Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A specimen temperature adjusting apparatus that adjusts a temperature of an observation specimen contained in a culture container having a leg and a transparent member at a bottom of the culture container, said specimen temperature adjusting apparatus comprising:a specimen stage on which the culture container containing the observation specimen is to be placed, the specimen stage having a groove surrounding a portion where the culture container containing the observation specimen is to be placed, and the specimen stage further having a recess to receive the leg of the culture container such that a bottom surface of the transparent member at the bottom of the culture container contacts the specimen stage when the culture container is placed on the specimen stage; anda temperature adjustment element that is attached to the specimen stage, the temperature adjustment element being located in the groove of the specimen stage. 2. A specimen temperature adjusting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transparent member comprises a glass plate. 3. A specimen temperature adjusting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temperature adjustment element comprises a heater. 4. A specimen temperature adjusting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temperature adjustment element is configured to perform heating and cooling. 5. A specimen temperature adjusting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the temperature adjustment element comprises a Peltier element. 6. A specimen temperature adjusting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor that measures a temperature of at least one of the observation specimen and the specimen stage, and a temperature controller that controls the temperature adjustment element based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. 7. A manipulation device to manipulate an electric stage comprising:a base member; andan X-movement coaxial handle, a Y-movement coaxial handle, and a Z-movement coaxial handle provided on the base member,wherein the X-movement coaxial handle is assigned with X coarse movement and X fine movement, the Y-movement coaxial handle is assigned with Y coarse movement and Y fine movement, and the Z-movement coaxial handle is assigned with Z coarse movement and Z fine movement, and wherein each of the X-, Y- and Z-movement coaxial handles comprises first and second rotary knobs,wherein the base member is shaped such that an observer who places his or her elbows on a table on which the manipulation device is provided can manipulate the first and second rotary knobs of each of at least the X- and Y-movement coaxial handles with either a left or right hand. 8. A manipulation device according to claim 7, wherein each of the X-, Y-, and Z-movement coaxial handles includes a rotary resistance adjustment member. 9. A manipulation device according to claim 7, wherein the base member includes an X-Y base member and a Z base member which are spatially separated, and wherein the X-movement coaxial handle and the Y-movement coaxial handle are provided on the X-Y base member, and the Z-movement coaxial handle is provided on the Z base member. 10. A manipulation device according to claim 7, wherein the base member comprises an inclined upper surface and at least the X- and Y-movement coaxial handles are provided on the inclined upper surface of the base member. 11. A manipulation device according to claim 10, wherein the X- and Y-movement coaxial handles are longitudinally arranged on the inclined upper surface of the base member.