Immersion set and method for retrofitting an immersion objective with an immersion set

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11280993-B2
Application number	US-202117240001-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2021
Priority date	Apr 29, 2020
Publication date	Mar 22, 2022
Grant date	Mar 22, 2022

Abstract

An immersion set for retrofitting an immersion objective comprises at least one immersion fluid tank, at least one pump fluidly connected to the immersion fluid tank, and a control electronics unit configured at least to control the pump. A fastening device is configured to realize the load-bearing fastening of the at least one immersion fluid tank, the at least one pump and the control electronics unit on the immersion objective or on a mounting adapter for the immersion objective.

First claim

We claim:

1. An immersion set for retrofitting an immersion objective, comprising:
at least one immersion fluid tank;
at least one pump fluidly connected to the immersion fluid tank;
a control electronics unit configured at least to control the pump; and
a fastening device configured to realize a load-bearing fastening of the at least one immersion fluid tank, the at least one pump and the control electronics unit on the immersion objective such that a weight of the at least one immersion fluid tank, the at least one pump and the control electronics unit is carried by the immersion objective.

2. The immersion set of claim 1 , further comprising:
an electrical contact unit connected to the control electronics unit and to the at least one pump and configured to establish an electrical connection.

3. The immersion set of claim 1 , further comprising
a mounting adapter for an immersion objective, the mounting adapter comprising a mounting connection for connecting the immersion objective, and a mounting interface for connecting to an objective revolver.

4. The immersion set of claim 3 ,
wherein the mounting interface of the mounting adapter comprises an electrical interface for connecting to electrical contacts of the objective revolver, and
wherein the mounting adapter comprises electrical contacts, which are electrically connected to the electrical interface and to which the electrical contact unit can be electrically coupled.

5. The immersion set of claim 1 ,
wherein each immersion fluid tank comprises a form-stable or flexible shell and a collapsing bag with immersion fluid accommodated therein so as to enable an emptying of the immersion fluid tank during both an inverted as well as an upright microscope configuration.

6. The immersion set of claim 5 ,
further comprising an additional collapsing bag, which is connected to the collapsing bag of the immersion fluid tank as a reserve volume.

7. The immersion set of claim 6 ,
wherein at least one of the collapsing bag and the additional collapsing bag is oriented relative to the electrical contact unit in such a manner that, in a mounted state on an immersion objective and objective revolver, the collapsing bag or the additional collapsing bag is oriented towards a rotation axis of the objective revolver.

8. The immersion set of claim 1 ,
wherein the fastening device comprises a fastening clip configured to be tightened around the immersion objective.

9. The immersion set of claim 1 ,
wherein the fastening device comprises a housing part via which the pump, the control electronics unit and the immersion fluid tank are supported, wherein the housing part comprises screw holes for screwing the housing part to an outer shell of the immersion objective.

10. The immersion set of claim 1 ,
further comprising at least one tank connection, which is fluidly connected to the at least one pump and which is configured such that the at least one immersion fluid tank can be connected in a detachable manner,
wherein the at least one tank connection is pivotable for use with an inverted and an upright microscope configuration.

11. The immersion set of claim 10 ,
comprising two immersion fluid tanks, each comprising a refill opening,
wherein the immersion fluid tanks differ in the arrangement of their refill openings,
wherein an appropriate immersion fluid tank of the two immersion fluid tanks can be selectively connected to the tank connection for use with an inverted or an upright microscope configuration.

12. The immersion set of claim 1 , further comprising
an immersion fluid tube, which is fluidly connected to the pump, and
a flexible gooseneck tube, which is supported via the fastening device,
wherein the immersion fluid tube is guided through the gooseneck tube.

13. The immersion set of claim 12 ,
wherein a rigid cannula is arranged at one end of the immersion fluid tube, said rigid cannula extending away from the gooseneck tube in order to prevent a contact of the gooseneck tube with immersion fluid.

14. The immersion set of claim 1 ,
further comprising an objective protection ring for realization of a liquid-tight sealing,
wherein the objective protection ring comprises an elastic sealing ring for enclosing the immersion objective,
wherein the objective protection ring comprises a recess for a liquid-tight passage of an electrical contact unit, and
wherein the objective protection ring comprises electrically conductive parts for electromagnetic shielding.

15. A combination of an immersion objective and an immersion set of claim 1 ,
wherein the immersion set is fastened on the immersion objective.

16. A light microscope with a stand, with an objective revolver comprising at least one objective-revolver connection with an electrical interface, and with the combination of claim 15 .

17. The light microscope of claim 16 ,
wherein a mounting adapter is mounted on the objective-revolver connection with an electrical interface and leaves the electrical interface free, and
wherein the electrical contact unit contacts the electrical interface of the objective-revolver connection.

18. A method for retrofitting an immersion objective with an immersion set, comprising
load-bearing fastening, by means of a fastening device, of at least one immersion fluid tank, at least one pump and a control electronics unit for the pump on the immersion objective such that a weight of the at least one immersion fluid tank, the at least one pump and the control electronics unit is carried by the immersion objective.

19. An immersion set for retrofitting an immersion objective, comprising:
at least one immersion fluid tank;
at least one pump fluidly connected to the immersion fluid tank;
a control electronics unit configured at least to control the pump;
a mounting adapter for the immersion objective, wherein the mounting adapter has a mounting connection for connecting the immersion objective and a mounting interface for connecting to an objective revolver; and
a fastening device configured to realize a load-bearing fastening of the at least one immersion fluid tank, the at least one pump and the control electronics unit on the mounting adapter for the immersion objective such that a weight of the at least one immersion fluid tank, the at least one pump and the control electronics unit is carried by the mounting adapter.

20. An immersion set for retrofitting an immersion objective, comprising:
at least one immersion fluid tank;
at least one pump fluidly connected to the immersion fluid tank;
a control electronics unit configured at least to control the pump; and
a fastening device configured to realize a load-bearing fastening of the at least one immersion fluid tank, the at least one pump and the control electronics unit on the immersion objective;
wherein the fastening device comprises a housing part via which the pump, the control electronics unit and the immersion fluid tank are supported by the immersion objective.

Assignees

• Zeiss Carl Microscopy Gmbh

Inventors

• Knoblich Johannes
• Fahlbusch Ingo
• Sticker Markus
• Wolleschensky Ralf
• Ohrt Thomas

Classifications

• G02B21/361

  Optical details, e.g. image relay to the camera or image sensor (G02B21/364 takes precedence; illumination details G02B21/06 and subgroups) · CPC title

• G02B21/33 Primary

  Immersion oils {, or microscope systems or objectives for use with immersion fluids} · CPC title

• G02B21/248

  objective (or ocular) turrets · CPC title