An illumination module (101) for an optical apparatus comprises a light source unit (102), which is configured to selectively emit light along a multiplicity of beam paths (112) in each case. The illumination module (101) also comprises a multiplicity of optical elements (201-203) arranged with lateral offset from one another, wherein each optical element (201-203) of the multiplicity of optical elements (201-203) is configured to transform at least one corresponding beam path (112) of the multiplicity of beam paths.

A SPIM-microscope (Selective Plane Imaging Microscope) having a y-direction illumination light source and a z-direction detection light camera. An x-scanner generates a sequential light sheet by scanning the illumination light beam in the x-direction. The SPIM-microscope has an illumination optics having a zoom optics provided in a beam path of the illumination light beam, the zoom optics being adapted to change the focal length of the illumination light beam and adapted to detect a larger area of the object by sequentially detecting sequences of images along the y-direction that have an increased resolution along the z-direction. An image processing unit combines these sequences of images by image stitching into one large overall image.

A SPIM-microscope (Selective Plane Imaging Microscope) having a y-direction illumination light source and a z-direction detection light camera. An x-scanner generates a sequential light sheet by scanning the illumination light beam in the x-direction. The SPIM-microscope has an illumination optics having a zoom optics provided in a beam path of the illumination light beam, the zoom optics being adapted to change the focal length of the illumination light beam and adapted to detect a larger area of the object by sequentially detecting sequences of images along the y-direction that have an increased resolution along the z-direction. An image processing unit combines these sequences of images by image stitching into one large overall image.

The subject of the invention is a microscope for high-resolution and specific analysis of biological substances.

The microscope according to the invention is characterized by a power supply unit capable of generating constant current attached to the microscope housing; a set of mirrors and illuminating optics; a collimator placed between a monochromatic light source emitting light in a very narrow range of wavelengths and the collector lens; a dark-field condenser and objective including an in-between space to accommodate the stained biological specimen; and a surveillance camera or eyepiece, and a removable color filter placed between the objective and the surveillance camera or the eyepiece.

The invention also covers the method to analyze biological specimens with fluorescent staining, wherein the biological contents of the specimen are analyzed in a growing medium in liquid state after the addition of antibodies marked with fluorescent stain, using the microscope according to the invention.

The microscope according to the invention enables up to one order of magnitude higher resolution than conventional light microscopes and 10-30% higher resolution compared to currently used dark-field microscopes and provides a remarkably sharper camera image.

The subject of the invention is a microscope for high-resolution and specific analysis of biological substances.

The microscope according to the invention is characterized by a power supply unit capable of generating constant current attached to the microscope housing; a set of mirrors and illuminating optics; a collimator placed between a monochromatic light source emitting light in a very narrow range of wavelengths and the collector lens; a dark-field condenser and objective including an in-between space to accommodate the stained biological specimen; and a surveillance camera or eyepiece, and a removable color filter placed between the objective and the surveillance camera or the eyepiece.

The invention also covers the method to analyze biological specimens with fluorescent staining, wherein the biological contents of the specimen are analyzed in a growing medium in liquid state after the addition of antibodies marked with fluorescent stain, using the microscope according to the invention.

The microscope according to the invention enables up to one order of magnitude higher resolution than conventional light microscopes and 10-30% higher resolution compared to currently used dark-field microscopes and provides a remarkably sharper camera image.

A light sheet microscope includes an object slide, and optical illumination and detection systems. The optical illumination system includes an illumination objective configured to illuminate a first object plane that is oblique relative to a slide plane with a light sheet. The optical detection system includes a detection objective and an image sensor device. The image sensor device is configured to define a first image plane which is orthogonal to an optical axis of the detection objective and to define a second image plane which is tilted relative to the first image plane. The detection objective is configured to image a focal plane onto the first image plane and to image a second object plane of the object onto the second image plane, the focal plane being coincident with the first object plane, and the second object plane being parallel to or coincident with the slide plane.

A microscope system has an illumination optical system comprising a multi-mode optical fibre having an egress for emitting a laser beam. The egress is located in a plane that is conjugate to the microscope sample plane. The illumination optical system is configured such that the laser beam is incident at the objective lens laterally displaced from the principal optical axis of the objective lens in order that the objective lens delivers the laser beam to the sample plane at an angle that is oblique to the principal optical axis. Utilization of a multi-mode optical fibre for laser delivery in oblique illumination microscopy, such as TIRF microscopy, solves problems associated with using single-mode optical fibres such as alignment and uniformity of illumination.

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.

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.

The present invention allows observation or capturing of a high-contrast image of a sample for which sufficient contrast cannot be obtained in bright-field observation, such as a wafer having a pattern with a small pattern height. According to the present invention, a sample is illuminated through an objective lens used for capturing an image, and an imaging optics are provided with an aperture filter so that an image is captured while light of bright-field observation components is significantly attenuated.