A three-dimensional viewing includes a pair of digital image sensors in communication with a pair of digital displays and controlled by a pair of processors to render three-dimensional images of samples on the displays.

An ophthalmic surgical microscope can include a movable optical element positioned in an optical pathway of light reflected from a surgical field. The movable optical element can be configured to oscillate in a direction along the optical pathway. The microscope can include an actuator coupled to the movable optical element and configured to move in response to a control signal. The microscope can include a computing device in communication with the actuator and configured to generate the control signal to move the movable optical element. In some embodiments, the computing device is configured to generate the control signal to move the movable optical element with an oscillation frequency greater than the critical flicker fusion rate.

A microscope control arrangement for operating a focusing device adapted to adjust a relative focus position of an objective in relation to a sample along an optical axis, including a display device configured to display a graphical user interface for receiving a user input and at least one processor configured to control the microscope focusing device and the display device for updating the graphical user interface in response to the user input, wherein the processor is configured to cause the graphical user interface to display a focus control interface including a graphical focus range element indicating a predetermined focus range and a graphical z-position pointer indicating a current z-position within the predetermined focus range, and wherein the graphical z-position pointer is movable along the graphical focus range element responsive to the user input to adjust the relative focus position to the current z-position indicated by the graphical z-position pointer.

It is possible to observe imaging subjects, such as cells or the like, without causing an increase in the apparatus size. Provided is an observation apparatus including: a flat-plate-like stage formed of an optically transparent material on which a container accommodating a sample is placed; a deflecting member that is disposed below the stage and that deflects light coming from the sample on the stage into a substantially horizontal direction; an objective lens that collects the light deflected by the deflecting member; and an image-acquisition device that captures the light collected by the objective lens.

A method for estimating an in-focus position of a target using an image scanning apparatus is provided. The in-focus position is monitored at a seed location and an end location on the target and a pre-scan path is calculated between these locations. A pre-scan is then performed and a focus parameter is monitored for a plurality of locations along the pre-scan path. An imaging scan is next performed wherein the target is imaged along an image scan path and a focus parameter is monitored for a plurality of locations along said path. The focal height of the apparatus is adjusted during the imaging scan by comparing the focal parameter monitored for a current location on the image scan path with the focal parameter monitored for a similar location on the pre-scan path. The focal parameter monitored for different locations on the image scan path may also be compared.

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.

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.

A microscope system comprises a microscope body, an imaging unit connected to the microscope body and including an image sensor for capturing a microscopic image, and an XY stage configured to place a slide and move in an X direction and a Y direction. The microscope system changes an arrangement of the image sensor with respect to the microscope body so as to cause a direction defined by a pixel arrangement of the image sensor to align with one of the X direction and the Y direction of the XY stage.

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.

A variable focal length (VFL) imaging system comprises a camera system, a first high speed variable focal length (VFL) lens, a second high speed variable focal length (VFL) lens, a first relay lens comprising a first relay focal length, a second relay lens comprising a second relay focal length, and a lens controller. The first relay lens and the second relay lens are spaced relative to one another along an optical axis of the VFL imaging system by a distance which is equal to a sum of the first relay focal length and the second relay focal length. The first high speed VFL lens and the second high speed VFL lens are spaced relative to one another along the optical axis on opposite sides of an intermediate plane which is located at a distance equal to the first relay focal length from the first relay lens. The lens controller is configured to provide synchronized periodic modulation of the optical power of the first high speed VFL lens and the optical power of the second high speed VFL lens.