Abstract: A system for direct imaging and diagnosing of abnormal cells in a target tissue includes a disposable optical speculum and an image acquisition system having the speculum assembled on and mechanically secured thereto. The image acquisition system is arranged to capture at least one of a single image or multiple images or video of cells within the target tissue using at least one of bright field or dark field ring illumination divided into independently operated segments to obtain a plurality of data sets. An image analysis and control unit in communication with the image acquisition system analyzes the data sets and applies algorithms to the data sets for diagnosing abnormal cells.

Abstract: Embodiments disclose a device for testing biological specimen. The device includes a sample carrier and a detachable cover. The sample carrier includes a specimen holding area. The detachable cover is placed on top of the specimen holding area. The detachable cover includes a magnifying component configured to align with the specimen holding area. The focal length of the magnifying component is from 0.1 mm to 8.5 mm. The magnifying component has a linear magnification ratio of at least 1.

Abstract: Embodiments disclose a device for testing biological specimen. The device includes a sample carrier and a detachable cover. The sample carrier includes a specimen holding area. The detachable cover is placed on top of the specimen holding area. The detachable cover includes a magnifying component configured to align with the specimen holding area. The focal length of the magnifying component is from 0.1 mm to 3 mm. The magnifying component has a magnification ratio of at least 30.

Abstract: A lighting system comprises a chromatic reflective unit (606), and a light source (602), wherein the chromatic reflective unit (606) is shaped as a rotational paraboloid or a portion of a rotational paraboloid, and the light source (602) is positioned close to or at the paraboloid focal position.

Abstract: A total internal reflection light illumination apparatus includes a light source providing illumination light L1, a spatial light modulator inputting the illumination light L1 and converging and outputting the illumination light L1 by presenting a lens pattern, an objective lens illuminating an object substrate with illumination light L2 converged and output by the spatial light modulator, and a calculation unit providing, to the spatial light modulator, the lens pattern corresponding to at least one of a desired polarization state, desired penetration length, desired shape, and desired light intensity of the evanescent light L3. The lens pattern converges the illumination light L2 on a pupil plane of the objective lens.

Abstract: The present invention relates in general to microscopy systems. In particular, the present invention relates to microscopes rendering digital images of samples, with the capability to digitally control the focus of the microscope system, and the software used to control the operation of the digital microscope system. Further, the present invention relates to a microscope structure that allows for compact and multi-functional use of a microscope, providing for light shielding and control with samples that require specific light wavelength characteristics, such as fluorescence, for detection and imaging. The microscope is adjustable, with a structure that can move along range(s) of motion and degree(s) of freedom to allow for ease of access to samples, shielding of samples, and manipulation of a display apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transmitted light illumination for light microscopes having changing effective entrance pupil of an objective. The apparatus has a light source for emitting an illuminating light beam, wherein a beam path of the illuminating light between a diaphragm edge and a sample held by a holding device is free from adjustable beam focussing components. In order to adapt the beam path of the illuminating light to the effective entrance pupil of the objective, the diaphragm edge may be variably positioned in the direction of the optical axis, wherein a position of the diaphragm edge in the direction of the optical axis can be varied irrespectively of a position of the diaphragm edge transversely to the optical axis.

Abstract: A microscope system includes a laser light source, a plurality of laser microscopes, and an optical path switching unit that is provided between the laser light source and the laser microscopes and switches a supply destination of a laser beam among the plurality of laser microscopes by changing a beam splitter to be arranged on an incident optical axis. Each of the laser microscopes includes an optical axis adjustment unit that adjusts an optical axis of the laser beam, and a control unit that controls the optical axis adjustment unit based on identification information about the beam splitter arranged on the incident optical axis.

Abstract: A method for SPIM microscopy with a microscope winch includes (1) an illumination arrangement for illuminating a sample with a substantially planar light sheet, and (2) a detection arrangement for detecting light emitted by the sample with an objective. The sample is displaced through the light sheet in direction of the objective's optical axis, and the sample is illuminated under a first illumination angle and a second illumination angle. A plurality of sample planes are then detected at each illumination angle and stored as at least a first image stack and a second image stack. The image stacks are aligned relative to one another, and are combined in one image stack. A the three-dimensional image stack is projected into a two-dimensional rendering, sample features are aligned, a coordinate transformation is determined, and the coordinate transformation for alignment is applied to the combined image stack.

Abstract: An arrangement for use in illuminating a sample in SPIM microscopy includes an illumination objective configured to receive and focus a light strip or a quasi-light strip. The quasi-light strip is made up of a light bundle continuously moved back and forth in a light-strip plane. A deflection apparatus is configured to deflect the light strip or the quasi-light strip, after the light strip or the quasi-light strip has passed through the illumination objective, in such a way that the light strip or the quasi-light strip propagates at an angle different from zero degrees with respect to an optical axis of the illumination objective. The illumination objective and the deflection apparatus are arranged movably relative to one another.

Abstract: A spectroscope device is provided to maintain the uniformity of the central transmitting wavelength in the field of view and to minimize the broaden of the bandwidth of the transmitting wavelengths in an optical lens using an optical tunable filter (variable wavelength filter), even with a wide field of view and/or a large numerical aperture. A space is defined in which, when each beam that is incident from each off-axial object point on the object surface toward the optical lens that includes a plurality of lens elements between an object surface and a conjugate real image surface reaches the optical tunable filter, the chief ray is maintained parallel to the optical axis. Therefore, if an optical tunable filter is disposed in this space, each beam is always incident normal to the filter, so only the narrow band components at the specific central wavelength can be transmitted.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a holographic display apparatus including a light irradiating unit configured to irradiate light using an optical fiber array backlight, a spatial light modulator (SLM) configured to perform modulating the irradiated light, a lens configured to irradiate hologram images based on the modulated light, a pupil tracking unit configured to acquire location of an observer's pupil by pupil tracking, and a hologram generating unit configured to generate parallax hologram images that correspond to the location of pupil.

Abstract: A scanning module including first path shifting unit changing a path of an incident electromagnetic wave from a light source; a first driving unit adjusting the path of the electromagnetic wave by moving the first path shifting unit; and a Bessel beam generating unit making a Bessel beam on a portion of an object, using the electromagnetic wave with the path changed by the path shifting unit. A detection probe which includes a light source generating an electromagnetic wave; a path shifting unit changing a path of an electromagnetic wave from a light source; a Bessel beam generating unit making a Bessel beam on a portion of an object, using the electromagnetic wave with the path changed by the path shifting unit; a detecting unit detecting intensity of a wave from the object, and a housing accommodating the light source, path shifting unit, Bessel beam generating unit, and detecting unit.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus includes a light source, a spatial light modulator that modulates an incident beam of light on a first reflection surface, an illumination lens that irradiates the spatial light modulator with a beam of light from the light source and that refracts a principal ray of a beam of light modulated by the spatial light modulator so that an angle between the principal ray and an optical axis of the illumination lens decreases, and a first reflector that directs, toward the illumination lens, a beam of light by reflecting the beam of light multiple times between the illumination lens and a front focal plane of the illumination lens, the beam of light being modulated by the spatial light modulator and entering through the illumination lens.

Abstract: A microplate reader includes a pair of linear variable filters (LVFs) that together form a wavelength selector. Movement of one or both of the LVFs enables selection of the desired center wavelength and/or passband used to analyze a sample on a microplate inserted into the microplate reader. The microplate reader may also include a similar second wavelength selector. The LVFs are located on movable frames, with each frame also advantageously including least one of an aperture, a fixed optical filter, and an optical polarization filter. In some cases, different types of measurements may be taken without changing the geometry of the optical path between the wavelength selectors. The microplate reader may additionally use a LVF to form a continuously adjustable dichroic for sample analysis.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a microscopy imaging structure with phase conjugated mirror and the method thereof. The afore-mentioned imaging structure produces a reverse focusing conjugated probe beam together with an original probe beam. These two probe beams meet at the focal point in the object body to be probed, and an interference pattern is produced. The interval between any two consecutive wave fronts in the interference pattern is then half of the wavelength of the original probe beam, and hence the vertical resolution of the image is improved. The present invention also applies a light modulator module on the probe beam to easily adjust the depth of the focal point of the probe beam and the phase conjugated reverse focusing probe beam in the object body. With the adoption of this invention, the size or position limitation of the target object is eliminated and the imaging resolution is also improved.

Abstract: An object is to enable LSM observation while correcting aberrations, as well as illumination with a desired pattern, using a single LCOS.

Abstract: An ultraviolet sensor includes a silicon photodiode array having a plurality of first pixel regions and a plurality of second pixel regions. A filter film is disposed on each of the first pixel regions so as to cover each first pixel region, except on each second pixel region. The filter film lowers transmittance in a detection target wavelength range in the ultraviolet region. Each of each first pixel region and each second pixel region includes at least one pixel having an avalanche photodiode to operate in Geiger mode, and a quenching resistor connected in series to the avalanche photodiode. Each of the quenching resistors in the plurality of first pixel regions is connected through a first signal line to a first output terminal. Each of the quenching resistors in the plurality of second pixel regions is connected through a second signal line to a second output terminal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a confocal laser scanning microscope (100) having an illumination device (1) that comprises a laser light source (41) that is configured to illuminate a sample (25), and a control application circuit (40) for the laser light source (1) which is configured to output a pulsed control application signal (48) in order to supply the laser light source (41), the control application circuit (40) being configured so that it determines both a pulse amplitude (A) and a pulse width (W) of at least one pulse of the pulsed control application signal (48) as a function of at least one input variable (S).

Abstract: An optical system for digital microscopy having at least one lens, at least one telescope of the Kepler type and tube optics, wherein an aperture is arranged between the telescope and the tube optics, which aperture is imaged by means of the telescope at the rear focal point of the lens and the following conditions are met simultaneously: A light conductance value (L) of the lens is ?1.4, A light conductance value (L) of the telescope is ?0.35, A light conductance value (L) of the tube optics is ?0.35, wherein the equation for the light conductance value (L) is L=A(tan ?,) where A is the pupil diameter and ? is the angle of gradient of the pencil of light rays in infinite space, and wherein the microscope magnification (?) of the telescope is in the range ??????3.

Abstract: A sample holder comprises a bottom and one or more arms. The bottom has an initial area for supporting a sample. The one or more arms actuate to move the sample in the initial area to a target area, wherein the one or more arms hold the sample.

Abstract: A pattern irradiation apparatus includes a light source unit, an objective, a spatial light modulator, a light blocking member, and a control device. The objective irradiates a sample plane with light emitted from the light source unit. The spatial light modulator is of a phase modulation type and is arranged at a position conjugate with a pupil position of the objective and modulates a phase of the light emitted from the light source unit. The light blocking member is arranged in an optical path between the spatial light modulator and the objective and is configured to block 0-order light generated by the spatial light modulator. The control device makes a correspondence between a focusing position of the 0-order light generated by the spatial light modulator and a position of the light blocking member.

Abstract: A multiple wavelength total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy system has an objective. A dispersion unit of the system comprises a high-dispersion optical element. The dispersion unit receives illumination light having at least a first wavelength ?1 and a second wavelength ?2, where ?1??2, and splits the illumination light into a first monochromatic beam having the first wavelength ?1 and a second monochromatic beam having the second wavelength ?2. The monochromatic beams are focused onto a back focal plane of the objective, near an outer edge of the objective, at different radial distances from an optical axis of the objective. The dispersion unit is rotatable in order to adjust angles of incidence of the monochromatic beams onto an interface between a substrate and a sample to be imaged, wherein the angles of incidence are greater than the critical angle of the interface.

Abstract: In order to make it possible for a difference between a defect and a normal part, such as contrast, to appear, a lighting device for inspection is provided with: a surface light source that emits inspection light; a lens that is provided on a light axis of the inspection light emitted from the surface light source, and between an inspection object and the surface light source; and a first diaphragm that is provided between the lens and the surface light source or the inspection object, wherein: the surface light source and the lens are set such that an image plane on which the surface light source is imaged is present near the inspection object; and the first diaphragm is set such that the central axis of an irradiation solid angle determined by a part of the inspection light is parallel to the light axis.

Abstract: The present invention belongs to a technical field of optical microscopic imaging and spectral measurement, and discloses a laser differential confocal mapping-spectrum microscopic imaging method and device. The core concept of the present invention is to combine the differential confocal detection and the spectrum detection techniques and use a dichroic beam splitting system (13) to separate the Rayleigh light for geometric position detection from the Raman scattering light for spectrum detection, by mean of the property that the zero-cross point of the differential confocal curve (43) accurately corresponds to the focus of the objective, the spectral information at focus of the excitation spot being accurately captured by the zero trigger to accomplish the spectrum detection with high spatial resolution. Therefore, the present invention provides a method and device that may be able to accomplish the spectrum detection with high spatial resolution to a micro-area of a sample.

Abstract: A live biological specimen is imaged by generating a plurality of light sheets; directing the plurality of light sheets along an illumination axis through the biological specimen such that the light sheets spatially and temporally overlap within the biological specimen along an image plane, and optically interact with the biological specimen within the image plane; and recording, at each of a plurality of views, images of the fluorescence emitted along a detection axis from the biological specimen due to the optical interaction between the light sheets and the biological specimen. The temporal overlap is within a time shift that is less than a resolution time that corresponds to a spatial resolution limit of the microscope.

Abstract: Provided is a laser source apparatus including a single laser source that emits an ultrashort-pulse laser beam; a wavelength conversion mechanism that generates a plurality of pulsed laser beams having different wavelengths by converting at least a part of wavelength of the ultrashort-pulse laser beam; a dispersion adjusting section that adjusts the amount of frequency dispersion for each of the pulsed laser beams; and an introducing optics that emits the plurality of pulsed laser beams whose frequency dispersion amounts are adjusted by the dispersion adjusting section. The dispersion adjusting section adjusts the amount of frequency dispersion for each of the pulsed laser beams so that each of the pulsed laser beams introduced to the irradiation optics of the optical apparatus from the introducing optics to excite a specimen is close to a substantially Fourier-transform-limited pulse.

Abstract: Provided is a fluoroscopy apparatus including a fluorescence-image generating portion that generates a fluorescence image; an identifying portion that identifies a position of a high-luminance region in the fluorescence image; a storage portion that stores the position of the high-luminance region; a detecting portion that detects an amount of change in a physical quantity, which can possibly act as a cause of changes in a property of the high-luminance region, starting from a time at which the position of the high-luminance region is identified by the identifying portion; a confidence-level calculating portion that calculates a confidence level of the property of the high-luminance region based on the detected amount of change; and a display-image generating portion that generates a display image in which the display mode at the position of the high-luminance region is set in accordance with the confidence level.

Abstract: A microscope adapter unit disposed on an optical path of illumination light between a light source unit including a light source and a sample surface includes a first lens group having at least one lens and a second lens group having at least one lens. The first lens group converts the illumination light into roughly parallel luminous fluxes, and makes the illumination light enter the second lens group.

Abstract: In accordance with the aspects of the present disclosure, a method and apparatus is disclosed for imaging interferometric microscopy (IIM), which can use an immersion medium to enhance resolution up to a resolution of linear systems resolution limit of ?/4n, where ? is the wavelength in free space and n is the index of refraction of a transmission medium.

Abstract: An immersion microscope objective includes a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a positive refractive power, and a third lens group having a negative refractive power. The first lens group includes a cemented lens of a positive lens and a meniscus lens, and at least one positive single lens, the second lens group changes a divergent light beam to a convergent light beam, and the third lens group includes an object-side lens group and an image-side lens group disposed concave surfaces are face-to-face sandwiching one air space. There is a plurality of lenses having a positive refractive power, and at least one lens having a positive refractive power out of the plurality of lenses having a positive refractive power has a cemented surface which is cemented to a lens having a negative refractive power.

Abstract: A laser microscope comprises a laser light source emitting illumination light; an objective applying the illumination light on a sample; a light path compounding unit compounding a first illumination light path and a second illumination path between the laser light source and the objective; a phase-modulation type spatial light modulator placed on a position on the first illumination path, the position also being optically conjugate with a pupil position of the objective, modulating a phase of the illumination light; and a two-dimensional scanning unit placed on the second illumination light path, scanning the sample in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis of the objective.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus comprising, a light source configured to emit an inspection light, a table configured to mount an inspection target thereon, an illumination optical system configured to direct the inspection light from the light source toward the target, an objective lens unit configured to gather transmitting or reflected light generated after the illumination optical system illuminates the target with the inspection light, a light receiving unit configured to capture an optical image formed from the light illuminated through the objective lens unit, a chamber configured to house the table, light receiving unit, illumination optical system and objective lens unit, a temperature adjustment unit configured to adjust a temperature in the chamber, and a gas supply unit configured to be connected to the objective lens unit to supply an inert gas at a predetermined temperature into the unit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises an optical system with multiple detectors and a processor. The optical system is configured to produce images of an optical source in a first dimension and a second dimension substantially orthogonal to the first dimension at each detector at a given time. Each image from the images is based on an interference of an emission from the optical source in a first direction and an emission from the optical source in a second direction different from the first direction. The processor is configured to calculate a position in a third dimension based on the images. The third dimension is substantially orthogonal to the first dimension and the second dimension.

Abstract: A microscopy method and configuration provides the ability to achieve wide field view and high resolution simultaneously. A beam array generator generates an M×N light beam array that illuminates a sample and an M×N sensor array. The sensor array obtains a whole microscopy image of the sample based on the light beam array. Each light beam of the array corresponds to one unique pixel sensor in the sensor array. A scanning of all light beams of the light beam array covers a whole area of the sample.

Abstract: A device in the form of a scanning microscope, a device in the form of a structural unit for a microscope and a method and a device for optically scanning one or more samples. A device in the form of a scanning microscope has a light source (42), which emits an illuminating light beam (32). A focusing lens system (34) focuses the illuminating light beam (32) on a region to be examined of a sample (36). An actuator arrangement moves the focusing lens system (34) according to a prescribed scanning pattern transversely in relation to a center axis of the illuminating light beam (32) and/or in relation to a housing of a structural unit (20) that encloses the focusing lens system (34).

Abstract: A microscope includes a light source including an LED device having a light radiating surface and a light directing element including a larger coupling-out surface. The light directing element is disposed so as to couple in light radiated by the light source and couple out the radiated light from the coupling-out surface. The light directing element is disposed so that the light is radiated out in an angular range of ±10° to ±50° and illuminates an area at 5 meters in an angular range of at least ±5° with intensity fluctuations of less than 50%. A condenser is disposed between the coupling-out surface of the light directing element and the object to be viewed. The condenser has an aperture with an aperture dimension and is disposed such that the aperture is irradiated completely with the light coupled out from the coupling-out surface.

Abstract: Illuminating arrangement for a microscope (200) having a first LED (10) for providing light with a first intensity spectrum (K1) with at least two intensity maxima and an intensity minimum located between the intensity maxima, and at least one further LED (20) for providing light with a further intensity spectrum (K2) respectively, each further intensity spectrum (K2) having an intensity maximum in the region of the intensity minimum of the first intensity spectrum (K1), and a device (30) for merging the light of the first LED (10) and the light of the at least one further LED (20), by means of which illuminating light can be produced with a combined intensity spectrum (K3) composed of light with the first intensity spectrum and light with each of the further intensity spectra.

Abstract: An apparatus for transmitted light illumination for light microscopes A diaphragm edge may be variably positioned in the direction of the optical axis, wherein a position of the diaphragm edge in the direction of the optical axis can be varied irrespectively of a position of the diaphragm edge transversely to the optical axis. A separate sample support table may be mounted on a housing. The housing has a passage opening, through which the diaphragm edge can be moved in the direction of the optical axis. A holding device is formed in the region of the passage opening of the housing or on a separate sample support table and a control device is present which is adapted to position the diaphragm edge in dependence at least upon a determined presence of a sample support table.

Abstract: A microendoscope, and a microendoscopy method related to the microendoscope, each include a tube housing, where an end of the tube housing is shaped and finished to facilitate collection of light emitted from a sample when examined using the microendoscope. In addition, a catadioptric lens assembly, an endomicroscope that includes the catadioptric lens assembly and a microendoscopy method for microscopic analysis that uses the endomicroscope are predicated upon a second element and a third element within the catadioptric lens assembly that each has a dichroic coating. The placement of the dichroic coating on the second element and the third element provides for different magnification factors as a function of illumination wavelength when using the microendoscopy method.

Abstract: A scanning microscope is described, having an illumination unit for emitting an illumination light beam, an objective for generating an elongated illumination focus in a specimen to be imaged, and a scanning apparatus for moving the illumination focus over a target region of the specimen to be illuminated by modifying the direction of incidence in which the illumination light beam is incident into an entrance pupil of the objective. The scanning apparatus directs the illumination light beam onto a sub-region of the entrance pupil offset from the pupil center in order to incline the illumination focus relative to the optical axis of the objective, and modifies the direction of incidence of the illumination light beam within that sub-region in order to move the illumination focus over the target region to be illuminated.

Abstract: The illumination optical system is configured to illuminate a sample placed on an object plane with light. The illumination optical system includes multiple light source areas which are mutually coherent and arranged separately from one another in a pupil plane of the illumination optical system. Among distances from a center of a pupil of the illumination optical system to centers of the multiple light source areas, at least one of the distances is different from the other distances.

Abstract: An illuminating system (21) is provided for an optical viewing apparatus (1) which can be operated in a fluorescence mode. The illuminating system includes at least one broadband light source (31) for illuminating a viewed object (3) and at least one narrowband light source (37) for exciting fluorescence in the viewed object (3) and/or for background illumination in the fluorescence mode. The illuminating system further includes a light conductor (23) having a light source end inlet end (49) and an outlet end (25) facing toward the viewed object. Furthermore, the illuminating system (21, 210) includes a superposer (43) for superposing the light of the narrowband light source (37) with the light of the broadband light source (31). The superposer (43) is mounted at the inlet end (49) or at the light source side ahead of the inlet end (49) of the light conductor (23).

Abstract: An observation system includes: a container holding unit; a ring illumination, including a light source in a ring shape, arranged in a position opposed to an outer bottom surface of a container so that a central axis of the illumination is aligned to that of a bottom surface of the container held by the container holding unit, when an observation target is observed; a first light-shielding plate in a ring shape, having an inner diameter capable of varying, arranged between the illumination and the container holding unit, and configured to shield light from the illumination; a lens, arranged in a position opposed to an inner bottom surface of the container held by the container holding unit, to observe the observation target; and a second light-shielding plate, having an outer diameter capable of varying, arranged in an internal space of the illumination, and configured to shield light from the illumination.

Abstract: A chromatic confocal microscope system and signal process method is provided to utilize a first optical fiber module for modulating a light into a detecting light passing through a chromatic dispersion objective and thereby forming a plurality of chromatic dispersion lights to project onto an object. A second optical fiber module conjugated with the first optical fiber module receives a reflected object light for forming a filtered light, which is split into two filtered lights detected by two color sensing units for generating two sets of RGB intensity signals, wherein one set of RGB intensity signals is adjusted relative to the other set of RGB intensity signals. Then two sets of RGB intensity signals are calculated for obtaining a maximum ratio factor. Finally, according to the maximum ratio factor and a depth relation curve, the surface profile of the object can be reconstructed.

Abstract: Both light stimulation of a specimen at a high intensity and detailed fluorescence observation at a low intensity are realized by using a single laser light source. Provided is a laser scanning microscope apparatus (1) including a laser light source (11) that generates laser light; output-power control portion (13) that can set an output power of the laser light source (11) by changing the output power in a step-wise manner; an AOTF (15) that can adjust a light level of the laser light emitted from the laser light source (11) in a step-wise manner at a resolution that is finer than a resolution at which the output-power control portion (13) changes the output power of the laser light source (11); and an observation device (17) that scans the laser light whose light level has been adjusted by the AOTF (15) on a specimen and that detects fluorescence generated at the specimen.

Abstract: An aberration correction device (3) corrects wave front aberration arising in an optical system that includes an object lens (4) disposed in an optical path for light beams output by a coherent light source (1). The aberration correction device (3) has a symmetrical aberration correction element (3a) that corrects symmetrical aberrations, which are the wave front aberrations that are symmetrical with respect to the optical axis among the wave front aberrations generated in the optical path, and an asymmetrical aberration correction element (3b) that corrects asymmetrical aberrations, which are wave front aberrations that are asymmetrical with respect to the optical axis, generated in light beams incident obliquely on the object lens (4).

Abstract: A proposition is to reduce a waiting time during a light stimulus observation. In order to achieve the proposition, a light stimulus apparatus is characterized in that it includes a light path controlling unit that controls an irradiating position of light for stimulus on a specimen, and a controlling unit that generates a selected position signal of a selected position and an executive instruction signal for irradiation of the light for stimulus onto the specimen in conjunction with a confirm operation regarding the selected position performed by a pointing device on an image of the specimen displayed on a displaying unit, controls the light path controlling unit based on the selected position signal, and controls a light source which emits the light for stimulus based on the executive instruction signal.

Abstract: A microscope system includes a microscope body having a base portion forming a foundation, an arm portion extending substantially parallel to a bottom surface of the base portion, and a frame portion connecting ends of the base portion and the arm portion, having substantially a C shape in side view and holding an illumination optical system ejecting illumination light from a light source to a specimen. A light source unit is connected with the microscope body and radiates illumination light to the illumination optical system. A focusing unit supports a stage for placing the specimen and at least holding an objective lens focusing the specimen by collecting observation light from the specimen on the stage. The microscope body and the focusing unit do not contact each other in a state where an optical axis of the objective lens coincides with an optical axis of the illumination light.

Abstract: A total internal reflection fluorescence imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention includes: a metal nanostructure layer, which includes a metal thin film and a nanostructure formed over the metal thin film; a light source unit, which provides incident light such that the incident light is totally reflected off the metal nanostructure layer and an evanescent wave localized in a horizontal direction is created between the metal nanostructure layer and a specimen arranged over the metal nanostructure layer; and a fluorescence image extracting unit, which extracts and images a fluorescence signal generated by the specimen due to the evanescent wave localized in a horizontal direction.