Patent Description:
As a method for observing the inside of a sample having a three-dimensional stereoscopic structure such as a cell, selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM) is known. For example, a tomographic image observation device described in Patent Document <NUM> discloses the basic principle of SPIM of emitting planar light to a sample, forming an image of fluorescent light or scattered light generated inside the sample on an imaging surface, and acquiring image data observed from inside the sample.

As another sample observation device using planar light, for example, there is an SPIM microscope described in Patent Document <NUM>. In this conventional SPIM endoscope, planar light is emitted while maintaining a constant inclination angle with respect to an arrangement face of a sample, and observation light from the sample is captured by an observation optical system having an observation axis orthogonal to an emission face of the planar light.

<CIT> relates to a microscope device including an illumination optical system that illuminates a specimen with a light sheet and a stereo image capturing device that captures images of the specimen in a plurality of different directions in which a resolution based on a triangulation method in a Z direction orthogonal to a direction of one or a plurality of light sheets formed on the specimen by the illumination optical system is less than a thickness in the Z direction of light sheet illumination that comprises the one or the plurality of light sheets.

<CIT> relates to a microscope device including an illumination optical system that illuminates a specimen with a light sheet, wherein image data are captured at periodic time intervals while moving the sample continuously at constant speed through the light sheet.

In the sample observation device described in Patent Document <NUM> described above, by emitting planar light onto the whole surface of a focused face of an observation optical system, an image of a fault plane in an observation axial direction can be acquired by performing imaging once. Accordingly, in order to acquire three-dimensional information of a sample, it is necessary to scan the sample in the observation axial direction and acquire images of a plurality of fault planes in the observation axial direction. In such a conventional sample observation device, it is necessary to repeat selection of a fault plane from which an image is acquired (scanning a sample and stopping) and image acquisition until the images of all the fault planes are acquired. In <NUM> addition, in a case in which an area occupied by an observation target is larger than an imaging area, in addition to the operation of acquiring a cross-sectional image in the observation axial direction, operations of moving a stage in a direction different from the observation axial direction and selecting an imaging field of view and the like are necessary. For this reason, there is a problem in that it takes time until observation image data is acquired.

An object of an embodiment is to provide a sample observation device and a sample observation method.

According to one aspect, there is provided a sample observation device including: an emission optical system for emitting planar light onto a sample; a scanning unit for scanning the sample with respect to an emission face of the planar light; an imaging optical system having an observation axis inclined with respect to the emission face and for forming an image from observation light generated in the sample in accordance with the emission of the planar light; an image acquiring unit for acquiring a plurality of partial image data corresponding to a part of an optical image according to the observation light formed as an image by the imaging optical system; and an image generating unit for generating observation image data of the sample based on the plurality of partial image data generated by the image acquiring unit.

In this sample observation device, a sample is scanned by the emission face of the planar light, and the observation axis of the imaging optical system is inclined with respect to the emission face of the planar light. For this reason, the image acquiring unit can sequentially acquire partial image data of fault planes in the direction of the optical axis of the planar light, and the image generating unit can generate observation image data of the sample based on the plurality of partial image data. In this sample observation device, an operation of selecting a field of view is not necessary, and a scanning operation for a sample and image acquisition can be simultaneously performed, whereby the throughput until the acquisition of the observation image data is improved.

In addition, the sample is held by a sample container having an input face of the planar light, and an optical axis of the planar light according to the emission optical system may be disposed to be orthogonal to the input face of the sample container. In such a case, a plurality of samples can be scanned together using the sample container. In addition, by configuring the optical axis of the planar light to be orthogonal to the input face of the sample container, position correction for the partial image data acquired by the image acquiring unit and the like are not necessary, and the process of generating observation image data can be easily performed.

In addition, the scanning unit is configured to scan the sample in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the planar light according to the emission optical system. In such a case, image processing such as position correction for the partial image data acquired by the image acquiring unit and the like is not necessary, and the process of generating observation image data can be easily performed.

In addition, an inclination angle of the observation axis of the imaging optical system with respect to the emission face of the planar light may be in the range of <NUM>° to <NUM>°. In this range, the resolution of an observed image can be sufficiently secured.

Furthermore, an inclination angle of the observation axis of the imaging optical system with respect to the emission face of the planar light may be in the range of <NUM>° to <NUM>°. In this range, the resolution of an observed image can be more sufficiently secured. In addition, a change in the field of view with respect to the amount of change in the angle of the observation axis can be suppressed, and the stability of the field of view can be secured.

In addition, an inclination angle of the observation axis of the imaging optical system with respect to the emission face of the planar light may be in the range of <NUM>° to <NUM>°. In this range, the resolution of an observed image and the stability of the field of view can be more appropriately secured.

In addition, the image acquiring unit may be configured to include a two-dimensional imaging device and for extracting image data corresponding to a part of the optical image of the observation light from data output from the two-dimensional imaging device as the partial image data. According to such a configuration, the partial image data can be acquired with high accuracy.

In addition, the image acquiring unit may include a line sensor for capturing a part of the optical image according to the observation light and outputing the partial image data. According to such a configuration, the partial image data can be acquired with high accuracy.

In addition, the image acquiring unit may include a slit transmitting a part of an optical image according to the observation light and an optical detector for detecting an optical image transmitted through the slit and is configured to generate the partial image data based on data output from the optical detector. According to such a configuration, the partial image data can be acquired with high accuracy.

In addition, the image generating unit is configured to generate observation image data of the sample on a face orthogonal to the optical axis of the planar light based on the plurality of partial image data. In such a case, a cross-sectional image of the sample in which the influence of background is suppressed can be acquired as an observed image.

In addition, the sample observation device may further include an analysis unit for analyzing the observation image data and generating an analysis result. Since the observation image data generated by the image generating unit is analyzed by the analysis unit, the throughput of the analysis can be improved as well.

In addition, according to one aspect of an embodiment, there is provided a sample observation method including: an emission step of emitting planar light onto a sample; a scanning step of scanning the sample with respect to an emission face of the planar light; an imaging step of forming an image from observation light generated in the sample in accordance with the emission of the planar light using an imaging optical system having an observation axis inclined with respect to the emission face; an image acquiring step of acquiring a plurality of partial image data corresponding to a part of an optical image according to the observation light formed as an image by the imaging optical system; and an image generating step of generating observation image data of the sample based on the plurality of partial image data.

In this sample observation method, a sample is scanned by the emission face of the planar light, and the imaging optical system of which the observation axis is inclined with respect to the emission face of the planar light is used. For this reason, in the image acquiring step, partial image data of fault planes in the direction of the optical axis of the planar light can be sequentially acquired, and in the image generating step, observation image data of the sample can be generated based on a plurality of partial image data. In this sample observation method, an operation of selecting a field of view is not necessary, and a scanning operation for a sample and image acquisition can be simultaneously performed, whereby the throughput until the acquisition of the observation image data is improved.

According to a sample observation device and a sample observation method, throughput until acquisition of observation image data is improved.

Hereinafter, a sample observation device and a sample observation method according to a preferred embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<FIG> is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a sample observation device according to one embodiment. This sample observation device <NUM> is a device that emits planar light L2 onto a sample S and acquires observation image data of the inside of the sample S by forming an image using at least one of fluorescent light, scattered light, and diffuse reflected light generated inside the sample S on an imaging surface. As a sample observation device <NUM> of such a type, there is a slide scanner that acquires and displays an image of a sample S maintained in a slide glass, a plate reader that acquires image data of a sample S maintained on a microplate and analyzes the image data, or the like. The sample observation device <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, is configured to include a light source <NUM>, an emission optical system <NUM>, a scanning unit <NUM>, an imaging optical system <NUM>, an image acquiring unit <NUM>, and a computer <NUM>.

As a sample S that is an observation target, for example, there is a cell, a tissue, or an organ of a human or an animal, an animal or a plant, a cell or a tissue of a plant, or the like. In addition, the sample S may be contained in a solution, a gel, or a substance of which a refractive index is different from that of the sample S.

The light source <NUM> is a light source that outputs light L1 to be emitted to the sample S. As the light source <NUM>, for example, there is a laser light source such as a laser diode or a solid laser light source. In addition, the light source <NUM> may be a light emitting diode, a super luminescent diode, or a lamp-system light source. The light L1 output from the light source <NUM> is guided to the emission optical system <NUM>.

The emission optical system <NUM> is an optical system that shapes the light L1 output from the light source <NUM> into planar light L2 and emits the shaped planar light L2 onto the sample S along an optical axis P1. In the following description, the optical axis P1 of the emission optical system <NUM> may be referred to as an optical axis of the planar light L2. The emission optical system <NUM>, for example, is configured to include a light shaping device such as a cylindrical lens, an axicon lens, or a spatial light modulator and is optically coupled with the light source <NUM>. The emission optical system <NUM> may be configured to include an objective lens. The planar light L2 formed by the emission optical system <NUM> is emitted to the sample S. In the sample S to which the planar light L2 is emitted, observation light L3 is generated on an emission face R of the planar light L2. The observation light L3, for example, is at least one of fluorescent light excited by the planar light L2, scattered light of the planar light L2, and diffuse reflected light of the planar light L2.

In a case in which observation is performed in a thickness direction of the sample S, it is preferable that the planar light L2 be thin planar light of which a thickness is <NUM> or less in consideration of the resolution. In addition, in a case in which the thickness of the sample S is very small, in other words, in a case in which a sample S having a thickness that is equal to or less than Z-direction resolution is observed, there is no influence of the thickness of the planar light L2 on the resolution. Accordingly, planar light L2 of which a thickness exceeds <NUM> may be used.

The scanning unit <NUM> is a mechanism that scans the sample S with the emission face R of the planar light L2. In this embodiment, the scanning unit <NUM> is configured of a moving stage <NUM> that moves a sample container <NUM> holding the sample S. The sample container <NUM>, for example, is a micro plate, a slide glass, a petri dish, or the like. In this embodiment, the micro plate will be illustrated as an example. The sample container <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, includes a plate-shaped main body part <NUM> in which a plurality of wells <NUM> in which the sample S is disposed are arranged in one straight line pattern (or a matrix pattern) and a plate-shaped transparent member <NUM> disposed to close one end side of the wells <NUM> on one face side of the main body part <NUM>.

In arranging a sample S inside a well <NUM>, the inside of the well <NUM> may be filled with a medium such as water. The transparent member <NUM> includes an input face 15a of the planar light L2 for the sample arranged inside the well <NUM>. The material of the transparent member <NUM> is not particularly limited as long as it is a member having transparency for the planar light L2 and, for example, is glass, crystal, or a synthetic resin. The sample container <NUM> is arranged with respect to the moving stage <NUM> such that the input face 15a is orthogonal to the optical axis P1 of the planar light L2. In addition, the other end side of the well <NUM> is open to the outside. The sample container <NUM> may be fixed to the moving stage <NUM>.

The moving stage <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, scans the sample container <NUM> in a direction set in advance in accordance with a control signal supplied from the computer <NUM>. In this embodiment, the moving stage <NUM> scans the sample container <NUM> in one direction within a plane orthogonal to the optical axis P1 of the planar light L2. In the following description, the direction of the optical axis P1 of the planar light L2 will be referred to as a Z axis, a scanning direction of the sample container <NUM> according to the moving stage <NUM> will be referred to as a Y axis, and a direction orthogonal to the Y axis within the plane orthogonal to the optical axis P1 of the planar light L2 will be referred to as an X axis. The emission face R of the planar light L2 for the sample S is a face within an XY plane.

The imaging optical system <NUM> is an optical system that images the observation light L3 generated in the sample S in accordance with emission of the planar light L2. The imaging optical system <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, for example, is configured to include an objective lens <NUM>, an imaging lens, and the like. An optical axis of the imaging optical system <NUM> becomes an observation axis P2 of the observation light L3. The observation axis P2 of this imaging optical system <NUM> is inclined with respect to the emission face R of the planar light L2 in the sample S at an inclination angle θ. The inclination angle θ coincides with an angle formed by the optical axis P1 of the planar light L2 toward the sample S and the observation axis P2. The inclination angle θ is in the range of <NUM>° to <NUM>°. From a viewpoint of improving the resolution of an observed image, it is preferable that the inclination angle θ be in the range of <NUM>° to <NUM>°. In addition, from a viewpoint of improving the resolution of an observed image and the stability of a field of view, the inclination angle θ is more preferably in the range of <NUM>° to <NUM>°.

The image acquiring unit <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, is a device that acquires a plurality of partial image data corresponding to a part of an optical image according to the observation light L3 formed by the imaging optical system <NUM>. The image acquiring unit <NUM>, for example, is configured to include an imaging device that captures an optical image according to the observation light L3. As the imaging device, for example, there is an area image sensor such as a CMOS image sensor or a CCD image sensor. Such an area image sensor is disposed on an image formation face according to the imaging optical system <NUM>, and, for example, captures an optical image using a global shutter or a rolling shutter, and outputs data of a two-dimensional image to the computer <NUM>.

For a method for acquiring partial image data of an optical image according to the observation light L3, various forms may be employed, only the example shown in <FIG> being according to the claimed invention.

For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, a sub array may be set on the imaging surface of the area image sensor <NUM>. In reading a sub array in the area image sensor, a set pixel column (or set columns) only can be read among all the pixel columns, and a frame rate can be improved. Accordingly, in this case, only one or more pixel columns 21a included in the sub array can be read, and accordingly, partial image data can be acquired by capturing a part of the optical image according to the observation light L3. In addition, as illustrated in <FIG>, partial image data may be acquired by setting all the pixel columns of the area image sensor <NUM> as a read area and extracting a part of a two-dimensional image using image processing performed thereafter.

Furthermore, as illustrated in <FIG>, partial image data may be acquired by limiting the imaging surface to one pixel column using a line sensor <NUM> instead of the area image sensor <NUM>. In addition, as illustrated in <FIG>, by disposing a slit <NUM> transmitting only a part of the observation light L3 on a front face of the area image sensor (an optical detector) <NUM>, image data of the pixel column 21a corresponding to the slit <NUM> may be acquired as partial image data. Furthermore, in a case in which the slit <NUM> is used, instead of the area image sensor <NUM>, a point sensor such as a photomultiplier tube may be used.

The computer <NUM> is physically configured to include a memory such as a RAM, a ROM, and the like, a processor (an arithmetic operation circuit) such as a CPU, a communication interface, a storage unit such as a hard disk, and a display unit such as a display. As such a computer <NUM>, for example, there is a personal computer, a cloud server, a smart device (a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or the like), a microcomputer, or the like. By executing a program stored in the memory using the CPU of the computer system, the computer <NUM> functions as a controller controlling operations of the light source <NUM> and the moving stage <NUM>, an image generating unit <NUM> generating observation image data of a sample S, and an analysis unit <NUM> analyzing the observation image data (see <FIG>).

The computer <NUM>, as a controller, receives an input of a user's measurement start operation and drives the light source <NUM>, the moving stage <NUM>, and the image acquiring unit <NUM> in synchronization with each other. In this case, during moving of the sample S according to the moving stage <NUM>, the computer <NUM> may perform control of the light source <NUM> such that the light source <NUM> continuously outputs the light L1 or may control on/off of an output of the light L1 using the light source <NUM> in accordance with imaging executed by the image acquiring unit <NUM>. In addition, in a case in which the emission optical system <NUM> includes an optical shutter (not illustrated in the drawing), the computer <NUM> may turn on/off emission of the planar light L2 onto the sample S by controlling the optical shutter.

In addition, the computer <NUM>, as the image generating unit <NUM>, generates observation image data of the sample S based on a plurality of partial image data generated by the image acquiring unit <NUM>. The image generating unit <NUM> generates observation image data of the sample S on a face (the XY plane) orthogonal to the optical axis P1 of the planar light L2, for example, based on the plurality of partial image data output from the image acquiring unit <NUM>. The image generating unit <NUM> executes storage of the generated observation image data, display of the observation image data on a monitor or the like, and the like in accordance with a user's predetermined operation.

The computer <NUM>, as the analysis unit <NUM>, generates an analysis result by executing an analysis based on the observation image data generated by the image generating unit <NUM>. The analysis unit <NUM> executes storage of the generated analysis result, display of the analysis result on a motor or the like, and the like in accordance with a user's predetermined operation. In addition, only the analysis result generated by the analysis unit <NUM> may be displayed on a monitor or the like without performing display of the observation image data generated by the image generating unit on a monitor or the like.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating one example of a sample observation method using a sample observation device. As illustrated in the drawing, this sample observation method includes an emission step (Step S01), a scanning step (Step S02), an image forming step (Step S03), an image acquiring step (Step S04), an image generating step (S05), and an analysis step (Step S06).

In the emission step S01, the planar light L2 is emitted to a sample S. When a measurement start operation is input by a user, the light source is driven based on a control signal supplied from the computer <NUM>, and light L1 is output from the light source <NUM>. The light L1 output from the light source <NUM> is shaped by the emission optical system <NUM> to be planar light L2, and the planar light L2 is emitted to the sample S.

In the scanning step S02, the sample S is scanned by the emission face R of the planar light L2. When a measurement start operation is input by a user, the moving stage <NUM> is driven in synchronization with driving of the light source <NUM> based on a control signal supplied from the computer <NUM>. Accordingly, the sample container <NUM> is linearly driven at a constant speed in the Y-axis direction, and the sample S disposed inside the well <NUM> is scanned by the emission face R of the planar light L2.

In the image forming step S03, by using the imaging optical system <NUM> having an observation axis P2 inclined with respect to the emission face R, an image of the observation light L3 generated in the sample S according to the emission of the planar light L2 is formed on the image formation face of the image acquiring unit <NUM>. In the image acquiring step S04, a plurality of partial image data corresponding to a part of an optical image according to the observation light L3 that is formed by the imaging optical system <NUM> are acquired. The partial image data is sequentially output from the image acquiring unit <NUM> to the image generating unit <NUM>.

In the image generating step S05, observation image data of the sample S is generated based on the plurality of partial image data. In this embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the emission face R of the planar light L2 for the sample S is a face within an XZ plane, and the sample S is scanned with the emission face R in the Y-axis direction. Accordingly, as illustrated in <FIG>, in accordance with acquisition of a plurality of pieces of XZ cross-sectional image data <NUM> that is partial image data in the Y-axis direction, three-dimensional information of the sample S is accumulated in the image generating unit <NUM>. In the image generating unit <NUM>, data is rebuilt using a plurality of XY cross-sectional images, and, for example, as illustrated in <FIG>, an XY cross-sectional image having an arbitrary thickness at an arbitrary position of the sample S in the Z axis direction is generated as observation image data <NUM> in which a background is suppressed.

In the analysis step S06, the observation image data is analyzed by the analysis unit <NUM>, and an analysis result is generated. For example, in drug discovery screening, a sample S and a reagent are put into the sample container <NUM>, and observation image data is acquired. Then, the analysis unit <NUM> evaluates the reagent based on the observation image data and generates evaluation data as a result of the analysis.

A sample observation device <NUM> according to a comparative example, as illustrated in <FIG>, has an observation axis P2 that is orthogonal to the emission face R of the planar light L2. In this sample observation device <NUM>, by emitting the planar light L2 onto the whole surface of a focused face of the observation optical system, an image of a fault plane orthogonal to the direction of the observation axis P2 in the sample S can be acquired by performing imaging once. Accordingly, in order to acquire three-dimensional information of the sample S, it is necessary to acquire images of a plurality of fault planes orthogonal to the direction of the observation axis P2 by scanning the sample S in the direction of the observation axis P2. The sample observation device <NUM> according to the comparative example, as illustrated in <FIG>, needs to repeat selection of a fault plane from which an image is acquired (scanning of the sample S and stopping) and image acquisition until the images of all the fault planes are acquired. In addition, in a case in which an area in which an observation target is present is larger than an imaging area, in addition to the operation of acquiring a cross-sectional image in the direction of the observation axis P2, an operation of selecting an imaging field of view and the like in accordance with movement of a stage in a direction different from the observation axial direction are necessary.

In contrast to this, in the sample observation device <NUM> according to an example, as illustrated in <FIG>, while a sample S is scanned with the emission face R of the planar light L2, image acquisition is performed by the image acquiring unit <NUM>, and the observation axis P2 of the imaging optical system <NUM> is inclined with respect to the emission face R of the planar light L2. For this reason, the image acquiring unit <NUM> can sequentially acquire partial image data of fault planes in the direction of the optical axis P1 (the Z-axis direction) of the planar light L2, and the image generating unit <NUM> can generate observation image data <NUM> of the sample S based on a plurality of partial image data.

In this sample observation device <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, image acquisition can be sequentially performed while the sample S is scanned. In the operation of the sample observation device <NUM> according to the comparative example, every time when the moving stage <NUM> is driven and stopped, a time loss occurs in accordance with an influence of inertia and the like. On the other hand, in the sample observation device <NUM>, the number of times of driving and stopping of the moving stage <NUM> is decreased, and a scanning operation for a sample and image acquisition are simultaneously performed, whereby the throughput until the acquisition of the observation image data <NUM> is improved.

In addition, in the sample observation device <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, a sample S is held by the sample container <NUM> having the input face 15a of the planar light L2, and the optical axis P1 of the planar light L2 according to the emission optical system <NUM> is arranged to be orthogonal to the input face 15a of the sample container <NUM>. In addition, in the sample observation device <NUM>, the scanning unit <NUM> scans the sample S in a direction (the Y-axis direction) orthogonal to the optical axis P1 (Z-axis direction) of the planar light L2 according to the emission optical system <NUM>. Accordingly, image processing such as a position correction for the partial image data acquired by the image acquiring unit <NUM> and the like is not necessary, and the process of generating observation image data can be easily performed.

In addition, in the sample observation device <NUM>, the inclination angle θ of the observation axis P2 of the imaging optical system <NUM> for the emission face R of the planar light L2 in the sample is in the range of <NUM>° to <NUM>°, is preferably in the range of <NUM>° to <NUM>°, and is more preferably in the range of <NUM>° to <NUM>°. Hereinafter, this point will be reviewed.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of calculation of a field of view in a sample observation device. In the example illustrated in the drawing, an imaging optical system is positioned in a medium A having a refractive index n1, and an emission face of planar light is positioned in a medium B having a refractive index n2. In a case in which a field of view in the imaging optical system is denoted by V, an emission face is denoted by V', an inclination angle of the observation axis for the emission face is denoted by θ, a refraction angle at an interface between the media A and B is denoted by θ', and a distance on the interface between the media A and B at the inclination angle θ of the field of view V is denoted by L, the following Equations (<NUM>) to (<NUM>) are satisfied. (Math <NUM>)
<MAT>
(Math <NUM>)
<MAT>
(Math <NUM>)
<MAT>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a relation between an inclination angle of an observation axis and resolution. In the drawing, the horizontal axis represents the inclination angle θ of the observation axis, and the vertical axis represents a relative value V'/V of the field of view. Then, a value of V'/V acquired when the refractive index n1 of the medium A is set to "<NUM>" (air), and the refractive index n2 of the medium B is changed from <NUM> to <NUM> at the interval of <NUM> is plotted with respect to the inclination angle θ. It is represented that the resolution in the depth direction (hereinafter, referred to as "Z-direction resolution") of the sample is higher as the value of V'/V becomes smaller, and the Z-direction resolution is lower as the value becomes larger.

From the result illustrated in <FIG>, in a case in which the refractive index n1 of the medium A and the refractive index n2 of the medium are the same, it can be understood that the value of V'/V is inversely proportional to the inclination angle θ. In addition, in a case in which the refractive index n1 of the medium A and the refractive index n2 of the medium B are different from each other, it can be understood the value of V'/V forms a parabola with respect to the inclination angle θ. From this result, it can be understood that the Z-direction resolution can be controlled using the refractive index of a space in which the sample is arranged, a refractive index of a space in which the imaging optical system is arranged, and the inclination angle θ of the observation axis. In addition, it can be understood that higher Z-direction resolution is acquired in the range of <NUM>° to <NUM>° of the inclination angle θ than in a range in which the inclination angle θ is less than <NUM>° or more than <NUM>°.

In addition, from the result illustrated in <FIG>, it can be understood that the inclination angle θ at which the Z-direction resolution is a maximum tends to be lower as a difference between the refractive index n1 and the refractive index n2 becomes larger. In a case in which the refractive index n2 is in the range of <NUM> to <NUM>, the inclination angle θ at which the Z-direction resolution is a maximum is in the range of about <NUM>° to about <NUM>°. For example, in a case in which the refractive index n2 is <NUM> (water), the inclination angle θ at which the Z-direction resolution is a maximum is estimated to be about <NUM>°. In addition, for example, in a case in which the refractive index n2 is <NUM> (glass), the inclination angle θ at which the Z-direction resolution is a maximum is estimated to be about <NUM>°.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a relation between the inclination angle of the observation axis and stability of the field of view. In the drawing, the horizontal axis represents the inclination angle θ of the observation axis, and the vertical axis represents the stability of the field of view. The stability is represented as a ratio between a difference between V'/V at an inclination angle θ+<NUM> and V'/V at an inclination angle θ and a difference between V'/V at an inclination angle θ-<NUM> and V'/V at the inclination angle θ and is calculated based on the following Equation (<NUM>). As the stability is closer to <NUM>%, it can be evaluated that a change in the field of view with respect to a change in the inclination angle is small, and the view of field is stabilized. In this <FIG>, similar to <FIG>, the stability acquired when the refractive index n1 of the medium A is set to "<NUM>" (air), and the refractive index n2 of the medium B is changed from <NUM> to <NUM> at the interval of <NUM> is plotted. (Math <NUM>)
<MAT>.

From the result illustrated in <FIG>, it can be understood that, in a range in which the inclination angle θ is less than <NUM>° or more than <NUM>°, the stability exceeds ±<NUM>%, and it is difficult to control the view of field. On the other hand, in a case in which the angle θ is in the range of <NUM>° to <NUM>°, the stability is equal to or less than ±<NUM>%, and the field of view can be controlled. In addition, in a case in which the inclination angle θ is in the range of <NUM>° to <NUM>°, the stability is equal to or less than ±<NUM>%, and the field of view can be easily controlled.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a relation between the inclination angle of the observation axis and transmittance of observation light transmitted from a sample. In the drawing, the horizontal axis represents the inclination angle θ of the observation axis, a left vertical axis represents a relative value of the field of view, and a right vertical axis represents transmittance. In this <FIG>, in consideration of the maintaining state of a sample in the sample container, the refractive index n1 of the medium A is set to <NUM> (air), the refractive index n2 of the medium B is set to <NUM> (glass), and the refractive index n3 of the medium C is set to <NUM> (water), and a value of transmittance is product of transmittance of an interface between the media B and C and transmittance of an interface between the media A and B. In <FIG>, the transmittance of P waves, the transmittance of S waves, and the dependency of an average value thereof on the angle are plotted. In addition, in <FIG>, a relative value of the field of view in the medium C is plotted together.

From the result illustrated in <FIG>, it can be understood that the transmittance of observation light from a sample to the imaging optical system is changeable by changing the inclination angle θ of the observation axis. It can be understood that at least <NUM>% or higher transmittance is acquired in a range in which the inclination angle θ is equal to or less than <NUM>°. In addition, it can be understood that at least <NUM>% or higher transmittance is acquired in a range in which the inclination angle θ is equal to or less than <NUM>°, and at least <NUM>% or higher transmittance is acquired in a range in which the inclination angle θ is equal to or less than <NUM>°.

From the results described above, in a case in which the Z-direction resolution of a sample is requested, for example, it is appropriate to select the inclination angle θ from the range of <NUM>° to <NUM>° such that the value of V'/V, which is a relative value of the field of view, is equal to or less than <NUM>, the stability is less than <NUM>%, and the transmittance (an average value of P waves and S waves) of the observation light is equal to or higher than <NUM>%. On the other hand, in a case in which the Z-direction resolution of a sample is not requested, the inclination angle θ may be appropriately selected from a range of <NUM>° to <NUM>°, and, from a viewpoint of securing a range of the field of view per pixel, it is appropriate to select the inclination angle θ from a range of <NUM>° to <NUM>° or <NUM>° to <NUM>°.

The sample observation device and the sample observation method are not limited to those according to the embodiment described above. For example, the optical axis P1 of the planar light L2 and the input face 15a of the sample container <NUM> may not necessarily be orthogonal to each other, and the optical axis P1 of the planar light L2 and the scanning direction of the sample S scanned by the scanning unit <NUM> may not necessarily be orthogonal to each other.

In addition, for example, in the embodiment described above, although the transparent member <NUM> is disposed to occupy the one end side of the well <NUM> in the sample container <NUM>, and the planar light L2 is input from the input face 15a of the transparent member <NUM>, the planar light L2 may be configured to be input from the other end side of the well <NUM>. In such a case, the number of interfaces between media having different refractive indexes is decreased, and the number of times of refraction of the observation light L3 can be decreased. In addition, instead of the sample container <NUM>, a sample S may be maintained in a solid such as gel, and, like a flow cytometer, a sample S may move by causing a fluid body such as a sheath liquid to flow inside the transparent container. In the case of the flow cytometer, a sheath liquid in which a liquid containing a test body that is a sample S is included flows in accordance with a flow cell. Accordingly, the test body moves while being arranged, and accordingly, the flow cell can be positioned as a scanning unit.

In addition, a plurality of imaging optical system <NUM> and a plurality of image acquiring units <NUM> may be disposed. In such a case, in addition to enlargement of the observation range, a plurality of pieces of observation light L3 having different wavelengths can be observed. In addition, a plurality of image acquiring units <NUM> may be disposed for one imaging optical system <NUM>, and one image acquiring unit <NUM> may be disposed for a plurality of imaging optical systems <NUM>. A plurality of image acquiring units <NUM> may combine optical detectors or imaging devices of different types. The light source <NUM> may be configured by a plurality of light sources outputting light having different wavelengths. In such a case, excitation light having different wavelengths can be emitted to a sample S.

In addition, in order to alleviate astigmatism, a prism may be disposed in the imaging optical system <NUM>. In such a case, for example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the prism <NUM> may be disposed on a later stage side of the objective lens <NUM> (between the objective lens <NUM> and the image acquiring unit <NUM>). For a countermeasure for defocusing, the imaging surface of the imaging device in the image acquiring unit <NUM> may be inclined with respect to the observation axis P2. Furthermore, a configuration may be employed in which separation of wavelengths of the observation light L3 may be performed by disposing a dichroic mirror or a prism, for example, between the imaging optical system <NUM> and the image acquiring unit <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A sample observation device (<NUM>) comprising:
an emission optical system (<NUM>) configured to emit planar light (L2) onto a sample (S);
a scanning unit (<NUM>) configured to scan the sample (S) with respect to an emission face of the planar light (L2) at a constant speed;
an imaging optical system (<NUM>) having an observation axis (P2) inclined with respect to the emission face and configured to form an image from observation light (L3) generated in the sample (S) in accordance with the emission of the planar light (L2);
an image acquiring unit (<NUM>) configured to acquire a plurality of partial image data corresponding to a part of an optical image according to the observation light (L3) formed as an image by the imaging optical system (<NUM>); and
an image generating unit (<NUM>) configured to generate observation image data of the sample (S) based on the plurality of partial image data generated by the image acquiring unit (<NUM>);
wherein the image acquiring unit (<NUM>) is further configured to acquire the plurality of partial image data during scanning of the sample (S) by the scanning unit (<NUM>);
wherein the partial image data is read from only a sub array (21a) of pixel columns in a light receiving surface of an area image sensor (<NUM>),
wherein the sample (S) is held by a sample container (<NUM>) having an input face (15a) of the planar light (L2), and an optical axis of the planar light (L2) according to the emission optical system (<NUM>) is orthogonal to the input face of the sample container (<NUM>),
wherein the scanning unit (<NUM>) is further configured to scan the sample (S) in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the planar light (L2) according to the emission optical system (<NUM>); and
wherein the image generating unit (<NUM>) is further configured to generate observation image data of the sample (S) on a face orthogonal to the optical axis of the planar light based on the plurality of partial image data.