Patent ID: 11925931
Assignee: MITEGEN, LLC
Field: Optics (Instruments)
Classification: CPC B  G | IPC B  G

Claim 14:
15. A humidified sample preparation station for a microscopic sample, the station comprising:
an enclosure having an interior surface, an exterior surface, an opening, a hand port, and an optically clear surface to allow observation of the microscopic sample;
a humidification system configured to generate and measure relative humidities at an ambient temperature between about 95% and 100% relative humidity (r.h.), wherein the humidification system is in communication with the interior surface of the enclosure;
an optically clear window formed through the interior and exterior surfaces of the enclosure;
a heating element attached to the optically clear window and configured to raise a temperature of the window to eliminate fogging of the window without appreciably raising a temperature of a humidified gas within the enclosure;
a microscope head above the optically clear window for microscopically observing the microscopic sample;
an illuminator configured to provide an epi light illumination, wherein the illuminator is on the exterior surface of the enclosure and an intensity of illumination of the illuminator can be continuously varied, wherein the illuminator is located within a recessed box-like region in a top surface of the enclosure and is directed through a second optically clear window in the bottom of the recessed box-like region;
a vacuum configured to suction the sample; and
a gauge for measuring a pressure of the vacuum.