Patent ID: 7710642

Claim:
An illumination system for a fluorescence microscope, the illumination system comprising: (a) a first filter cube arranged on a carriage, the first filter cube moveable on the carriage between an active position and an inactive position, the first filter cube comprising: (i) a first housing; (ii) a first solid state light source secured to the first housing, the first solid state light source adapted to emit light having a first wavelength that causes a first material to fluoresce, wherein the first solid state light source is adapted to emit light when the first filter cube is moved into the active position; and (iii) at least one optical filter disposed within the first housing, the at least one optical filter corresponding to the first solid state light source; and (b) a second filter cube arranged on the carriage, the second filter cube moveable on the carriage between an active position and an inactive position, the second filter cube comprising: (i) a second housing; (ii) a second solid state light source secured to the second housing, the second solid state light source adapted to emit light having a second wavelength that causes a second material to fluoresce, wherein the second solid state light source is adapted to emit light when the second filter cube is moved into the active position and wherein the second wavelength is different from the first wavelength; and (iii) at least one optical filter disposed within the second housing, the at least one optical filter corresponding to the second solid state light source.