusing method, for an examination apparatus that can observe fluorescence emitted from a specimen, includes a first step of irradiating the specimen with light via an objective lens to generate reflected light and fluorescence; a second step of performing focusing with respect to the surface of the specimen using the reflected light from the specimen; and a third step of performing focusing for the fluorescence based on the focal position of the specimen surface in the second step.

Abstract: A scanning examination apparatus 1 is provided, the apparatus including a detachable objective lens 6 or 6?, a scanner 3 for two-dimensionally scanning light F from a specimen 100 focused by the objective lens 6 or 6?, a scanner control device 13 for controlling the operation of the scanner 3, and an optical detector 9 for detecting light scanned by the scanner 3, wherein the scanner control device 13 changes the scanning direction of the light F depending on an image formation mode of the light F at the objective lens 6 or 6? which is attached.

Abstract: When carrying out in vivo examination of a living organism, the behavior in the interior thereof is continuously observed with clear images.

Abstract: It is possible to easily and accurately confirm the position of an optical axis of an objective lens relative to an examination site on a specimen, and positioning of the objective relative to the specimen can be carried out rapidly in a preparation stage.

Abstract: A suitable clear image is obtained in observation of a specimen exhibiting dynamic motion, for example, during in vivo observation. The invention provides an observation system including an optical apparatus including an objective unit that is positioned close to a specimen; and a stabilizer adhered to the specimen, at least around an observation region of the optical apparatus, to restrain motion of the specimen, wherein a heat-transfer preventing member for preventing transfer of heat between the stabilizer and the specimen is provided on the stabilizer.

Abstract: An examination apparatus is provided, the examination apparatus being capable of preventing difficulty in observing a specimen because of light emitted from markers. The examination apparatus includes a first image-acquisition unit configured to detect a movement related to a first image of light generated at a first region of the specimen; a second image-acquisition unit configured to observe a second image of light generated at a second region of the specimen; and a driving unit configured to cause the second image be to formed at substantially the same position in the second image-acquisition unit on the basis of a detection signal of the first image-acquisition unit. The first image includes at least an image that is different from the second image, and the driving unit controls the image position of the second image on the basis of the detection signal of the first image.

Abstract: An in vivo examination apparatus including an objective unit capable of being readily replaced during examination is provided. The in vivo examination apparatus includes a main body, a vibration suppressor configured to suppress vibrations in an examination region of an object under examination, and an objective optical system configured to observe the examination region where the vibrations are suppressed. The objective optical system and the vibration suppressor are attached to the main body. The objective optical system is attachable to and detachable from the main body in a direction crossing an optical-axis direction of the objective optical system.

Abstract: A clear image having suppressed blurring due to pulsing is obtained by in-vivo examination of biological tissue or various internal organs of mammals, including small laboratory animals.

Abstract: An easily viewable examination image in which blurring occurring in an image is reduced without operating an examination optical system in real time matching the motion of a specimen is obtained. There is provided an examination method comprising, prior to examining an examination site of a specimen, acquiring an image of the specimen surface of an examination region including the examination site, over a predetermined time range; extracting a plurality of feature points by processing the acquired image of the specimen surface; calculating a motion trajectory for each of the extracted feature points over the time range; and disposing an optical axis of an examination optical system at a position where the motion trajectory of a feature point disposed in the examination site is minimized.