Patent ID: 7903331

Claim:
A microscope comprising a microscope assembly and a lens positioner, wherein: the lens positioner comprises a tension control assembly, an adjustable lens extension assembly, and a tensile cord coupling the tension control assembly to the adjustable lens extension assembly; the tension control assembly is configured to control the degree of tension in the tensile cord; the adjustable lens extension assembly comprises a flexible linkage subassembly and a lens support subassembly; the flexible linkage subassembly comprises a proximal end and a distal end and is configured such that the distal end is movable relative to the proximal end through a plurality of degrees of freedom of movement; the lens support subassembly is secured to the distal end of the flexible linkage subassembly; and the flexible linkage subassembly is further configured such that the ease at which its distal end moves relative to its proximal end is a function of the degree of tension in the tensile cord, as controlled by the tension control assembly.