Device for imaging sample

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016131884-A1
Application number	US-201414894029-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 27, 2014
Priority date	May 30, 2013
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus for imaging a sample arranged in a first medium in an object plane. The apparatus includes an optical transmission system which images the sample in the object plane in an intermediate image in an intermediate image plane. The object plane and the intermediate image plane form an angle not equal to 90° with an optical axis of the transmission system. The apparatus further comprises an optical imaging system having an objective. The object plane may be imaged on a detector without distortion. The optical transmission system is symmetrical with respect to a pupil plane, the object plane, and the intermediate image plane to satisfy the Scheimpflug condition. The intermediate image lies in a second medium having a refractive index virtually identical to that of the first medium. A lens group of a subsystem arranged closest to the sample or intermediate image comprises at least one catadioptric assembly.

First claim

1 : An apparatus for imaging a sample arranged in a first medium in an object plane, said apparatus comprising:
an optical transmission system which comprises two subsystems constructed telecentrically, and which images the sample in the object plane in an intermediate image in an intermediate image plane, wherein the object plane and the intermediate image plane form an angle not equal to 90° with an optical axis of the transmission system; and an optical imaging system comprising an objective with an optical axis that is perpendicular to the intermediate image plane, the objective being focused on the intermediate image plane so as to image the object plane on a detector without distortion; wherein the two subsystems of the optical transmission system comprise a plurality of lenses; wherein the optical transmission system is constructed symmetrically with respect to a symmetry plane from the two subsystems so that the imaging is carried out by the optical transmission system on a scale of 1:1; wherein the optical transmission system is also constructed symmetrically with respect to a pupil plane, the object plane, and the intermediate image plane to satisfy a Scheimpflug condition; wherein the intermediate image lies in a second medium which has a refractive index that is virtually identical to that of the first medium; and wherein a lens group, of the plurality of lenses of the two subsystems, which is arranged closest to the sample or intermediate image comprises at least one catadioptric assembly.

2 : The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:
a coupler configured to couple an illumination light for illuminating the sample with a light sheet, wherein the light sheet plane lies substantially in the object plane at an angle to a detection direction that is not equal to zero.

3 : The apparatus according to claim 2 ;
wherein the coupler comprise a beamsplitter arranged in the pupil plane between the two subsystems.

4 : The apparatus according to claim 2 ;
wherein the coupler comprising an illumination device which couples the illumination light into a beam path via the second medium in the intermediate image plane, wherein the illumination of the intermediate image plane with the light sheet takes place in the intermediate image plane.

5 : The apparatus according to claim 1 ;
wherein the optical transmission system is configured to be in contact with the first medium and the second medium, wherein the first medium and second medium act as immersion media.

6 : The apparatus according claim 1 ;
wherein the first medium comprises water and the second medium comprises an amorphous fluoropolymer.

7 : The apparatus according to claim 1 ;
wherein the catadioptric assembly comprises:
a plano-convex lens or lens group with a convex surface and a flat surface which faces the object plane or intermediate image plane that is reflection-coated toward the inner side, wherein a region which encloses the optical axis is exempted from reflective coating so that light can pass through; and
a mirror element arranged opposite the convex surface of the lens or lens group having a concave mirror surface that is reflection-coated which reflects light coming from the plano-convex lens or lens group, wherein a region which encloses the optical axis is exempted from reflective coating so that light can pass through.

8 : The apparatus according to claim 7 ;
wherein each of the subsystems has the following system data with lenses L 1 , L 3 , L 4 , L 5 , L 6 and a mirror element S 2 , wherein surfaces 1 and 3 are reflection-coated, with refractive index n d and Abbe number ν d at a wavelength of λ d =578.56 nm:

Thickness [mm]/

Lens
Surface
Radius [mm]
Air Gap [mm]
n d
ν d

L1
1
flat
17.56
1.52
64.17

2
−59.77
7.22

S2
3
−29.95
1.00

L3
4
784.92
3.35
1.59
64.27

5
−21.53
2.56

L4
6
−8.81
4.39
1.65
33.85

7
−8.21
3.76

L5
8
189.42
3.50
1.52
64.17

9
−15.81
0.50

L6
10
21.29
4.00
1.52
64.17

11
−65.47

9 : The apparatus according to claim 7 ;
wherein each of the optical subsystems has the following system data with lenses L 1 , L 2 , L 3 , L 5 , L 6 , L 7 , L 8 , L 9 , L 10 and a mirror element S 4 , wherein lenses L 1 , L 2 and L 3 are cemented together and lenses L 8 , L 9 and L 10 are cemented together to form lens groups, and wherein surfaces 1 and 5 are reflection-coated, with refractive index n d and Abbe number ν d at a wavelength of λ d =578.56 nm:

Thickness [mm]/

Lens
Surface
Radius [mm]
Air Gap [mm]
n d
ν d

L1
1
flat
7.22
1.64
42.41

Assignees

• Zeiss Carl Microscopy Gmbh
• Zeiss Carl Ag

Inventors

• Singer Wolfgang
• Wolleschensky Ralf
• Ulrich Wilhelm
• Shafer David
• Degen Artur

Classifications

• G02B17/0808

  on-axis systems with at least one of the mirrors having a central aperture · CPC title

• G02B17/0896

  with variable magnification or multiple imaging planes, including multispectral systems (systems with only refractive elements G02B15/14) · CPC title

• G02B21/33

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

• G02B17/0856

  comprising a refractive element with a reflective surface, the reflection taking place inside the element, e.g. Mangin mirrors · CPC title

• G02B21/04 Primary

  involving mirrors · CPC title