A fluid immersion control system may use a common electrode along with a plurality of sensor electrodes at a planar surface associated with a distal end of an immersion microscope objective to monitor electrical resistance of a fluid as an indication of presence of a fluid layer having a meniscus greater than a diameter of an optical axis used for immersion microscopy. The fluid immersion control system may activate replenishment of the fluid when the resistance indicates that the diameter is not immersed in the fluid.

A fluid immersion control system may use a common electrode along with a plurality of sensor electrodes at a planar surface associated with a distal end of an immersion microscope objective to monitor electrical resistance of a fluid as an indication of presence of a fluid layer having a meniscus greater than a diameter of an optical axis used for immersion microscopy. The fluid immersion control system may activate replenishment of the fluid when the resistance indicates that the diameter is not immersed in the fluid.

The present invention relates to an immersion microscope objective (10) for inspecting a sample (S) in an immersion medium (M), comprising: at least one concave minor (3), at least one optical element (1) comprising an aspherical surface (2) facing the at least one concave minor (3), and an internal space (4) arranged between the at least one concave minor (3) and said aspherical surface (2), said internal space (4) being configured to be filled with an immersion medium (M) such that the immersion medium (M) contacts the at least one concave minor (3) and the aspherical surface (2). According to the present invention, the aspherical interface (2) is shaped such that the working distance (7) of the immersion microscope objective (10) varies by less than 1% when the refractive index n of said immersion medium (M) is increased or decreased by at least 0.025.

The present invention relates to an immersion microscope objective (10) for inspecting a sample (S) in an immersion medium (M), comprising: at least one concave minor (3), at least one optical element (1) comprising an aspherical surface (2) facing the at least one concave minor (3), and an internal space (4) arranged between the at least one concave minor (3) and said aspherical surface (2), said internal space (4) being configured to be filled with an immersion medium (M) such that the immersion medium (M) contacts the at least one concave minor (3) and the aspherical surface (2). According to the present invention, the aspherical interface (2) is shaped such that the working distance (7) of the immersion microscope objective (10) varies by less than 1% when the refractive index n of said immersion medium (M) is increased or decreased by at least 0.025.

A microfluidic device is provided. The microfluidic device includes a first transparent, solid support layer. A first polymeric layer defining at least one chamber is attached to the first transparent, solid support layer. A semi-permeable membrane is attached to the first polymeric layer. A second polymeric layer is attached to the opposite side of the semi-permeable membrane from the first polymeric layer. The second polymeric layer has a thickness of less than 300 microns and defines at least one chamber positioned to overlap with at least one chamber in the first polymeric layer. A first manifold structure is attached to an input end of at least one chamber and a second manifold structure is attached to an output end of at least one chamber.

A microfluidic device is provided. The microfluidic device includes a first transparent, solid support layer. A first polymeric layer defining at least one chamber is attached to the first transparent, solid support layer. A semi-permeable membrane is attached to the first polymeric layer. A second polymeric layer is attached to the opposite side of the semi-permeable membrane from the first polymeric layer. The second polymeric layer has a thickness of less than 300 microns and defines at least one chamber positioned to overlap with at least one chamber in the first polymeric layer. A first manifold structure is attached to an input end of at least one chamber and a second manifold structure is attached to an output end of at least one chamber.

We describe a super-resolution optical microscopy technique in which a sample is located on or adjacent to the planar surface of an aplanatic solid immersion lens and placed in a cryogenic environment.

An objective lens unit for a liquid immersion microscope includes: a first liquid passage in a pipe shape including an opening disposed at a lens surface end as a lens surface of a lens at a closest side to an observing object, the first liquid passage being coupled to an outside of the objective lens unit, and a second liquid passage in a pipe shape disposed independently from the first liquid passage, the second liquid passage including an opening disposed at a position adjacent to the opening of the first liquid passage on the lens surface end, the second liquid passage being coupled to the outside of the objective lens unit.

An objective lens unit for a liquid immersion microscope includes: a first liquid passage in a pipe shape including an opening disposed at a lens surface end as a lens surface of a lens at a closest side to an observing object, the first liquid passage being coupled to an outside of the objective lens unit, and a second liquid passage in a pipe shape disposed independently from the first liquid passage, the second liquid passage including an opening disposed at a position adjacent to the opening of the first liquid passage on the lens surface end, the second liquid passage being coupled to the outside of the objective lens unit.

An auto-focusing method for determining an in-focus position of a plurality of wells in at least a portion of a multi-well plate, the method including using a first objective lens having a first magnification to identify, in each of at least three wells of a selected subset of the plurality of wells, an in-focus position of each well with respect to the first objective lens, on the basis of at least three the in-focus positions, computing a plane along which the at least three wells will be in focus with respect to at least one objective lens having a second magnification that is not greater than the first magnification, and using the at least one objective lens to scan, along the plane, at least some of the plurality of wells in the portion of the plate.