Apparatuses, systems, and methods for modular sample holders. The microscope may direct illumination light along an illumination path towards a sample and collect light from the sample along a collection path. Light along the illumination path may pass through an immersion fluid and the material of the sample holder to reach the sample. Light along collection path may pass through the material of the sample holder and the immersion fluid. The sample holder may have a first optical surface along the illumination path which is generally perpendicular to an optical axis of the illumination path. The sample holder may have a second optical surface along the collection path which is generally perpendicular to an optical axis of the collection path. The sample holder may be modular. The sample holder may contain the sample in an enclosed channel.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for modular sample holders. The microscope may direct illumination light along an illumination path towards a sample and collect light from the sample along a collection path. Light along the illumination path may pass through an immersion fluid and the material of the sample holder to reach the sample. Light along collection path may pass through the material of the sample holder and the immersion fluid. The sample holder may have a first optical surface along the illumination path which is generally perpendicular to an optical axis of the illumination path. The sample holder may have a second optical surface along the collection path which is generally perpendicular to an optical axis of the collection path. The sample holder may be modular. The sample holder may contain the sample in an enclosed channel.

New systems and methods are described for maintaining a desired steady state temperature differential between two objects that may otherwise undergo heat transfer to restore thermal steady state. In one application, a cooling microscope assembly and its use with conventional optical microscopes are described for achieving super-resolution imaging. The assembly allows for the high resolution imaging of samples at cryogenic temperatures while maintaining the temperature of the objective lens above freezing by employing circulation systems and a coupling fluid between the sample and objective lens.

New systems and methods are described for maintaining a desired steady state temperature differential between two objects that may otherwise undergo heat transfer to restore thermal steady state. In one application, a cooling microscope assembly and its use with conventional optical microscopes are described for achieving super-resolution imaging. The assembly allows for the high resolution imaging of samples at cryogenic temperatures while maintaining the temperature of the objective lens above freezing by employing circulation systems and a coupling fluid between the sample and objective lens.

An objective for a microscope includes, in order from an object side, a first lens group with positive refractive power, a second lens group with positive refractive power, and a third lens group with negative refractive power. When NA represents a numerical aperture of the objective, FN represents a field number of the objective, β represents a magnification of the objective, ε represents an Airy disk diameter on an axis to a d-line of the objective, φ.sub.max represents a maximum value of an effective diameter of a lens included in the objective, and h.sub.exp represents a radius of an exit pupil of the objective, the objective satisfies the following conditional expressions:
0.8≦NA≦1.5  (1)
1000≦FN/|β|/ε≦10000  (2)
1.7≦φ.sub.max/2/h.sub.exp/NA≦4  (3).

An objective for a microscope includes, in order from an object side, a first lens group with positive refractive power, a second lens group with positive refractive power, and a third lens group with negative refractive power. When NA represents a numerical aperture of the objective, FN represents a field number of the objective, β represents a magnification of the objective, ε represents an Airy disk diameter on an axis to a d-line of the objective, φ.sub.max represents a maximum value of an effective diameter of a lens included in the objective, and h.sub.exp represents a radius of an exit pupil of the objective, the objective satisfies the following conditional expressions:
0.8≦NA≦1.5  (1)
1000≦FN/|β|/ε≦10000  (2)
1.7≦φ.sub.max/2/h.sub.exp/NA≦4  (3).

A solid immersion lens holder includes a first member having a first opening disposing a spherical face portion therein so that a part of the spherical face portion protrudes toward an objective lens side and a second member having a second opening disposing a contact portion therein so that a contact face protrudes toward a side opposite to the objective lens side. The first member includes three protrusion portions extending from an inner face of the first opening toward a center of the first opening and configured to be contactable with the spherical face portion.

A solid immersion lens holder includes a first member having a first opening disposing a spherical face portion therein so that a part of the spherical face portion protrudes toward an objective lens side and a second member having a second opening disposing a contact portion therein so that a contact face protrudes toward a side opposite to the objective lens side. The first member includes three protrusion portions extending from an inner face of the first opening toward a center of the first opening and configured to be contactable with the spherical face portion.

Provided herein are devices and systems that apply full-field optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology to three-dimensional skin tissue imaging. A special designed Mirau type objective and an optical microscope module allowing both OCT mode and orthogonal polarization spectral imaging (OPSI) mode are disclosed.

A slide system for optical microscopy using immersion fluid including a cover glass having a first refractive index and a transparent film having a second refractive index. The second refractive index of the transparent film is matched to the first refractive index of the cover glass. The transparent film protects the cover glass from immersion fluid used for optical microscopy and the transparent film is configured such that the immersion fluid used can be removed by lifting off the transparent film.