Patent ID: 6407858
Filing Date: 2002-06-18
Classification: B01J,B01L,B82Y,C40B,G01N,G02B

Abstract:
A microscope having an objective lens with a restricted field of view about an optical axis for examination or treatment of a portion of an object lying at the optical axis, including a tiltable focusing member defining a support plane for the object, the focusing member being mounted to rotate about a pre-established hinge axis to position said portion of the object at the focal plane of the microscope, the hinge axis lying in a plane substantially normal to the optical axis at a distance spaced therefrom sufficient that rotation of the portion of the object at the optical axis sufficiently approximates translation along the optical axis to enable focusing, a drive mechanism for rotating the focusing member about the hinge axis effective to bring into focus said portion of the object, a mechanism for rotating the plane about an axis orthogonal to the optical axis and the hinge axis so that the object can be scanned on a line substantially in a direction parallel to the hinge axis, and a laterally movable carrier mounted on the tiltable focusing member, the carrier being arranged to advance the object relative to the optical axis.