Light sheet microscope sample pool

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of sample pools for light sheet microscopes, and discloses a light sheet microscope sample pool, which comprises a box body used for placing a sample, at least one side surface of the box body is provided with a first mounting hole, and the bottom of the box body is provided with a second mounting hole; at least one side surface connector, wherein each side surface connector is provided with a curved surface side window; the bottom connector is provided with a light transmitting piece; the side connector is detachably mounted in the first mounting hole, and the curved-surface side window is fixed on the side connector to replace a traditional bonding process, so that the curved-surface side window is convenient to replace, high-precision concentric mounting of the curved-surface side window is ensured, the bottom connector is detachably mounted, the bottom connectors with various height specifications can be arranged, and the mounting efficiency is improved. Different detection objective lenses have different working distance requirements, and the bottom connector with the corresponding height specification can be conveniently replaced in observation to adapt to the working distance of the detection objective lens without replacing the whole sample pool.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of sample cell technology for light sheet microscopes, and in particular to a sample cell for light sheet microscopes. Background Technology

[0002] In a microscope system with inverted lenses, the core structural feature for achieving high-resolution three-dimensional imaging of the sample is that the illumination and detection optical paths are orthogonally separated in space: multiple illumination objectives illuminate the sample horizontally from the side, while the detection objective is vertically inverted and located below the sample for observation. The sample cell, located in the center, not only needs to provide light-transmitting openings for multiple illumination objectives on the side, but also needs to provide an observation opening for the inverted detection objective at the bottom.

[0003] Existing sample cells typically have curved side windows bonded to the light-transmitting openings on each side, and a bottom window bonded to the observation opening at the bottom. The bottom window can match the working distance of the corresponding detection objective, ensuring that the objective can accurately focus on the sample. However, the fixed, focusing curved side windows of traditional bonding processes are difficult to achieve and maintain high-precision concentricity, leading to aberrations in the illumination optical path and directly reducing the final imaging quality of the system. Furthermore, when it is necessary to change to a detection objective with a different numerical aperture according to observation requirements, the working distance of the detection objective will change. Since the bottom window is bonded to the main body of the sample cell, its height cannot be adjusted separately or a different type of bottom window can be replaced. For example, when switching from a low-power to a high-power objective, the working distance is shortened, and the height of the bottom window needs to be adapted to the new distance. At this time, the original bonded bottom window cannot be adjusted, and the user can only replace the entire sample cell. This "one-to-one replacement" mode is not only cumbersome to operate, but also significantly increases the cost and complexity of use due to the frequent replacement of the entire component. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this invention is that in the sample cell design of existing inverted lens microscope systems, the curved side window and the bottom window are fixed by adhesive bonding. It is difficult to achieve and maintain high-precision concentricity of the curved side window, which leads to aberrations in the illumination optical path and directly reduces the final imaging quality of the system. Furthermore, the bottom window cannot be disassembled and replaced separately to adapt to different optical requirements. This "replace one, replace all" approach is not only cumbersome to operate, but also significantly increases production costs due to frequent replacement of the entire component.

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, the present invention provides a sample cell for a light sheet microscope, comprising: A box for placing samples, with a first mounting hole on at least one side of the box and a second mounting hole on the bottom of the box; At least one side connector, each side connector is detachably installed in each first mounting hole, and each side connector is equipped with a curved side window. The bottom connector is detachably installed in the second mounting hole, and a light-transmitting element is installed on the bottom connector.

[0006] Preferably, an axial stop and a circumferential anti-rotation member are provided in the second mounting hole and / or the bottom connector. The axial stop is used to axially position the bottom connector, and the circumferential anti-rotation member is used to prevent the bottom connector from rotating in the second mounting hole.

[0007] Preferably, the axial stop includes a first boss and a second boss; The first boss is fixedly disposed inside the second mounting hole, and the second boss is disposed outside the bottom connector. The second boss abuts against the first boss axially. The circumferential anti-rotation component includes a first positioning hole and a first positioning protrusion; The first positioning hole is formed on the periphery of the second mounting hole, and the first positioning protrusion is provided on the side wall of the second boss. The first positioning protrusion is matched and inserted into the first positioning hole.

[0008] Preferably, the light-transmitting element includes a glass bottom window, and the bottom connector includes a first connector; The first connector includes a first body, a third mounting hole in the middle of the first body, a third boss fixedly installed in the third mounting hole, and a glass bottom window installed in the third mounting hole.

[0009] Preferably, the third mounting hole has second positioning holes at both ends in the circumferential direction, and a positioning ring and a third fixing ring are also installed in the first body. The positioning ring has second positioning protrusions at both ends that match the second positioning holes. The third retaining ring connects to the third mounting hole to press the positioning ring and the bottom glass window together.

[0010] Preferably, the light-transmitting element includes a light-transmitting film, and the bottom connector includes a second connector; The second connector includes a second body, a fourth through hole in the middle of the second body, a fourth boss fixedly installed in the fourth through hole, and a light-transmitting film covering the fourth boss and the outer wall of the second body.

[0011] Preferably, the material of the light-transmitting film is PDMS.

[0012] Preferably, each side connector includes a first retaining ring, which is connected to each first mounting hole to press against each curved side window; The sample cell of the light sheet microscope also includes a second retaining ring, which is connected to a second mounting hole to press the bottom connector.

[0013] Preferably, heating elements and mounting walls are installed on the exterior of each side wall of the enclosure; Each side wall of the box is provided with a first magnetic attraction hole, and a first magnet is installed in each first magnetic attraction hole; Each mounting wall is provided with a second magnet that is magnetically attracted to the first magnet at the position of each first magnetic hole. The mounting wall is attached to the outer wall of the housing to clamp the heating element. Both the mounting wall and the heating element are provided with clearance holes corresponding to the first mounting hole.

[0014] Preferably, it also includes a base connector; The base connector is magnetically attached to the bottom of the enclosure.

[0015] Compared with existing technologies, the sample cell for a light sheet microscope according to an embodiment of the present invention has the following advantages: The sample cell of the light-sheet microscope in this embodiment of the invention adopts a modular side connector design. The side connector can be detachably installed in the first mounting hole. A curved side window is fixed on the side connector to replace the traditional adhesive process. This not only facilitates the replacement of the curved side window, but also ensures the high-precision concentric installation of the curved side window. Incident light shines through the curved side window to illuminate the sample, significantly improving the focusing accuracy of the illumination light and effectively avoiding aberration problems caused by inaccurate side window positioning, thereby greatly improving the quality of microscopic imaging. At the same time, the bottom connector adopts a modular design and can be detachably installed in the second mounting hole. A light-transmitting element is set on the bottom connector. The detection objective lens acquires the image of the sample through the light-transmitting element. Because the bottom connector provided by this invention can be detachably installed, bottom connectors of various height specifications can be set. Different detection objectives have different working distance requirements. During observation, the bottom connector of the corresponding height specification can be easily replaced to adapt to the working distance of the detection objective lens without replacing the entire sample cell. This solves the operational problem of "replacing everything once" in the prior art, greatly reduces the cost of use, and provides a stable and reliable sample environment for high-resolution imaging of the inverted lens microscope system. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the first-view structure of the sample cell housing of the light sheet microscope provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the second-view structure of the sample cell housing of the light sheet microscope provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the sample cell of the light sheet microscope provided in the embodiment of the present invention, in which the first connector is installed at the bottom of the housing; Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the structure of the first connector provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the first connector from a first-view perspective provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the first connector from a second perspective provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the sample cell of the light sheet microscope provided in the embodiment of the present invention, in which a second connector is installed at the bottom of the housing; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the second connector provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the sample cell of the light sheet microscope provided in the embodiment of the present invention, in which heating elements are installed on the outer wall of the box. Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the connection between the housing and the base connector of the sample cell of the light sheet microscope provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] In the diagram, 1 is the housing; 2 is the first mounting hole; 3 is the second mounting hole; 31 is the first positioning hole; 4 is the first boss; 5 is the curved side window; 6 is the first fixing ring; and 7 is the second fixing ring. 8. Bottom connector; 80. Second boss; 801. First positioning protrusion; 81. First connector; 810. First body; 811. Third mounting hole; 812. Third boss; 813. Glass bottom window; 814. Second positioning hole; 815. Positioning ring; 816. Third fixing retaining ring; 817. Second positioning protrusion; 818. First annular groove; 819. First sealing ring; 82. Second connector; 820. Second body; 821. Fourth through hole; 822. Fourth boss; 823. Transparent film; 824. Second annular groove; 825. Second sealing ring; 9. Heating element; 10. First magnetic suction hole; 11. Mounting wall; 12. Clearance hole; 13. Base connector; 14. Positioning edge; 15. Guide hole; 16. Guide pin; 17. Second magnetic suction hole; 18. Third magnetic suction hole; 19. Cross positioning hole; 20. Cross protrusion; 21. Third sealing ring. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0019] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0020] It should be understood that the terms "first," "second," etc., are used in this invention to describe various types of information, but these terms are not limited to them; they are only used to distinguish information of the same type from one another. For example, without departing from the scope of this invention, "first" information may also be referred to as "second" information, and similarly, "second" information may also be referred to as "first" information.

[0021] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0022] In a light-sheet microscope system, the sample cell is used to hold the sample holder and a liquid medium (such as culture medium or buffer solution) with a matching refractive index. The sample cell has a cavity in which the sample holder is installed, and the sample holder contains the sample, so that the sample is completely immersed in the liquid medium.

[0023] like Figures 1 to 10 As shown, a sample cell for a light sheet microscope according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes: Box 1 is used to place samples. Box 1 has a first mounting hole 2 on at least one side and a second mounting hole 3 on the bottom. At least one side connector, each side connector is detachably installed in each first mounting hole 2, and each side connector is equipped with a curved side window 5. The bottom connector 8 is detachably installed in the second mounting hole 3, and a light-transmitting element is installed on the bottom connector 8.

[0024] The sample cell of the light-sheet microscope in this embodiment of the invention adopts a modular side connector design. The side connector is detachably installed in the first mounting hole 2. A curved side window 5 is fixed on the side connector to replace the traditional adhesive process. This not only facilitates the replacement of the curved side window 5, but also ensures the high-precision concentric installation of the curved side window 5. The incident light shines on the sample through the curved side window 5, which significantly improves the focusing accuracy of the illumination light and effectively avoids aberration problems caused by inaccurate positioning of the curved side window 5, thereby greatly improving the quality of microscopic imaging. At the same time, the bottom connector 8 adopts a modular design and is detachably installed in the second mounting hole 3. A light-transmitting element is set on the bottom connector 8. The detection objective lens collects the image of the sample through the light-transmitting element. Because the bottom connector 8 provided by this invention is detachable, various height specifications of bottom connector 8 can be set. Different detection objectives have different working distance requirements. During observation, the bottom connector 8 of the corresponding height specification can be easily replaced to adapt to the working distance of the detection objective lens without replacing the entire sample cell. This solves the operational problem of "replacing everything once" in the prior art, greatly reduces the cost of use, and provides a stable and reliable sample environment for high-resolution imaging of the inverted lens microscope system.

[0025] Specifically, the side connector inside the first mounting hole 2 on the side wall of the sample cell is sized to match the first mounting hole 2, and the central axis of the side connector is collinear with the central axis of the first mounting hole 2, ensuring the positioning accuracy of the curved side window 5. The incident light passes horizontally through the curved side window 5 to form a horizontally incident excitation plate. The lower surface of the light-transmitting element installed on the bottom connector 8 inside the second mounting hole 3 at the bottom of the sample cell is set directly opposite the detection objective lens, and the central axis of the detection objective lens is collinear with the central axis of the light-transmitting element, forming a vertical detection light path. At the same time, this detection light path is orthogonal to the horizontally incident excitation plate in the sample cell.

[0026] Specifically, an axial stop and a circumferential anti-rotation component are provided in the second mounting hole 3 and / or the bottom connector 8. The axial stop is used to axially position the bottom connector 8, and the circumferential anti-rotation component is used to prevent the bottom connector 8 from rotating in the second mounting hole 3. By setting the axial stop and the circumferential anti-rotation component, the axial and circumferential positioning of the bottom connector 8 is ensured, the stable installation of the bottom connector 8 is ensured, and the change in the position of the light-transmitting component during the detection process is avoided from affecting the observation effect.

[0027] Specifically, the axial stop includes a first boss 4 and a second boss 80; the first boss 4 is fixedly disposed inside the second mounting hole 3, and the second boss 80 is disposed on the outer side of the lower part of the bottom connector 8, and the second boss 80 abuts against the first boss 4 axially.

[0028] Specifically, the circumferential anti-rotation component includes a first positioning hole 31 and a first positioning protrusion 801; the first positioning hole 31 is disposed on the periphery of the second mounting hole 3, and the first positioning protrusion 801 is disposed on the side wall of the second boss 80, and the first positioning protrusion 801 is matched and inserted into the first positioning hole 31.

[0029] The first boss 4 is disposed within the second mounting hole 3 and extends toward the center of the second mounting hole 3. The second boss 80 is disposed at the bottom of the bottom connector 8 and extends away from the center of the bottom connector 8. The top surface of the second boss 80 abuts against the bottom surface of the first boss 4 to axially stop the bottom connector 8. The first positioning hole 31 is disposed on the periphery of the second connecting hole. The first positioning protrusion 801 is disposed on the side wall of the second boss 80. The first positioning protrusion 801 is matched and inserted with the first positioning hole 31 to prevent the bottom connector 8 from rotating circumferentially. The abutment between the second boss 80 and the first boss 4 achieves precise axial positioning. The first positioning protrusion 801 and the first positioning hole 31 together form an anti-rotation mating structure, ensuring the stable installation of the bottom connector 8 and enabling users to easily replace the bottom connector 8 with the corresponding height specification according to the working distance requirements of different inspection objectives.

[0030] Specifically, in addition to the traditional glass bottom window 813, the light-transmitting film 823 is also a good imaging material. Therefore, the light-transmitting component of the present invention includes a glass bottom window 813 and a light-transmitting film 823. Based on the different characteristics of the two imaging materials, the bottom connector 8 of this application is divided into two types, namely the first connector 81 and the second connector 82.

[0031] like Figures 3 to 6 As shown, the bottom connector 8 includes a first connector 81; the first connector 81 includes a first body 810, and a third mounting hole 811 is provided in the middle of the first body 810. A third boss 812 is fixedly provided in the third mounting hole 811, and the glass bottom window 813 is installed in the third mounting hole 811. The third mounting hole 811 provided in the middle of the first body 810 not only provides installation space for the glass bottom window 813, but also the third boss 812 extending from its top to the center directly abuts against the end face of the glass bottom window 813, ensuring the accurate positioning of the glass bottom window 813 in the axial direction and avoiding optical imaging distortion caused by positional deviation.

[0032] Specifically, the third mounting hole 811 has second positioning holes 814 at both ends in the circumferential direction. The first body 810 also has a positioning ring 815 and a third fixing ring 816 installed inside. The two ends of the positioning ring 815 have second positioning protrusions 817 that match the second positioning holes 814. The third fixing ring 816 is threadedly connected to the third mounting hole 811 to press the positioning ring 815 and the bottom glass window 813.

[0033] The second positioning holes 814 at both ends of the third mounting hole 811 precisely engage with the second positioning protrusion 817 on the positioning ring 815, achieving accurate circumferential positioning of the glass bottom window 813. This effectively prevents rotational displacement of the glass bottom window 813 during installation and use, ensuring the stability of the optical system and imaging consistency. Simultaneously, the engagement structure between the positioning ring 815 and the glass bottom window 813 forms a dual positioning mechanism—radial positioning via the inner wall of the third mounting hole 811, and circumferential positioning via the engagement of the second positioning protrusion 817 and the second positioning hole 814 on the positioning ring 815. This significantly improves the installation accuracy of the glass bottom window 813. The threaded connection design between the third fixing ring 816 and the third mounting hole 811 not only ensures a stable and reliable seal by pressing the positioning ring 815 and the glass bottom window 813 together, but also makes the replacement of the glass bottom window 813 more convenient. High-precision installation can be achieved without the use of adhesive, solving the problem of maintaining high-precision concentricity in traditional bonding processes.

[0034] Specifically, the first body 810 has a first annular groove 818 on its outer periphery, and a first sealing ring 819 is installed in the first annular groove 818. The first annular groove 818 on the outer periphery of the first body 810 provides a precise installation position for the first sealing ring 819, ensuring that the sealing ring remains stable and does not shift during installation and use, effectively preventing sealing failure caused by the positional displacement of the sealing ring. This structural design allows the first sealing ring 819 to be uniformly compressed, forming a continuous and complete sealing ring, which significantly improves the sealing reliability at the bottom connection of the sample cell, effectively prevents leakage of imaging solvent, and protects the optical components of the microscope system from corrosion.

[0035] like Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the bottom connector 8 includes a second connector 82; The second connector 82 includes a second body 820, a fourth through hole 821 is provided in the middle of the second body 820, a fourth boss 822 is fixedly provided in the fourth through hole 821, and a light-transmitting film 823 covers the fourth boss 822 and the outer wall of the second body 820.

[0036] The fourth protrusion 822, extending towards the center from the top of the second body 820, provides a crucial central support structure for the light-transmitting film 823. This effectively prevents the film from sagging during use, ensuring the flatness and optical performance of the observation area. Simultaneously, the design of the fourth protrusion 822 extending along the outer periphery of the second body 820, combined with the edge of the light-transmitting film 823, forms a precise tension control mechanism for the film. This ensures the film maintains uniform and appropriate tension after installation, preventing both image distortion due to excessive relaxation and damage from excessive stretching. Furthermore, the film allows for controllable adaptive deformation during focusing, adapting to changes in the objective lens's front-end position. When the objective lens is finely focused along the optical axis, the film forms a stable contact interface supported by the fourth protrusion 822, effectively reducing focusing deviation caused by relative displacement between the lens and the imaging fluid. This ensures the distance between the sample and the objective lens front end remains stable within the objective lens's working distance range.

[0037] Specifically, the light-transmitting film 823 is made of PDMS. Thin and highly transparent PDMS film is an excellent imaging material. PDMS film has strong resistance to acid and alkali corrosion and can withstand an operating temperature range of -50℃ to 200℃. In practical applications of multi-media objectives (oil immersion lenses, water immersion lenses), the inspection objective must directly contact the imaging liquid (e.g., oil immersion lenses need to contact the immersion oil, and water immersion lenses need to contact the water layer) to meet the optical requirements of high-resolution observation. However, when an inverted structure is used for the inspection objective, the liquid is prone to leakage, which will further affect the imaging. Therefore, this application uses PDMS film to achieve efficient optimization. On the one hand, PDMS film is elastic, which can tightly adhere to the lens and the liquid, ensuring full contact between the two, and the single-layer thin film isolation does not affect the imaging quality. On the other hand, PDMS film can move with the lens during focusing operations, which can reduce focusing deviation caused by relative displacement between the lens and the imaging liquid, ensuring accurate focusing.

[0038] Specifically, the second body 820 has a second annular groove 824 on its outer periphery, and a second sealing ring 825 is installed in the second annular groove 824. The second annular groove 824 on the outer periphery of the second body 820 provides a precise and stable installation position for the second sealing ring 825, ensuring that the sealing ring maintains a constant position and does not shift during installation and use, effectively preventing sealing failure caused by changes in the position of the sealing ring. This structural design allows the second sealing ring 825 to be uniformly compressed, forming a continuous and complete sealing ring, which significantly improves the sealing reliability of the PDMS film edge area, effectively prevents leakage of imaging solvent, protects the optical components of the microscope system from corrosion, and the second sealing ring 825 elastically presses the edge of the PDMS film, so that the PDMS film can maintain a uniform and appropriate tension after installation.

[0039] Specifically, each side connector includes a first retaining ring 6, which is threadedly connected to each first mounting hole 2 to press against each curved side window 5; the sample cell of the light sheet microscope also includes a second retaining ring 7, which is threadedly connected to the second mounting hole 3 to press against the bottom connector 8; both the side connectors and the bottom connector 8 use threaded connection instead of traditional adhesive process for fixation, which greatly reduces the cost of use and provides a stable and reliable sample environment for high-resolution imaging of the inverted lens microscope system.

[0040] Specifically, heating elements 9 and mounting walls 11 are installed on the exterior of each side wall of the housing 1; each side wall of the housing 1 is provided with a first magnetic attraction hole 10, and a first magnet is installed in each first magnetic attraction hole 10; each mounting wall 11 is provided with a second magnet that is magnetically attracted to the first magnet at the position corresponding to each first magnetic attraction hole 10; the mounting wall 11 is attached to the outer side wall of the housing 1 to clamp the heating element 9; both the mounting wall 11 and the heating element 9 are provided with clearance holes 12 corresponding to the first mounting holes 2.

[0041] In existing technologies, the sample cell needs to be installed on an additional heating stage to provide a suitable temperature for imaging live samples, resulting in a large device size and occupying a lot of space. This invention integrates heating elements 9 on each side wall of the housing 1, which is compact and saves space. The heating elements 9, which are evenly distributed on all four sides, ensure that the imaging solvent in the sample cell is heated uniformly from all directions, providing a more stable and uniform survival environment for live samples. The first magnetic attraction hole 10 set on the outside of each side wall of the housing 1 is equipped with a first magnet, which, together with the second magnet set at the corresponding position on the mounting wall 11, magnetically attracts and stably clamps the heating element 9 between the housing 1 and the mounting wall 11, ensuring that the heating element 9 can be quickly installed and removed on all four sides, greatly improving the ease of operation and maintenance efficiency of the equipment. The avoidance hole 12 set on the mounting wall 11 and the heating element 9, which corresponds to the first mounting hole 2, ensures the unobstructed illumination light path and does not affect the optical imaging quality.

[0042] Specifically, heating element 9 is a PI heating film. PI heating film is very flexible in size and shape because the heating circuit can be customized. In addition, it heats up quickly and the heat is distributed evenly.

[0043] Specifically, it also includes a base connector 13; the base connector 13 is magnetically connected to the bottom of the housing 1.

[0044] Specifically, the bottom of the housing 1 is provided with a guide hole 15 and a cross positioning hole 19, and the base connector 13 is provided with a guide pin 16 that mates with the guide hole 15; the bottom of the housing 1 is provided with a second magnetic attraction hole 17, and a third magnet is provided inside the second magnetic attraction hole 17; the base connector 13 is provided with a third magnetic attraction hole 18 corresponding to each of the second magnetic attraction holes 17, and a fourth magnet that is magnetically attracted to the third magnet is provided inside the third magnetic attraction hole 18; the top of the base connector 13 is also provided with a cross protrusion 20 that matches the cross positioning hole 19.

[0045] The base connector 13 further improves the stability of the housing 1 under use. The magnetic attraction structure formed by the third magnet in the second magnetic hole 17 at the bottom of the housing 1 and the fourth magnet in the third magnetic hole 18 of the base connector 13 enables quick, tool-free installation and disassembly between the sample cell and the base, greatly improving the ease of operation and maintenance efficiency of the equipment. The guide hole 15 at the bottom of the housing 1 and the guide pin 16 on the base connector 13 are precisely matched to ensure high-precision positioning of the sample cell when it is installed on the base, effectively avoiding optical axis offset problems caused by installation deviations. The cross positioning hole 19 at the bottom of the housing 1 and the cross protrusion 20 on the base connector 13 form a precisely matched anti-rotation structure, effectively eliminating the small rotation gap that may exist in the traditional circular guide pin 16, and solving the circumferential displacement problem that may occur during the installation of the base connector 13. It is particularly suitable for high-throughput imaging scenarios that require frequent sample changes or multi-condition comparison experiments.

[0046] Specifically, the base connector 13 is a hollow frame structure, and the bottom of the housing 1 is provided with multiple downwardly extending positioning edges 14, each of which is attached to the inner edge of the frame structure, forming a physical circumferential limiting structure. This edge-fitting design works in conjunction with the existing magnetic adsorption structure, guide pin 16, and cross positioning structure to construct a multi-dimensional, all-round precise positioning system. This not only ensures the initial positioning accuracy of the sample cell during installation, but also effectively suppresses positional shifts caused by external vibrations and operational interference during microscopic imaging. The tight fit between the positioning edge 14 and the inner edge of the frame also enhances the rigidity of the overall structure and improves the system's ability to resist external interference, so that the sample cell can still maintain precise optical alignment even under long-term continuous observation or complex experimental environments.

[0047] Specifically, a third sealing ring 21 is provided between the curved side window 5 and the first fixed retaining ring 6, and a fourth sealing ring 22 (not shown in the figure) is provided between the positioning ring 815 and the glass bottom window 813. The third sealing ring 21 and the fourth sealing ring 22 effectively prevent the leakage of imaging solvent in the sample cell and protect the microscope optical system from corrosion.

[0048] Specifically, the first sealing ring 819, the second sealing ring 825, the third sealing ring 21 and the fourth sealing ring 22 are all made of materials with high chemical corrosion resistance and high temperature resistance.

[0049] The working process of this invention is as follows: The sample cell of the light sheet microscope provided in this embodiment of the invention exhibits high flexibility and convenience in actual operation. During the installation stage, the user selects the appropriate type of bottom connector 8 according to experimental requirements; if a traditional glass bottom window 813 is required, the first body 810 of the first connector 81 is inserted into the second mounting hole 3 at the bottom of the housing 1, so that the second boss 80 abuts against the first boss 4, and at the same time, the first positioning protrusion 801 cooperates with the first positioning hole 31 to achieve anti-rotation positioning; then the glass bottom window 813 is placed into the third mounting hole 811, so that it is in close contact with the end face of the third boss 812 to complete axial positioning, and then the second positioning protrusion 817 of the positioning ring 815 is aligned with the second positioning holes 814 at both ends of the third mounting hole 811 and inserted, and finally the third fixing retaining ring 816 is screwed in to press the positioning ring 815 to fix the glass bottom window 813 in the third mounting hole 811. If PDMS film is required for live imaging, the second body 820 of the second connector 82 is installed in place, and the PDMS film is evenly stretched to cover the surface of the fourth protrusion 822, ensuring that the edge of the PDMS film extends along the outer periphery of the second body 820 and maintains appropriate tension. After being fixed by the second fixing ring 7, the PDMS film is stably installed in the corresponding position under the elastic constraint of the second sealing ring 825. For the side lighting, the user inserts the curved side windows 5 one by one into the first mounting holes 2 on each side of the housing 1, places the third sealing ring 21, and screws in the first fixing ring 6 for compression and sealing. The threaded connection ensures high-precision concentric installation of the curved side windows 5. For temperature control requirements, the user places the PI heating film on the side wall of the housing 1. The PI heating film is stably clamped between the housing 1 and the mounting wall 11 by the magnetic attraction between the mounting wall 11 and the first and second magnets. The design of the clearance hole 12 ensures that the lighting path is not affected. Finally, align the guide pin 16 at the bottom of the housing 1 with the base connector 13, ensuring precise engagement between the cross protrusion 20 and the cross positioning hole 19. The sample cell and base are then quickly fixed using magnetic attraction from the third and fourth magnets. This multi-dimensional positioning structure ensures precise positioning of the optical system. During use, the user adds an appropriate imaging solvent to the sample cell, places the sample to be observed, and the illumination path horizontally illuminates the sample from the curved side window 5, while the detection path observes vertically through the bottom connector 8. When using a PDMS film, its elastic properties allow it to adapt to changes in the objective lens tip position, ensuring the distance between the sample and the objective lens tip remains stable within the working distance range. The evenly distributed heating elements 9 on all four sides provide comprehensive heating of the imaging solvent, offering a stable temperature environment for live samples.During maintenance, when it's necessary to change the detection objective lens to one with a different working distance, the user only needs to loosen the second retaining ring 7, remove the current bottom connector 8, and replace it with a new bottom connector 8 of the matching height specification; there's no need to replace the entire sample cell. When the curved side window 5 needs to be replaced or cleaned, simply loosen the corresponding first retaining ring 6, remove the curved side window 5 for processing, and then reinstall it. The entire process requires no glue, avoiding the low positioning accuracy and difficult replacement problems caused by traditional adhesive processes. This modular, detachable design allows the sample cell to quickly adapt to different experimental conditions, significantly improving the efficiency and imaging quality of the microscopic imaging system while reducing maintenance costs.

[0050] In summary, the sample cell of the light-sheet microscope in this embodiment of the invention adopts a modularly designed side connector. The side connector is detachably installed in the first mounting hole, and a curved side window is fixed on the side connector to replace the traditional adhesive process. This not only facilitates the replacement of the curved side window but also ensures the high-precision concentric installation of the curved side window. Incident light passes through the curved side window to illuminate the sample, significantly improving the focusing accuracy of the illumination light and effectively avoiding aberration problems caused by inaccurate side window positioning, thereby greatly improving the quality of microscopic imaging. At the same time, the bottom connector adopts a modular design and is detachably installed in the second mounting hole. A light-transmitting element is set on the bottom connector, and the detection objective acquires the image of the sample through the light-transmitting element. Because the bottom connector provided by this invention is detachable, various height specifications of bottom connectors can be set. Different detection objectives have different working distance requirements, and the bottom connector of the corresponding height specification can be easily replaced during observation to adapt to the working distance of the detection objective without replacing the entire sample cell. This solves the operational problem of "replacing everything once" in the prior art, greatly reduces the cost of use, and provides a stable and reliable sample environment for high-resolution imaging of the inverted lens microscope system.

[0051] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and substitutions can be made without departing from the technical principles of the present invention, and these improvements and substitutions should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A sample cell for a light-sheet microscope, characterized in that, include: A box (1) is used to place samples. The box (1) has a first mounting hole (2) on at least one side and a second mounting hole (3) on the bottom. At least one side connector, each of the side connectors is detachably installed in each of the first mounting holes (2), and each of the side connectors is equipped with a curved side window (5). The bottom connector (8) is detachably installed in the second mounting hole (3), and a light-transmitting element is installed on the bottom connector (8).

2. The sample cell for a light-sheet microscope according to claim 1, characterized in that, An axial stop and a circumferential anti-rotation member are provided in the second mounting hole (3) and / or the bottom connector (8). The axial stop is used to axially position the bottom connector (8), and the circumferential anti-rotation member is used to prevent the bottom connector (8) from rotating in the second mounting hole (3).

3. The sample cell for a light-sheet microscope according to claim 2, characterized in that, The axial stop includes a first boss (4) and a second boss (80). The first boss (4) is fixedly disposed inside the second mounting hole (3), and the second boss (80) is disposed outside the bottom connector (8). The second boss (80) abuts against the first boss (4) axially. The circumferential anti-rotation component includes a first positioning hole (31) and a first positioning protrusion (801). The first positioning hole (31) is opened on the periphery of the second mounting hole (3), and the first positioning protrusion (801) is disposed on the side wall of the second boss (80). The first positioning protrusion (801) is matched and inserted into the first positioning hole (31).

4. The sample cell for a light-sheet microscope according to claim 1, characterized in that, The light-transmitting component includes a glass bottom window (813), and the bottom connector (8) includes a first connector (81). The first connector (81) includes a first body (810), a third mounting hole (811) is provided in the middle of the first body (810), a third boss (812) is fixedly provided in the third mounting hole (811), and the glass bottom window (813) is installed in the third mounting hole (811).

5. A sample cell for a light-sheet microscope according to claim 4, characterized in that, The third mounting hole (811) has second positioning holes (814) at both ends in the circumferential direction. The first body (810) is also equipped with a positioning ring (815) and a third fixing ring (816). The two ends of the positioning ring (815) are provided with second positioning protrusions (817) that match the second positioning holes (814). The third retaining ring (816) is connected to the third mounting hole (811) to press the positioning ring (815) and the bottom glass window (813).

6. The sample cell for a light-sheet microscope according to claim 1, characterized in that, The light-transmitting component includes a light-transmitting film (823), and the bottom connector (8) includes a second connector (82); The second connector (82) includes a second body (820), a fourth through hole (821) is provided in the middle of the second body (820), a fourth boss (822) is fixedly provided in the fourth through hole (821), and the light-transmitting film (823) covers the fourth boss (822) and the outer wall of the second body (820).

7. A sample cell for a light-sheet microscope according to claim 6, characterized in that, The material of the light-transmitting film (823) is PDMS.

8. A sample cell for a light-sheet microscope according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the side connectors includes a first retaining ring (6), which is connected to each of the first mounting holes (2) to press against each of the curved side windows (5); The sample cell of the light sheet microscope also includes a second retaining ring (7), which is connected to the second mounting hole (3) to press the bottom connector (8).

9. A sample cell for a light-sheet microscope according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, Heating elements (9) and mounting walls (11) are installed on the exterior of each side wall of the housing (1). Each side wall of the box (1) is provided with a first magnetic suction hole (10), and a first magnet is installed in each of the first magnetic suction holes (10). Each of the mounting walls (11) is provided with a second magnet that is magnetically attracted to the first magnet at the position corresponding to each of the first magnetic holes (10). The mounting wall (11) is attached to the outer wall of the housing (1) to clamp the heating element (9). Both the mounting wall (11) and the heating element (9) are provided with clearance holes (12) corresponding to the first mounting hole (2).

10. A sample cell for a light-sheet microscope according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, It also includes a base connector (13); The base connector (13) is magnetically connected to the bottom of the housing (1).

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