Abstract: The invention provides an examination apparatus that is capable of observing a specimen in a stationary state while suppressing blurring caused by a control delay. The examination apparatus includes a first optical system and a second optical system for imaging light produced in a specimen, a first image-acquisition unit provided with a plurality of first image-acquisition devices for detecting an image formed by the first optical system, a second image-acquisition unit provided with a second image-acquisition device for acquiring an image formed by the second optical system, and a driving unit configured to cause the images to be formed at substantially the same position in the second image-acquisition unit based on a detection signal of the first image-acquisition unit.

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: 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: The invention reduces the loss of fluorescence intensity obtained from a specimen to acquire clear fluorescence images when irradiating the specimen with ultrashort-pulse laser light produced by a laser light source. The invention provides a laser-scanning examination apparatus including a laser light source for producing ultrashort-pulse laser light; a laser light source for producing continuous-wave laser light; a measurement head including an optical scanning unit for scanning the laser light on a specimen and an objective optical system; an imaging unit for detecting return light from the specimen in response to the ultrashort-pulse laser light; and an imaging unit for detecting return light from the specimen in response to the continuous-wave laser light. The laser light sources and one imaging unit are connected to the measurement head by an optical fiber, and the other imaging unit is connected to the measurement head by another optical fiber with a larger core diameter.

Abstract: Dynamic movement of various specimens is effectively suppressed, while easily allowing compatibility with various specimens having a wide range of types, sizes, and shapes, and various types of examination methods of specimens. A stabilizer for in vivo examination that is placed in contact with a biological specimen in the vicinity of an observation optical axis during examination of the specimen to suppress movement thereof includes a tip configured to contact the biological specimen, and a movable member configured to support the tip so that the tip can move in a direction intersecting the observation optical axis. The tip is attached to the movable member in such a manner so as to be attachable thereto and detachable therefrom.

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: 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: 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 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.

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: The present invention prevents the leakage of anesthetic gas, and enables in vivo observation of a specimen such as small laboratory animals over a long period of time. An anesthetizing chamber comprises a chamber main body for housing a specimen such as a laboratory animal; an anesthetic gas supply part for supplying anesthetic gas to the chamber main body; and an anesthetic gas recovery part for recovering the anesthetic gas that is supplied into the chamber main body from the anesthetic gas supply part; wherein a transparent window is provided to at least the chamber main body.

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: 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: The invention enables clear, low-blur examination images to be acquired without operating an examination optical system in real time to match the motion of a specimen. The invention provides an examination method comprising fixing an indicator member that is visible from outside to a surface of the specimen, which is disposed within an examination region of a microscope; acquiring a plurality of images of the surface of the specimen, including the indicator member, at predetermined time intervals; processing the plurality of acquired images to calculate a motion trajectory of the indicator member; and fixing an optical axis of an examination optical system at a position where the motion trajectory of the indicator portion at the examination site of the specimen is minimized, to carry out examination.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical-scanning examination apparatus with a simple configuration, in which the resolution of acquired images can be freely changed and in which the fluorescence image intensity and examination depth can be adjusted to suit the purpose of examination. The optical-scanning examination apparatus includes a light source unit; a focusing lens for forming a first intermediate image of excitation light; an imaging lens; a first objective lens; an optical fiber bundle; a second objective lens; and an imaging unit for imaging return light that returns via the second objective lens, the optical fiber bundle, the first objective lens, and the imaging lens. In addition, a scanning mirror device, which is disposed at the first intermediate image position, is formed of a plurality of mirrors that simultaneously receive the first intermediate image and that can be selectively turned on and off.

Abstract: The invention reduces the loss of fluorescence intensity obtained from a specimen to acquire clear fluorescence images when irradiating the specimen with ultrashort-pulse laser light produced by a laser light source. The invention provides a laser-scanning examination apparatus including a laser light source for producing ultrashort-pulse laser light; a laser light source for producing continuous-wave laser light; a measurement head including an optical scanning unit for scanning the laser light on a specimen and an objective optical system; an imaging unit for detecting return light from the specimen in response to the ultrashort-pulse laser light; and an imaging unit for detecting return light from the specimen in response to the continuous-wave laser light. The laser light sources and one imaging unit are connected to the measurement head by an optical fiber, and the other imaging unit is connected to the measurement head by another optical fiber with a larger core diameter.

Abstract: The invention provides an in-vivo examination apparatus that can examine a minute examination site in a living organism with a simple configuration. The invention provides an in-vivo examination apparatus comprising a light source; a flexible light-conveying member that transmits light from the light source to irradiate the light from an end face thereof onto an examination site and that receives return light returning from the examination site at the end face thereof to transmit the return light; a long thin insertion part in which the light-conveying member is disposed along the longitudinal direction thereof; and an optical detector that detects the return light from biological tissue, which is transmitted through the insertion part via the light-conveying member.

Abstract: An examination apparatus that can acquire detailed images from a specimen exhibiting dynamic behavior is provided. The examination apparatus comprises an imaging unit that images a specimen exhibiting dynamic behavior; a behavior detecting unit that detects the dynamic behavior of the specimen; an image storing unit that stores the dynamic behavior of the specimen detected by the behavior detecting unit and images of the specimen imaged by the imaging unit so as to be associated with each other; and a still-image extraction unit that extracts an image of the specimen when the specimen is substantially still based on the dynamic behavior of the specimen from the images of the specimen stored in the image storing unit.

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.