Patent ID: 7158226
Filing Date: 2007-01-02
Classification: B01L,G01N,G02B

Abstract:
1. An optical system, for exciting and measuring fluorescence on or in samples treated using fluorescent pigments, including: at least one first laser which emits light of a first wavelength to excite first fluorescent pigments, so that these first fluorescent pigments emit light of a second wavelength; a mirror for deflecting the bundled light of the first wavelength, which comes out of the first laser and is incident on the mirror parallel to an optical axis, in the direction of a sample; deflection element for deflecting the bundled light from the first laser onto this mirror; an optic, for producing a first focal point for the bundled light of the first wavelength, which is incident from the first laser and is deflected by the mirror; a unit, which includes the mirror and optic, the mirror and optic being positioned fixed in relation to one another in the unit and this unit being positioned so it is linearly movable back and forth along the optical axis and being mechanically connected to an oscillating linear drive, the optic additionally being implemented as a collimator for the light of the second wavelength emitted by the first fluorescent pigment and the mirror additionally being implemented for deflecting this collimated light diametrically opposite to the direction of incidence of the bundled light of the first wavelength and parallel to the optical axis; a table, movable at least in the direction of the X and Z spatial axes, for receiving sample holders for samples treated using at least one first fluorescent pigment and for aligning the sample in relation to the first focal point; an optical arrangement for imaging a second focal point using the light of the second wavelength, which is emitted by the first fluorescent pigment, collimated by the optic and deflected by the mirror; an aperture plate, positioned in the second focal point, for masking light of the second wavelength, which is incident on this aperture plate at a distance from the focal point greater than a specific distance; a first spectral filter for selecting a component of the light of the second wavelength passing through the aperture plate; and a first detector for measuring the intensity of the light of the second wavelength which passes through the aperture plate and is selected by the first spectral filter, wherein the optical system includes a continuous geometrical axis (G), which does not run through the sample, on which the optical arrangement, the second focal point, the aperture plate, the first spectral filter, and the first detector—together with the mirror and the deflector element—are positioned, this geometrical axis (G) being at least partially identical to the optical axis in the region between the mirror and the first detector, wherein the deflection element includes a highly reflective zone, deflecting the bundled light from the first laser onto this mirror in a direction parallel to the optical axis, and wherein the deflection element in its remaining regions is essentially transparent to the light of both the first wavelength and the second wavelength.