Mirror Device

Abstract

The invention relates to a mirror device tor deflecting illuminating light in SPIM microscopy. The invention is characterized by a holding component that comprises a connecting element for mounting the holding component on a microscope objective, at least one deflection mirror being detachably mounted on the holding component.

Claims

1. A mirror device for deflecting illuminating light in SPIM microscopy, the device comprising: a holding component that comprises a connecting element for mounting a holding component on a microscope objective, wherein at least one deflection mirror being detachably mounted on the holding component.

2. The mirror device according to claim 1, wherein: a. the holding component is of annular configuration; and b. the holding component is of annular configuration and is configured to be mounted on a microscope objective coaxially with an optical axis of the microscope objective.

3. The mirror device according to claim 1, wherein: a. the connecting element comprises an internal thread configured to form a threaded connection with a mating thread of the microscope objective; and b. the holding component is configured at least in part as a threaded ring.

4. The mirror device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element is configured as a clamping connecting element or as a latching connecting element.

5. The mirror device according to claims 1, wherein; a. the holding component comprises a receptacle for mounting the at least one deflection mirror, the receptacle comprising at least one stop that defines an unequivocal mounting position of the deflection mirror; and/or b. the holding component comprises a receptacle for mounting the at least one deflection mirror, the receptacle comprising at least one stop that, in interaction with a mating stop of the deflection mirror, defines a mounting position of the deflection mirror; and/or c. the holding component comprises a receptacle configured and arranged to automatically position the deflection mirror is in a predefined mounting position while it is being mounted on the holding component.

6. The mirror device according to claim 1, wherein: a. several deflection mirrors are mounted and/or are mountable on the holding component; and/or b. several deflection mirrors located pairwise oppositely from one another are mounted and/or are mountable on the holding component; and/or c. six deflection mirrors located pairwise oppositely from one another are mounted and/or mountable on the holding component; and/or d. deflection mirrors arranged in one common plane are mounted and/or are mountable on the holding component; and/or e. several deflection mirrors are mounted or are mountable separately and mutually independently on the holding component; and/or f. several deflection mirrors are mounted and/or are mountable on the holding component, at least two mutually adjacent deflection mirrors being at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to one another, and/or the orthogonal projections of at least two mutually adjacent deflection mirrors onto a plane perpendicular to the axial direction being at an angle of 45 degrees.

7. The mirror device according to claim 1, wherein; a. the holding component comprises several receptacles, each for a deflection mirror; and/or b. the holding component comprises several receptacles located pairwise oppositely from one another, each for a deflection mirror; and/or c. the holding component comprises six receptacles located pairwise oppositely from one another, each for a deflection mirror; and/or d. the holding component comprises several receptacles arranged in one common plane, each for a deflection mirror; and/or e. the holding component comprises several receptacles each for a deflection mirror, the deflection mirrors being mounted or mountable separately and mutually independently in and/or on the receptacles; and/or f. the holding component comprises several receptacles, at least two mutually adjacent receptacles being at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to one another, or the orthogonal projections of at least two mutually adjacent receptacles onto a plane perpendicular to the axial direction being at an angle of 45 degrees.

8. The mirror device according to claim 1, wherein a. the holding component comprises several identically configured receptacles, in and/or on each of which a deflection mirror is mounted or is mountable; and/or b. the holding component comprises several receptacles, in and/or on each of which a deflection mirror is mounted or is mountable, each receptacle comprising at least one stop that defines an unequivocal mounting position for a deflection mirror; and/or c. the holding component comprises several receptacles, in and/or on each of which a deflection mirror is mounted or is mountable, each receptacle comprising at least one stop that, in interaction with a mating stop of a deflection mirror, respectively defines an unequivocal mounting position of the deflection mirror; and/or d. the holding component comprises several receptacles that are configured and arranged in such a way that while a deflection mirror is being mounted in and/or on one of the receptacles it is automatically positioned in a mounting position predefined for that receptacle.

9. The mirror device according to claim 1, wherein a. the deflection mirror is mounted on the holding component with at least one screw; and/or b. the deflection mirror comprises a mounting opening through which proceeds a mounting screw that is screwed into a mounting thread of the holding component.

10. The mirror device according to claim 1, wherein a. the deflection mirror or at least one of the several deflection mirrors comprises a dielectric mirror surface; or b. the deflection mirror or at least one of the several deflection mirrors comprises a metal mirror surface; or c. the deflection mirror or at least one of the several deflection mirrors comprises an optically polished mirror surface.

11. The mirror device according to claim 1, wherein a. the deflection mirror or at least one of the several deflection mirrors comprises a flat mirror surface; or b. the deflection mirror or at least one of the several deflection mirrors comprises a curved mirror surface.

12. The mirror device according to claim 1, wherein a. the mirror device comprises at least one opening through which a sample is transferable into an investigation position and/or removable from an investigation position; and/or b. the mirror device comprises at least one opening through which a sample is transferable into an investigation position and/or removable from an investigation position, the opening defining a transport path that proceeds in a direction different from zero degrees, in particular at an angle of 90 degrees, with respect to the axial direction and/or to the optical axis of a microscope objective on which the mirror device is mounted; c. the mirror device comprises two openings located oppositely from one another, in particular in a radial direction, through which a sample is transferable into an investigation position and/or removable from an investigation position.

13. The mirror device according to claim 1, wherein the holding component and/or the deflection mirror and/or at least one of several deflection mirrors, are produced from a corrosion-resistant material and/or from a material that is inert with respect to aqueous nutrient media and/or from stainless steel.

14. An optical apparatus comprlsing, a microscope objective and a mirror device for deflecting illuminating light in SPIM microscopy, the mirror device comprising a holding component that comprises a connecting element for mounting a holding component on the microscope objective, wherein at least, one deflection mirror is detachable mounted on the holding component wherein the mirror device is mounted on the microscope objective.

15. The optical apparatus according to claim 14, wherein: a. a plane of a mirror surface of the at least one deflection mirror is oriented at an angle in a range from 30 to 60 degrees with respect to the optical axis of the microscope objective; and/or b. the mirror device comprises several deflection mirrors, the plane of the mirror surface of each deflection mirror being respectively oriented at an angle in the range from 30 to 60 degrees with respect to the optical axis of the microscope objective.

16. An arrangement for illuminating a sample in SPIM microscopy comprising at least one light source for generating an illuminating light bundle; means for generating a light band from the illuminating light bundle; an illumination objective for focusing the light band; having a detection objective through which detected light emerging from an illuminated sample proceeds; a mirror device comprising a holding component that comprises a connecting element for mounting a holding component on a microscope objective, wherein at least one deflection mirror being detachably mounted on the holding component, the mirror device deflecting the light band emerging from the illumination objective to a sample being investigated and being mounted on the illumination objective or on the detection objective.

17. The arrangement according to Claim 16, wherein a deflected light band is focused in the sample.

18. The arrangement according to Claim 17, wherein the deflected light band propagates at a non-zero angle with respect to the optical axis of the illumination objective and/or of the detection objective.

19. A microscope comprising: a mirror device for deflecting illuminating light in SPIM microscopy, the devcie comprising a holding component that comprises a connecting element for mounting a holding component on a microscope objective, wherein at least one deflection mirror being detachably mounted on the holding component; an optical apparatus comprising the microscope objective and the mirror device, wherein Che mirror de-vice is mounted on the microscope objective; an optical arrangement comprising: at least one light source for generating an illuminating light bundle; means for generating a light band from the illuminating light bundle; an illumination objective for focusing the light band; a detection objective through which detected light emerging from an illuminated sample proceeds; the mirror device deflecting the light band emerging from the illumination objective to a sample being investigated and being mounted on the illumination objective or on the detection objective.

20. The microscope according to claim 19 at least partially comprising a scanning microscope or a confocal scanning microscope.

Description

[0055] In the drawings:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] FIG. 1 shows, in several side views and a perspective depiction, the holding component of an exemplifying embodiment of a mirror device according to the present invention;

[0057] FIG. 2 shows, in several views, a deflection mirror of the mirror device;

[0058] FIG. 3 is a perspective depiction of the exemplifying embodiment of the mirror device;

[0059] FIG. 4 is a sectioned depiction of an exemplifying embodiment of an optical apparatus according to the present invention having a microscope objective and a mirror device, mounted thereon, having six deflection mirrors;

[0060] FIG. 5 is a first side view of the exemplifying embodiment of the optical apparatus;

[0061] FIG. 6 is a second side view of the exemplifying embodiment of the optical apparatus;

[0062] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the exemplifying embodiment of the optical apparatus;

[0063] FIG. 8 is a first side view of a further exemplifying embodiment of an optical apparatus according to the present invention having a microscope objective and a mirror device, mounted thereon, having two deflection mirrors;

[0064] FIG. 9 is a second side view of the further exemplifying embodiment of the optical apparatus;

[0065] FIG. 10 shows an exemplifying embodiment of a microscope according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0066] FIG. 1 shows, in several side views and a perspective depiction, holding component 1 of an exemplifying embodiment of the mirror device according to the present invention. Holding component 1 is of annular configuration and comprises a connecting element 2, namely an internal thread 3, for mounting holding component 1 on a microscope objective. Holding component 1 is configured and intended to be mounted on a microscope objective coaxially with the optical axis in terms of its axial direction. Internal thread 3 is configured and intended to form a threaded connection with the external thread of a microscope objective.

[0067] Holding component 1 comprises six receptacles 4, located pairwise oppositely from one another, on each of which a deflection mirror is mountable. Each deflection mirror is mounted on holding component 1 with a screw 20. Each deflection mirror 10 has for this purpose a mounting opening 16 through which a mounting screw, which is screwed into a mounting thread 5 of holding component 1, can pass.

[0068] Holding component 1 comprises a first opening 6 and a second opening 7 through which a sample is transferable into an investigation position 8 and removable from an investigation position 8, transport path 9 extending at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the axial direction and/or to the optical axis of a microscope objective on which the mirror device is mounted.

[0069] Each receptacle 4 comprises a first stop 12 and a second stop 13, which define an accurate mounting position for each deflection mirror and are intended to interact with mating stop surfaces 14, 15 of deflection mirrors 10.

[0070] FIG. 2 shows, in several views, a deflection mirror 10. Deflection mirror 10 comprises a mirror surface 21. Deflection mirror 10 furthermore comprises a first mating stop surface 14 and a second mating stop surface 15 that, in interaction with stop surfaces II, 12 of the holding component, ensure exact mounting of deflection mirrors 10 in terms of position.

[0071] FIG. 3 is a perspective depiction of an exemplifying embodiment of mirror device 17, which encompasses holding component 1 depicted separately in FIG. 1 and six deflection mirrors 10 mounted thereon.

[0072] FIG. 4 is a sectioned depiction of an exemplifying embodiment of an optical apparatus according to the present invention having a microscope objective 18 and a mirror device 17 mounted thereon. Microscope objective 18 comprises an external thread 19 that interacts with internal thread 3.

[0073] FIG. 6 is a side view of the exemplifying embodiment of the optical apparatus, in which openings 6, 7 for transferring a sample into and out of an investigating position are visible. The same is true analogously for the exemplifying embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, having two deflection mirrors.

[0074] FIG. 10 shows an exemplifying embodiment of a microscope according to the present invention that is configured both for manipulating a sample 22 and for imaging a sample using SPIM technology with illumination using illuminating light, in particular excitation light for fluorescence excitation, in the form of an illuminating light sheet 23. The illuminating light is generated by a light source (not depicted) and travels through, a beam splitter 25 to an adjustable beam deflection apparatus 26 and then passes via a scanning lens 27 and a tube lens 28 through entrance pupil 29 of an objective 30, arranged in a working objective position, which focuses the illuminating light. After passing through objective 30 the illuminating light is deflected, by means of a mirror device 17 that has deflection mirrors 10, in such a way that it propagates at an angle different from zero degrees with respect to the optical axis of objective 30.

[0075] Beam deflection apparatus 26 can be configured in particular to deflect incident light mutually independently in two different directions (in particular, an X direction and a Y direction). For example, beam deflection apparatus 26 can contain two galvanometer mirrors whose rotation axes are arranged in mutually perpendicular planes. Alternatively, beam deflection apparatus 26 can also comprise, for example, a gimbal-mounted mirror.

[0076] Illuminating light sheet 23, which is depicted only very schematically in the FIG., is preferably a quasi-light sheet that is generated by the fact that the illuminating light emitted in the form of an illuminating light bundle from the light source (not depicted) is moved rapidly back and forth by means of beam deflection apparatus 26. A homogeneous intensity distribution can, in particular, be achieved in this manner. It is also possible, however, to create illuminating light sheet 23 by means of an astigmatic optic.

[0077] The detected light proceeding from that layer of sample 22 which is illuminated by illuminating light sheet 23 is detected using a detection apparatus 31. The detected light is collimatedby means of a detection objective 32, and is then imaged by means of an optic 33 onto a detector 34 that can be configured, for example, as an area detector, in particular as a CCD camera or as a CMOS-based sensor. Detector 34 generates electrical signals that can be used (optionally after electronic processing) to depict sample 22 on a monitor. By shifting sample 22 along the optical axis of objective 30 it is possible to successively obtain a stack of two-dimensional images that can be assembled into a three-dimensional image.

[0078] In this manner, for example, firstly a first image of sample 22 or at least of a sample layer or of a sample region of particular interest can be obtained, in order then to carry out (as described below) a manipulation whose effects can then once again be made visible by generating a further image.

[0079] The microscope comprises a further light source 24 that emits manipulating light. The manipulating light generated by further light source 24 is deflected by beam, splitter 25 to beam deflection apparatus 26 and then travels via scanning lens 27 and tube lens 28 to objective 30 arranged in the working objective position. Objective 30 also focuses the manipulating light. However, beam deflection apparatus 26 deflects manipulating light, unlike the illuminating light previously, not onto a deflection mirror 10 but instead in such a way that after passing through objective 30 it strikes sample 1 directly.

[0080] Care is to be taken in this context that the foci of the illuminating light and manipulating light have different positions within sample 22, so that the region previously illuminated with the focus of the illuminating light sheet cannot be manipulated with the focus of the manipulating light.

[0081] This is corrected by shifting objective 30 along the optical axis, as indicated in the FIG. by the double arrow. The displacement travel is preferably of the same magnitude as the original spacing difference of the foci relative to the objective.

PARTS LIST

[0082] 1 Holding component [0083] 2 Connecting element [0084] 3 Internal thread [0085] 4 Receptacles [0086] 5 Mounting thread [0087] 6 First opening [0088] 7 Second opening [0089] 8 Investigation position [0090] 9 Transport path [0091] 10 Deflection mirror [0092] 12 First stop [0093] 13 Second stop [0094] 14 First mating stop surface [0095] 15 Second mating stop surface [0096] 16 Mounting opening [0097] 17 Mirror device [0098] 18 Microscope objective [0099] 19 External thread [0100] 20 Screw [0101] 21 Mirror surface [0102] 22 Sample [0103] 23 Illuminating light sheet [0104] 24 Light source [0105] 25 Beam splitter [0106] 26 Beam deflection apparatus [0107] 27 Scanning lens [0108] 28 Tube lens [0109] 29 Entrance pupil [0110] 30 Objective [0111] 31 Detection apparatus [0112] 32 Detection objective [0113] 33 Optic [0114] 34 Detector