Provided herein are systems and methods for simultaneous imaging and stimulation using a microscope system. The microscope system can have a relatively small size compared to an average microscope system. The microscope can comprise in part an imaging light source and a stimulation light source. Light from the imaging light source and the stimulation light source can be spectrally separated to reduce cross talk between the stimulation light and the imaging light.

An optical adapter for connecting between a beam splitter of a surgical microscope or an ophthalmic slit lamp microscope and a digital camera equipment including mobile phones, tablet computers, cameras, video cameras with image capturing function is provided. The optical adapter includes a lens group located on an optical path and an optical image rotating lens group for adjusting a direction of an optical image on a photosensitive unit of the digital camera equipment. The optical image rotating lens group is configured to be either independently rotatable around optical axis or be set fixedly. Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for real-time adjustment of the direction of an optical image on the photosensitive unit of a digital camera equipment, where regardless of the position of the digital camera a satisfactory direction of the optical image can be obtained with a simple user friendly and convenient structure.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for differential phase contrast microscopy by transobjective differential epi-detection of forward scattered light are provided. In some embodiments, a microscope objective comprises: a housing with mounting threads at a second end; optical components defining an optical axis, comprising: an objective lens mounted at a first end, configured to collect light from a sample placed in a field of view, the plurality of optical components create a pupil plane at a first distance along the optical axis at which rays having the same angle of incidence on the objective lens converge at the same radial distance from the optical axis; a photodetector within the housing offset from the optical axis at a second distance along the optical axis; and another photodetector within the housing at second distance along the optical axis and offset from the optical axis in the opposite direction from the first photodetector.

Techniques in connection with the use of a multi-pixel polarization filter in the light-microscopic examination of a sample object are described. In this way e.g. a particle analysis can be carried out, e.g. in particular for determining the technical cleanness of a surface of the sample object.

An observation apparatus includes a display apparatus that displays a display pattern, a display projection optical system that projects a light beam from the display apparatus, and forms an image of the display pattern, a combining optical element that combines a light beam from a sample and a light beam from the display apparatus, and an eyepiece optical system that enables an observer to simultaneously observe an image of the sample and an image of the display pattern, in which a numerical aperture (NA) of a light beam from the display apparatus is smaller than a maximum value of an NA of a light beam from the sample, and is larger than a minimum value of an NA of a light beam from the sample, at a position of an image on an optical path that is formed after light beams are combined by the combining optical element.

A system that includes an interference device including a reference arm on which a reflective surface is arranged, where the interference device produces, at each point of an imaging field when the sample is placed on a target arm of the interference device, interference between a reference wave and a target wave obtained by backscattering of incident light waves by means of a voxel of a slice of the sample at a given depth; an acquisition device suitable for acquiring, at a fixed path length difference between the target arm and the reference arm, a temporal series of N two-dimensional interferometric signals resulting from the interference produced at each point of the imaging field; and a processing unit that calculates an image representing temporal variations in intensity between said N two-dimensional interferometric signals.

A base assembly includes an imaging sensor having a sensor surface to receive a sample, and a platform connected to the base assembly. The base assembly includes (a) an aperture configured to receive a lid surface of a lid in a position to define an imaging space between the sensor surface and the lid surface and (b) a movement portion movable toward and away from the base assembly. The platform and the base assembly are configured to limit contact between the sample and the base assembly other than at the sensor surface.

A mobile phone-based dark field microscope (MDFM) apparatus suitable for quantifying nanoparticle signals is provided. The MDFM apparatus includes an electrically operated light source, a dark-field condenser, a slide housing configured to receive an analytical slide, and an adapter housing configured to receive an objective lens and receive a portable electronic communication device. The slide housing positions the analytical slide between the objective lens and the dark-field condenser. The adapter housing registers the objective lens with a camera lens of the portable electronic communication device. A method for performing a biological quantitative study using the dark-field microscope apparatus is further provided.

Dual mode imaging systems and methods for macroscopic and microscopic imaging using the same optical imaging system (OIS). The various embodiments enable controllable and/or automated switching between macroscopic imaging and microscopic imaging modes. A dual mode imaging system includes a sample platform movable relative to an OIS between first and second locations, and a light source subsystem configured to generate and project an illumination beam onto a focal plane. When in the first location, the sample platform coincides with the focal plane, and the OIS receives light from the sample platform along a first detection light path. When in the second location, the illumination beam interacts with relay optics and impinges on the sample platform through an objective lens, and the light from the sample platform is directed back through the objective lens and relay optics to the OIS via the first detection path.

A confocal optical system includes a light source and a spinning polarizer disposed in the optical pathway such the light emitted from the light source passes through the spinning polarizer. A first objective lens is disposed in the optical pathway to allow passage of light that passes through the spinning polarizer. A microlens array member is disposed adjacent the first objective lens to receive light. The microlens array member includes a plate having a plurality of holes arranged in an array pattern. A second objective lens is disposed in the optical pathway to receive and allow passage of light to a sample. The optical pathway is arranged such that, after reaching the sample, the light is directed back through the second objective lens, the microlens or microlens with filter array, and the first objective lens and a fluorescent filter cube as an emission beam to reach at least one camera which provides an image of the sample.