Patent Description:
Conventionally, a microscope device capable of obtaining an image of a specimen to be observed has been known. For example, <CIT> discloses a microscope connection unit including a microscope connection port which is connected to a microscope, a stimulation unit which irradiates a specimen with light, an observation unit which detects light emitted from the specimen, and an optical path synthesizer which synthesizes optical paths optically connecting the microscope to the stimulation unit and the observation unit. In the microscope connection unit with such a configuration, imaging of the specimen is realized by, for example, irradiating the specimen with excitation light and detecting fluorescence generated in response to the excitation light. <CIT>, according to its abstract, states that for avoiding reacquisition of an image, thus improving working efficiency, a microscope device including a plurality of confocal observation units or image capturing units that are capable of acquiring images of the same sample, a region specifying unit that specifies, on a reference image acquired by a confocal observation unit or image capturing unit, an ROI of an observation image to be acquired by another image capturing unit or confocal observation unit, and a field-of-view displaying unit that displays, superimposed on the reference image, a maximum-limit indication indicating a maximum field of view of the other image capturing unit or confocal observation unit, is provided. <CIT>, according to its abstract, states to provide an optical axis correction device for correcting the deviation of the optical axes of a microscope body and a confocal microscope head in the case of connecting the confocal microscope head to the microscope main body, the optical axis correction device comprises a first correction member having a fitting shaft part attached coaxially with the optical axis of the microscope body to the lens barrel of the microscope body, a large diameter part connected to the upper part, a first through-hole passing through the large diameter part and the fitting shaft part, and a guide surface annularly formed at the upper part, and a second correction member having a second shaft part, a sliding surface provided projectingly to the outer side in a radial direction on the upper end peripheral edge part and capable of being abutted to the guide surface and slid on the guide surface in the state of inserting the second shaft part to the first through-hole, and a second through-hole vertically passing through the second shaft part and fitting the engaging cylinder part of the confocal microscope head. The normal line of the sliding surface and the normal line of the guide surface passing through the abutting positions of the sliding surface and the guide surface and a fitting center axis passing through the fitting center of the second through-hole intersect at a point. Further, <CIT>, according to its abstract, states that, to provide an optical axis adjusting device of the scanning type microscope which can easily and accurately adjust the angle and position of an optical axis, a dial arranged between base members of an angle adjusting mechanism is rotated to slant the base member to the base member around a ball as a fulcrum, thereby adjusting the angle of the optical axis. Further, a handle is inserted into grooves of a position adjusting mechanism and moved right and left to move the base member to and away from an intermediate base member around a pin, thereby adjusting the relative position of the optical axis. The angle and position can be adjusted by operation from the flank of the adjusting device, so the optical axes of a scanning laser device and the optical microscope which are connected to the optical axis adjustment device can easily and accurately be aligned with each other.

In the above-described conventional microscope connection unit, a positional relationship between a mirror scanning excitation light in the microscope connection unit and an optical axis of a lens in the microscope may not be stabilized when the microscope connection unit is used while being connected to various types of microscopes or various makers' microscopes. Therefore, the signal intensity and resolution of the observed image tend to decrease.

Embodiments have been made in view of such problems and an object is to provide a scanning microscope unit capable of realizing imaging in which signal intensity and resolution are maintained.

An embodiment of the present disclosure is a scanning microscope unit attached to a connection port of a microscope including a microscope optical system to constitute a scanning microscope, the scanning microscope unit including: a light source configured to output irradiation light to a sample to be observed; a photodetector configured to detect observation light generated from the sample in response to the irradiation light; a main housing; a scan mirror in the main housing, the scan mirror being configured to scan the irradiation light output from the light source on the sample and guide the observation light generated from the sample in response to the irradiation light to the photodetector; a scan lens configured to guide the irradiation light scanned by the scan mirror to the microscope optical system and guide the observation light focused by the microscope optical system to the scan mirror; a housing which constitutes a part of the main housing and to which the scan lens is fixed; an attachment portion which attaches the housing to the connection port; and a movable portion which supports the housing so that an angle of the housing with respect to the attachment portion is changeable. The outer surface of the movable portion and the inner surface of the housing are formed in a shape in which a center of a spherical surface including these shapes is located on an image plane of the microscope optical system of the microscope in a state in which the movable portion is fitted into the housing and the attachment portion is connected to the connection port of the microscope.

According to the scanning microscope unit of the above-described embodiment, the irradiation light irradiated from the light source is scanned on the sample via the scan mirror, the scan lens, and the external microscope and the observation light generated from the sample in response to the irradiation light is detected by the photodetector via the external microscope, the scan lens, and the scan mirror. In this scanning microscope unit, the housing to which the scan lens is fixed is attached to the connection port of the microscope by the attachment portion and the angle of the housing with respect to the attachment portion is changeable. With such a configuration, the optical axis of the scan lens can be aligned to the direction of the optical axis of the optical system of the microscope according to the microscope to be attached. As a result, it is possible to realize imaging in which signal intensity and resolution are maintained.

According to the embodiment, it is possible to realize imaging in which signal intensity and resolution are maintained.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Additionally, in the description, the same reference numerals will be used for the same elements or elements having the same function and redundant description will be omitted.

<FIG> is a schematic configuration diagram of a confocal microscope A which is a kind of scanning microscope according to an embodiment. The confocal microscope A shown in <FIG> constitutes a confocal microscope that acquires an image enabling the construction of an optical sectioning image of a sample M to be observed and is configured such that a confocal microscope unit <NUM> which is a scanning microscope unit according to the embodiment is connected to a connection port P1 used for connection to an external unit of a microscope <NUM>. This confocal microscope unit <NUM> is a device that irradiates the sample M disposed on a stage or the like of the microscope <NUM> via a microscope optical system such as an imaging lens <NUM> and an objective lens <NUM> inside the microscope <NUM> with excitation light, receives (detects) fluorescence generated from the sample M in response to the excitation light via the microscope optical system of the microscope <NUM>, generates an optical sectioning image, and outputs the image.

Specifically, the confocal microscope unit <NUM> includes a main housing <NUM>, a lens barrel (housing) <NUM> which constitutes a part of the main housing <NUM> and is removably connected to the connection port P1 of the microscope <NUM>, a scan mirror <NUM>, a fixed mirror <NUM>, and first to fourth subunits 6a to 6d which are fixed into the main housing <NUM>, and a scan lens <NUM> which is fixed into the lens barrel <NUM>. Hereinafter, each component of the confocal microscope unit <NUM> will be described in detail.

The scan lens <NUM> in the lens barrel <NUM> is an optical element for relaying a reflection surface of the scan mirror <NUM> to a pupil position of the objective lens <NUM> and collecting the excitation light (irradiation light) on a primary image plane of the microscope optical system of the microscope <NUM>. The scan lens <NUM> irradiates the sample M by guiding the excitation light (irradiation light) scanned by the scan mirror <NUM> to the microscope optical system and guides the fluorescence (observation light) generated from the sample M in response to the excitation light to the scan mirror <NUM>. Specifically, the scan lens <NUM> is configured to focus the pupil of the objective lens <NUM> on the scan mirror <NUM> and guides the fluorescence focused by the objective lens <NUM> and the imaging lens <NUM> of the microscope <NUM> to the scan mirror <NUM>.

The scan mirror <NUM> in the main housing <NUM> is, for example, an optical scanning element such as a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) mirror configured so that a reflector can be tilted in two axes. The scan mirror <NUM> has a function of scanning the excitation light (irradiation light) output from the first to fourth subunits 6a to 6d on the sample M by continuously changing a reflection angle and guiding the fluorescence (observation light) generated in response to the excitation light to the first to fourth subunits 6a to 6d.

The fixed mirror <NUM> is an optical reflecting element fixed into the main housing <NUM>, reflects the excitation light output from the first to fourth subunits 6a to 6d to the scan mirror <NUM>, and reflects the fluorescence reflected by the scan mirror <NUM> to the first to fourth subunits 6a to 6d coaxially with the excitation light.

The first subunit 6a includes a base plate 8a and a dichroic mirror (first beam splitter) 9a, a light source 10a, a dichroic mirror 11a, a pinhole plate (first aperture) 12a, and a photodetector (first photodetector) 13a which are disposed on the base plate 8a. The dichroic mirror 9a is a beam splitter which is fixed in the reflection direction of the fluorescence of the fixed mirror <NUM> and has a property of reflecting first excitation light of a wavelength λ<NUM> irradiated by the first subunit 6a and first fluorescence of a wavelength range Δλ<NUM> generated from the sample M in response to the first excitation light and transmitting light of a wavelength longer than those of the first excitation light and the first fluorescence. The dichroic mirror 11a is a beam splitter which is provided in the reflection direction of the first fluorescence of the dichroic mirror 9a and has a property of transmitting the first fluorescence of the wavelength range Δλ<NUM> and reflecting the first excitation light of the wavelength λ<NUM> shorter than the wavelength range Δλ<NUM>. The light source 10a is a light emitting element (for example, laser diode) outputting the first excitation light (for example, laser beam) of the wavelength λ<NUM> and is disposed so that the first excitation light is reflected toward the dichroic mirror 9a coaxially with the first fluorescence by the dichroic mirror 11a. The pinhole plate 12a is an aperture which is disposed so that a pinhole position coincides with a conjugate position of a spot of the first excitation light of the sample M and limits the luminous flux of the first fluorescence and constitutes a confocal optical system along with the light source 10a and the like. This pinhole plate 12a has a pinhole diameter that can be adjusted from the outside and the resolution of the image detected by the photodetector 13a and the signal intensity of the image can be changed. The photodetector 13a is disposed so that a detection surface is opposed to the pinhole plate 12a and receives and detects the first fluorescence having passed through the pinhole plate 12a. Additionally, the photodetector 13a is a photomultiplier tube, a photodiode, an avalanche photodiode, a multi-pixel photon counter (MPPC), a hybrid photo detector (HPD), an area image sensor, or the like.

The second to fourth subunits 6b to 6d also have the same configuration as that of the first subunit 6a.

That is, the second subunit 6b includes a base plate 8b, a dichroic mirror (second beam splitter) 9b, a light source 10b, a dichroic mirror 11b, a pinhole plate (second aperture) 12b, and a photodetector (second photodetector) 13b. The dichroic mirror 9b has a property of reflecting second excitation light of a wavelength λ<NUM> (> λ<NUM>) irradiated by the second subunit 6b and second fluorescence of a wavelength range Δλ<NUM> generated from the sample M in response to the second excitation light and transmitting light of a wavelength longer than those of the second excitation light and the second fluorescence. The dichroic mirror 11b has a property of transmitting the second fluorescence of the wavelength range Δλ<NUM> and reflecting the second excitation light of the wavelength λ<NUM> shorter than the wavelength range Δλ<NUM>. The light source 10b is a light emitting element which outputs the second excitation light of the wavelength λ<NUM>. The pinhole plate 12b is an aperture which is disposed so that a pinhole position coincides with a conjugate position of a spot of the second excitation light of the sample M and limits the luminous flux of the second fluorescence. The photodetector 13b is disposed so that a detection surface is opposed to the pinhole plate 12b and receives and detects the second fluorescence having passed through the pinhole plate 12b. Additionally, the photodetector 13b is a photomultiplier tube, a photodiode, an avalanche photodiode, a multi-pixel photon counter (MPPC), a hybrid photo detector (HPD), an area image sensor, or the like.

The third subunit 6c includes a base plate 8c, a dichroic mirror (third beam splitter) 9c, a light source 10c, a dichroic mirror 11c, a pinhole plate (third aperture) 12c, and a photodetector (third photodetector) 13c. The dichroic mirror 9c has a property of reflecting third excitation light of a wavelength λ<NUM> (> λ<NUM>) irradiated by the third subunit 6c and third fluorescence of a wavelength range Δλ<NUM> generated from the sample M in response to the third excitation light and transmitting light of a wavelength longer than those of the third excitation light and the third fluorescence. The dichroic mirror 11c has a property of transmitting the third fluorescence of the wavelength range Δλ<NUM> and reflecting the third excitation light of the wavelength λ<NUM> shorter than the wavelength range Δλ<NUM>. The light source 10c is a light emitting element which outputs the third excitation light of the wavelength λ<NUM>. The pinhole plate 12c is an aperture which is disposed so that a pinhole position coincides with a conjugate position of a spot of the third excitation light of the sample M and limits the luminous flux of the third fluorescence. The photodetector 13c is disposed so that a detection surface is opposed to the pinhole plate 12c and receives and detects the third fluorescence having passed through the pinhole plate 12c. Additionally, the photodetector 13c is a photomultiplier tube, a photodiode, an avalanche photodiode, a multi-pixel photon counter (MPPC), a hybrid photo detector (HPD), an area image sensor, or the like.

The fourth subunit 6d includes a base plate 8d, a total reflection mirror 9d, a light source 10d, a dichroic mirror 11d, a pinhole plate (fourth aperture) 12d, and a photodetector (fourth photodetector) 13d. The total reflection mirror 9c reflects fourth excitation light of a wavelength λ<NUM> (> λ<NUM>) irradiated by the fourth subunit 6d and fourth fluorescence of a wavelength range Δλ<NUM> generated from the sample M in response to the fourth excitation light. The dichroic mirror 11d has a property of transmitting the fourth fluorescence of the wavelength range Δλ<NUM> and reflecting the fourth excitation light of the wavelength λ<NUM> shorter than the wavelength range Δλ<NUM>. The light source 10d is a light emitting element which outputs the fourth excitation light of the wavelength λ<NUM>. The pinhole plate 12d is an aperture which is disposed so that a pinhole position coincides with a conjugate position of a spot of the fourth excitation light of the sample M and limits the luminous flux of the fourth fluorescence. The photodetector 13d is disposed so that a detection surface is opposed to the pinhole plate 12d and receives and detects the fourth fluorescence having passed through the pinhole plate 12d. Additionally, the photodetector 13d is a photomultiplier tube, a photodiode, an avalanche photodiode, a multi-pixel photon counter (MPPC), a hybrid photo detector (HPD), an area image sensor, or the like.

A positional relationship of the first to fourth subunits 6a to 6d with the above-described configuration will be described.

The first to fourth subunits 6a to 6d are fixed into the main housing <NUM> so that the first to fourth subunits are arranged in this order along the light guiding direction of the first to fourth fluorescences formed by the scan mirror <NUM> and the fixed mirror <NUM> to be away from the fixed mirror <NUM> and the dichroic mirrors 9a to 9c and the total reflection mirror 9d are located on the optical paths of the first to fourth fluorescences. Specifically, the second to fourth subunits 6b to 6d are respectively disposed to be shifted from the first to third subunits 6a to 6c by a predetermined distance d in a direction perpendicular to the light guiding direction of the second to fourth fluorescences based on the center positions of the dichroic mirrors 9a to 9c and the total reflection mirror 9d.

This predetermined distance d is set to be substantially the same as a shift amount δ generated due to the refraction of the fluorescence of each of the dichroic mirrors 9a to 9c in a direction perpendicular to the optical path of the fluorescence transmitted in the dichroic mirrors 9a to 9c. In this embodiment, since the thickness of the mirror members constituting the dichroic mirrors 9a to 9c is set to be the same, the shift amount generated in the dichroic mirrors 9a to 9c is substantially the same and hence the shift distance d between two subunits adjacent to each other among the first to fourth subunits 6a to 6d is also set to be the same. This shift distance d is appropriately set in response to the refractive index and the thickness of the mirror member constituting the dichroic mirrors 9a to 9c. Specifically, if the mirror member has a thickness t and a refractive index n, an incident angle θ of the fluorescence incident to the mirror member, and a refracting angle ϕ in the mirror member, the shift amount δ of the fluorescence due to the mirror member is obtained as in <FIG>. At this time, since the shift amount δ can be obtained as in the following formula (<NUM>), the shift distance (predetermined distance) d may be set in accordance with this shift amount δ. Additionally, the incident angle θ and the refracting angle ϕ have a relationship of the following formula (<NUM>). <MAT> <MAT>.

Additionally, when the incident angle θ is set to <NUM>°, d = δ = <NUM>. 33t if the refractive index n of the mirror member is <NUM> and d = δ = <NUM>. 29t when the refractive index n of the mirror member is <NUM>.

Next, an attachment structure of the confocal microscope unit <NUM> to the microscope <NUM> will be described in detail. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view showing an attachment structure of the confocal microscope unit <NUM> to the microscope <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the scan lens <NUM> including a plurality of lenses is fixed into the lens barrel <NUM> and a tilt adjustment mechanism <NUM> in which an attachment portion <NUM> and a movable portion <NUM> are integrated with each other is provided inside the front end of the lens barrel <NUM>. The attachment portion <NUM> has an annular shape which protrudes from the front end of the lens barrel <NUM> and the front end side thereof is provided with a structure (for example, a structure corresponding to a C mount) attachable to the connection port P1 for camera connection of the microscope <NUM>. The movable portion <NUM> is formed to be continuous to the base end side of the attachment portion <NUM> and has a substantially annular shape and the outer surface thereof is formed as a spherical sliding surface. Further, the inner surface of the front end of the lens barrel <NUM> is provided with a spherical sliding surface <NUM> corresponding to the outer surface shape of the movable portion <NUM>. Here, the outer surface of the movable portion <NUM> and the inner surface of the lens barrel <NUM> are formed in a shape in which a center C1 of a spherical surface including these shapes is located on the image plane S1 of the microscope optical system of the microscope <NUM> in a state in which the movable portion <NUM> is fitted into the lens barrel <NUM> and the attachment portion <NUM> is connected to the connection port P1 of the microscope <NUM>.

According to an attachment structure in which the tilt adjustment mechanism <NUM> with the above-described structure is fitted into the front end side of the lens barrel <NUM>, it is possible to support the lens barrel <NUM> so that an angle of the lens barrel <NUM> with respect to the attachment portion <NUM> is changeable by sliding the movable portion <NUM> with respect to the sliding surface <NUM> of the lens barrel <NUM> while the microscope unit is attached to the microscope <NUM>. At this time, since the outer surface of the movable portion <NUM> and the inner surface of the lens barrel <NUM> are formed as spherical surfaces, the lens barrel <NUM> is rotatable with respect to the attachment portion <NUM> and the angle of the center axis of the lens barrel <NUM> with respect to the center axis of the attachment portion <NUM> is adjustable two-dimensionally. That is, the tilt adjustment mechanism <NUM> is configured to change the angle of the lens barrel <NUM> with respect to the attachment portion <NUM> so that the optical axis of the microscope optical system of the microscope <NUM> is parallel to the optical axis of the scan lens <NUM>.

According to the above-described confocal microscope unit <NUM>, the excitation light (irradiation light) irradiated from the light sources 10a to 10d of the subunits 6a to 6d is scanned on the sample M via the scan mirror <NUM>, the scan lens <NUM>, and the external microscope <NUM> and the fluorescence (observation light) generated from the sample M in response to the excitation light is detected by the photodetectors 13a to 13d of the subunits 6a to 6d via the external microscope <NUM>, the scan lens <NUM>, and the scan mirror <NUM>. In this confocal microscope unit <NUM>, the lens barrel <NUM> to which the scan lens <NUM> is fixed is attached to the connection port P1 of the microscope <NUM> by the attachment portion <NUM> and the angle of the lens barrel <NUM> with respect to the attachment portion <NUM> is changeable. With such a configuration, the optical axis of the scan lens <NUM> can be aligned to the direction of the optical axis of the microscope optical system of the microscope <NUM> according to the microscope <NUM> at the attachment destination. As a result, it is possible to realize imaging in which signal intensity and resolution are maintained.

<FIG> is a graph showing wavelength distribution characteristics of the excitation light and the fluorescence handled by the first to fourth subunits 6a to 6d. The wavelength range Δλ<NUM> of the fluorescence generated in response to the excitation light of the wavelength λ<NUM> irradiated from the first subunit 6a is generally in the vicinity of the wavelength λ<NUM> and in the range of the wavelength longer than the wavelength λ<NUM>. On the contrary, the wavelength λ<NUM> of the excitation light irradiated from the second subunit 6b and the wavelength range Δλ<NUM> of the fluorescence generated in response to the excitation light are in the range of the wavelength longer than the wavelength λ<NUM> and the wavelength range Δλ<NUM>. Here, the boundary wavelength λd1 of the optical division of the dichroic mirror 9a of the first subunit 6a is set to a value which is longer than the wavelength λ<NUM> and the wavelength range Δλ<NUM> and is shorter than the wavelength λ<NUM> and the wavelength range Δλ<NUM>. Accordingly, it is possible to perform the confocal measurement in the range of the wavelength λ<NUM> and the wavelength range Δλ<NUM> using the first subunit 6a and to perform the confocal measurement in the range of the wavelength λ<NUM> and the wavelength range Δλ<NUM> using the second subunit 6b of the same device. Similarly, the boundary wavelength Xd2 of the optical division of the dichroic mirror 9b of the second subunit 6b is set to a value which is longer than the wavelength λ<NUM> and the wavelength range Δλ<NUM> and is shorter than the wavelength λ<NUM> and the wavelength range Δλ<NUM> and the boundary wavelength λd3 of the optical division of the dichroic mirror 9c of the third subunit 6c is set to a value which is longer than the wavelength λ<NUM> and the wavelength range Δλ<NUM> and is shorter than the wavelength λ<NUM> and the wavelength range Δλ<NUM>. Accordingly, it is possible to perform the confocal measurement in the range of the wavelength λ<NUM> and the wavelength range Δλ<NUM> using the third subunit 6c of the same device and to perform the confocal measurement in the range of the wavelength λ<NUM> and the wavelength range Δλ<NUM> using the fourth subunit 6d of the same device.

Here, the movable portion <NUM> of the tilt adjustment mechanism <NUM> is configured to change the angle of the lens barrel <NUM> so that the optical axis of the scan lens <NUM> is parallel to the optical axis of the microscope optical system of the microscope <NUM>. In this case, since the direction of the optical axis of the scan lens <NUM> is aligned to the optical axis of the microscope optical system, the scan mirror <NUM> and the pupil positions of the objective lens <NUM> can be arranged at the conjugate position, the NA of the objective lens <NUM> can be used to the maximum, and the signal intensity and resolution of the signal detected by the photodetectors 13a to 13d can be reliably improved.

In particular, the movable portion <NUM> is rotatable with respect to the attachment portion <NUM>. With such a configuration, the direction of the scan lens <NUM> and the optical axis of the microscope optical system can be aligned two-dimensionally and the signal intensity and resolution of the signal detected by the photodetectors 13a to 13d can be reliably improved. Further, the rotation center C1 of the movable portion <NUM> is formed to be included in the image plane S1 of the microscope optical system. In this way, since the adjustment can be performed without affecting the field of view, it is not necessary to alternately repeat the field of view adjustment and the angle adjustment.

<FIG> shows an image of a light guide of the excitation light or fluorescence when the direction of the optical axis of the scan lens <NUM> in the confocal microscope unit <NUM> does not coincide with the direction of the optical axis of the microscope optical system and <FIG> shows an image of a light guide of the excitation light or fluorescence when the direction of the optical axis of the scan lens <NUM> in the confocal microscope unit <NUM> coincides with the direction of the optical axis of the microscope optical system.

In the confocal microscope unit <NUM>, the microscope optical system and the scan lens <NUM> are adjusted in advance so that the objective lens pupil of the microscope <NUM> is focused on the scan mirror <NUM>. Accordingly, since the changing of the angle by driving the scan mirror <NUM> is equivalent to the swinging the angle of the beam of the excitation light or fluorescence at the pupil of the objective lens <NUM>, it is possible to reduce the loss of the beam and to sufficiently exhibit the performance of the objective lens <NUM>. Here, the size of the objective lens pupil differs depending on the objective lens <NUM> and the beam diameter of the excitation light or fluorescence needs to be equal to or larger than the pupil size. However, since the scan mirror <NUM> configured as the MEMS mirror or the like generally has a small diameter and a large swing angle, the objective lens pupil may not be included in the scan mirror <NUM> when using the objective lens <NUM> with a large pupil having a low magnification and a low NA.

Further, in the microscope <NUM>, the optical axis of the microscope may be inclined with respect to the connection port P1 (<FIG>) due to the assembling error. This inclination becomes a problem when photographing and detecting the observation light and particularly becomes a problem in the application to the scanning microscope. As a result, as shown in <FIG>, an optical axis A2 of the scan lens <NUM> may be inclined with respect to an optical axis A1 of the microscope optical system by an angle θ (> <NUM>) when the confocal microscope unit <NUM> is attached to the microscope <NUM>. In such a case, when the scan mirror <NUM> is driven to change the focus position of the excitation light and irradiates the sample M as the beams B1 and B2, the positions of the beams B1 and B2 may be displaced from the aperture of the objective lens and a part of the excitation light may be cut off. As a result, the amount of signal and resolution in the image generated by using the subunits 6a to 6d decrease.

In contrast, as shown in <FIG>, the positions of the beams B1 and B2 can be aligned to the aperture position of the objective lens when the focus position of the excitation light is changed and the sample M is irradiated with the beams B1 and B2 by adjusting the direction of the optical axis A2 of the scan lens <NUM> to be aligned to the optical axis A1 of the microscope optical system by the tilt adjustment mechanism <NUM> when the confocal microscope unit <NUM> is attached to the microscope <NUM>. As a result, it is possible to prevent the excitation light from being cut off and to increase the amount of signal and resolution in the image generated by using the subunits 6a to 6d.

The tilt adjustment using the tilt adjustment mechanism <NUM> of the embodiment can be realized by using a jig shown in <FIG> is a diagram showing a configuration of a jig used for adjusting the tilt of the confocal microscope unit <NUM>. As the jig, a jig including a disk-shaped target member <NUM> and a mount portion <NUM> for attaching the target member <NUM> to the microscope <NUM> instead of the objective lens <NUM> can be adopted. A circular marking <NUM> is provided at the center of the surface of the target member <NUM> and the jig is configured so that the position of the marking <NUM> may coincide with the pupil position of the objective lens <NUM> when it is attached to the microscope <NUM> by the mount portion <NUM>.

By using such a configuration, a spot SP1 of the excitation light irradiated to the target member <NUM> while the excitation light is output using the confocal microscope unit <NUM> is observed using an external camera or the like. Then, it is possible to adjust the direction of the optical axis of the scan lens <NUM> to the optical axis of the microscope optical system by adjusting the tilt so that the spot SP1 of the excitation light coincides with the marking <NUM> on the target member <NUM>.

Further, the scan mirror <NUM> may be a MEMS mirror. In this case, it is possible to easily realize the miniaturization of the device.

Further, the subunits 6a to 6d are respectively provided with the pinhole plates 12a to 12d which limit the luminous flux of the observation light returned via the scan mirror <NUM> and the photodetectors 13a to 13d are configured to detect the observation light having passed through the pinhole plates 12a to 12d. In this case, it is possible to realize imaging in which signal intensity and resolution are maintained in the confocal observation.

Although various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment and may be modified without departing from the spirit of each claim or may be applied to other embodiments.

The tilt adjustment mechanism <NUM> of the above-described embodiment is not limited to the configuration of the movable portion <NUM> having a spherical sliding surface and the movable portion <NUM> may be configured by using a rubber member or a bellows-shaped member.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the excitation light is irradiated by each of the subunits 6a to 6d and the fluorescence generated in response to the excitation light is detected. However, the reflection light generated from the sample M in response to the irradiation of the irradiation light may be detected.

Further, the above-described embodiment is not limited to a case used as the confocal microscope and may be used as a general fluorescence microscope, reflection microscope, or the like if it is a scanning microscope using a scan mirror.

Further, the above-described embodiment is not limited to the application of the scanning microscope using the scan mirror and is also effective when inclining the housing of the optical unit so that the optical axis of the microscope optical system of the microscope <NUM> is parallel to the optical axis of the lens of the optical unit when the optical unit with the lens is attached to the connection port P1 of the optical microscope. In this case, it is easy to adjust the optical axis between the optical microscope and the optical unit.

In the above-described embodiment, the pinhole plate is used as an aperture to form a confocal optical system, but may be, for example, a color aperture, a fiber core, or the like if the aperture is any optical element that limits the luminous flux. When a fiber output type light source is used, the position of the end surface of the fiber core may be the aperture position (the position where the luminous flux is limited).

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a laser light source such as a solid-state laser or a diode laser can also be used. In this case, the position of the beam waist of these laser light sources may be set to the aperture position (the position where the luminous flux is limited) and the light source itself plays the role of the aperture.

In the above-described embodiment, the movable portion may change the angle of the housing so that the optical axis of the scan lens is parallel to the optical axis of the microscope optical system. In this case, it is possible to reliably improve the signal intensity and resolution of the signal detected by the photodetector by aligning the direction of the scan lens to the optical axis of the microscope optical system.

Further, the movable portion may be rotatable with respect to the attachment portion. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to two-dimensionally align the direction of the scan lens to the optical axis of the microscope optical system and to reliably improve the signal intensity and resolution of the signal detected by the photodetector.

Further, the rotation center of the movable portion may be included in the image plane of the microscope optical system. In this way, it is possible to obtain an effect of increasing the signal amount detected by the photodetector and improving the resolution of the signal without affecting the field of view.

Further, the scan mirror may be a MEMS mirror. In this case, the miniaturization of the device can be easily realized.

Further, the photodetector may detect the fluorescence generated in response to the irradiation of the irradiation light as the observation light and detect the reflection light generated in response to the irradiation of the irradiation light as the observation light. According to such a configuration, it is possible to realize imaging in which signal intensity and resolution are maintained in the imaging of various kinds of observation light.

Further, the aperture configured to limit the luminous flux of the observation light returned via the scan mirror may be further provided and the photodetector may detect the observation light having passed through the aperture. In this case, it is possible to acquire an optical sectioning image by a confocal observation. Further, this aperture may be the pinhole plate.

In the embodiment, it is possible to realize imaging in which signal intensity and resolution are maintained in the scanning microscope unit constituting the scanning microscope.

Claim 1:
A scanning microscope unit (<NUM>) attached to a connection port (P1) of a microscope (<NUM>) including a microscope optical system (<NUM>, <NUM>) to constitute a scanning microscope, the scanning microscope unit (<NUM>) comprising:
a light source (10a-10d) configured to output irradiation light to a sample (M) to be observed;
a photodetector (13a-13d) configured to detect observation light generated from the sample (M) in response to the irradiation light;
a main housing (<NUM>);
a scan mirror (<NUM>) in the main housing (<NUM>), the scan mirror (<NUM>) being configured to scan the irradiation light output from the light source (10a-10d) on the sample (M) and guide the observation light generated from the sample (M) in response to the irradiation light to the photodetector (13a-13d);
a scan lens (<NUM>) configured to guide the irradiation light scanned by the scan mirror (<NUM>) to the microscope optical system (<NUM>, <NUM>) and to guide the observation light focused by the microscope optical system (<NUM>, <NUM>) to the scan mirror (<NUM>);
a housing (<NUM>) which constitutes a part of the main housing (<NUM>) and to which the scan lens (<NUM>) is fixed;
an attachment portion (<NUM>) which attaches the housing (<NUM>) to the connection port (P1); and
characterized in that the scanning microscope unit further comprises
a movable portion (<NUM>) which supports the housing (<NUM>) so that an angle of the housing (<NUM>) with respect to the attachment portion (<NUM>) is changeable,
wherein the outer surface of the movable portion (<NUM>) and the inner surface of the housing (<NUM>) are formed in a shape in which a center (C1) of a spherical surface including these shapes is located on an image plane (S1) of the microscope optical system (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the microscope (<NUM>) in a state in which the movable portion (<NUM>) is fitted into the housing (<NUM>) and the attachment portion (<NUM>) is connected to the connection port (P1) of the microscope (<NUM>).