Microscopic observation device for real-time monitoring of living cells

Abstract

The microscopic observation device comprises a box body, a light source module and an imaging module located on a substrate in the box body, an objective table is arranged on the box body, an observation window is arranged on the objective table, the light source module is located above the observation window, and the imaging module is located above the observation window. The imaging module comprises a first prism, an objective lens module, a second prism, a fluorescence module, a third prism, a barrel lens module, a fourth prism and a camera module which are sequentially arranged from the object space to the image space in the light propagation direction, the first prism is located below the observation window, and the first prism, the second prism, the third prism and the fourth prism are all rectangular prisms; the fluorescent module can be switched on a light path between the second prism and the third prism. The microscopic observation device provided by the utility model is compact in structure and extremely small in overall size; and the observation effect can be achieved by switching two different imaging modes of bright field white light and fluorescent light according to different working requirements.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of cell culture technology, specifically relating to a microscopic observation device for real-time monitoring of living cells. Background Technology

[0002] Cell culture is an important and commonly used technique in cell biology research. During cell culture, real-time monitoring of the cell's growth status is crucial, and post-culture observation and analysis are necessary. However, cells are small and complex, requiring the aid of microscopic structures to observe their morphology, structure, and the various molecular compositions and functions within the cell. Furthermore, laboratory cell culture has stringent environmental requirements, typically conducted in the confined space of a temperature- and humidity-controlled biosafety cabinet or incubator. Currently, most observation instruments offer limited observation capabilities and cannot simultaneously meet the needs of sample observation under both bright-field and fluorescence conditions. Moreover, their large size prevents them from fitting into biosafety cabinets or incubators for cell culture observation, posing significant challenges to cell culture observation. Utility Model Content

[0003] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, the purpose of this invention is to provide a compact, small-sized microscopic observation device that can monitor cell growth in real time within a biosafety cabinet, clean bench, or incubator.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0005] This utility model provides a microscopic observation device for real-time monitoring of live cells, including a housing, a light source module, and an imaging module located on a substrate inside the housing. A stage is provided on the housing, and an observation window is provided on the stage. The light source module is located above the observation window. The imaging module includes a first prism, an objective lens module, a second prism, a fluorescence module, a third prism, a tube lens module, a fourth prism, and a camera module arranged sequentially from the object side to the image side along the light propagation direction. The first prism is located below the observation window. The first, second, third, and fourth prisms are all right-angle prisms. The fluorescence module can be switched on the optical path between the second and third prisms.

[0006] Furthermore, the light source module includes a lamp arm and a white light source. The lamp arm is mounted on the housing, and the white light source is disposed on the lamp arm, located above the observation window.

[0007] Furthermore, the objective module includes an objective lens and a motorized slide, with the objective lens mounted on the motorized slide and the motorized slide mounted on the substrate.

[0008] Furthermore, the fluorescence module includes a fluorescence light source, a filter group, and a fluorescence switching component. The filter group is located in front of the fluorescence light source, and the fluorescence switching component is installed below the fluorescence light source.

[0009] Furthermore, the fluorescence switching component includes a drive motor, a gear, a slider, and a slide rail. The gear is connected to the rotating shaft of the drive motor, the upper part of the slider is fixedly connected to the fluorescence light source, the bottom surface of the slider has a toothed groove that matches the gear, the side of the slider is slidably connected to the slide rail, and the slide rail is mounted on the substrate.

[0010] Furthermore, the tube lens module consists of multiple lenses and apertures.

[0011] Furthermore, the camera module is a CCD camera.

[0012] Furthermore, the observation window is equipped with high-transmittance glass.

[0013] Furthermore, the inner wall of the housing has multiple protrusions, and the substrate is fixed to the protrusions.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0015] The microscopic observation device provided by this invention utilizes a right-angle prism to fold the light path four times, resulting in high space utilization, a compact structure, and extremely small overall size. It can monitor cell growth status in real time in biosafety cabinets, clean benches, or incubators. Furthermore, it is equipped with a bright-field white light source and a fluorescence module, allowing for switching between two different imaging modes to achieve the desired observation effect according to different work needs. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of the microscopic observation device of this utility model;

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the imaging module structure of the microscopic observation device of this utility model;

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the objective lens module structure of the microscopic observation device of this utility model;

[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the fluorescence module structure of the microscopic observation device of this utility model;

[0020] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the box of the microscopic observation device of this utility model;

[0021] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the optical path of the microscopic observation device of this utility model during bright-field observation.

[0022] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the optical path of the microscopic observation device of this utility model during fluorescence observation. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To enable those skilled in the art to more clearly understand the technical means and effects adopted by this utility model to achieve its intended purpose, the following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments, further illustrates the specific implementation methods, structures, features, and effects of this utility model. The examples given are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this utility model.

[0024] Reference Figures 1 to 5 This embodiment provides a microscopic observation device for real-time monitoring of living cells, including a housing 1, a light source module 2, and an imaging module located on a substrate 3 inside the housing 1.

[0025] like Figure 1 As shown, a stage 101 is provided on the housing 1, and an observation window 102 is provided on the stage 101; the light source module 2 includes a lamp arm 201 and a white light source 202. The lamp arm 201 is installed on the housing 1, and the white light source 202 is installed on the lamp arm 201, located above the observation window 102.

[0026] like Figure 2 As shown, the imaging module includes a first prism 4, an objective lens module 5, a second prism 6, a fluorescence module 7, a third prism 8, a tube lens module 9, a fourth prism 10, and a camera module 11 arranged sequentially from the object side to the image side along the direction of light propagation. The first prism 4, the second prism 6, the third prism 8, and the fourth prism 10 are all right-angle prisms. The first prism 4 is located below the observation window 102. The fluorescence module 7 can be switched in the optical path between the second prism 6 and the third prism 8.

[0027] like Figure 3 As shown, the objective module 5 includes an objective lens 501 and a motorized slide 502. The objective lens 501 is mounted on the motorized slide 502, which is mounted on the substrate 3. The objective lens 501 can slide back and forth on the motorized slide 502 for autofocus.

[0028] like Figure 4 As shown, the fluorescence module 7 includes a fluorescence light source 701, a filter group 702, and a fluorescence switching component. The filter group 702 is located in front of the fluorescence light source 701, and the fluorescence switching component is installed below the fluorescence light source 701.

[0029] The fluorescence switching assembly includes a drive motor 703, a gear 704, a slider 705, and a slide rail 706. The gear 704 is connected to the shaft of the drive motor 703. The upper part of the slider 705 is fixedly connected to the fluorescence light source 701. The bottom surface of the slider 705 has toothed grooves that match the gear 704. The side of the slider 705 is slidably connected to the slide rail 706, which is mounted on the substrate 3. The drive motor 703 drives the gear 704 to rotate, causing the slider 705 to slide on the slide rail 706, thus switching the filter group 702 into and out of the optical path between the second prism 6 and the third prism 8.

[0030] The tube lens module 9 consists of multiple lenses and apertures, which serve to magnify the image and focus it.

[0031] Camera module 11 is a CCD camera, which is connected to a computer via a transmission line to display and take pictures of the observed cell microscopic images in real time.

[0032] The electric slide 502 and the fluorescence switching component 703 are both connected to a computer via transmission lines to perform operations such as automatic focusing and light source switching.

[0033] To prevent dust and other contaminants from interfering with the imaging module, the observation window 102 is sealed with high-transmittance glass. Figure 5 As shown. Multiple protrusions 103 are provided on the inner wall of the housing 1, and the substrate 3 is fixed to the protrusions 103, thus placing the imaging module in a sealed space. The portion of the lamp arm 201 mounted on the housing 1 extends below the substrate, and the power cord and all transmission lines in the lamp arm 201 exit from the opening on the bottom plate of the housing 1 to ensure the airtightness of the housing interior.

[0034] like Figure 6 As shown, during bright-field observation, the filter group 702 is first switched out of the optical path between the second prism 6 and the third prism 8. The white light source 202 emits bright-field light that illuminates the observed living cells, and the resulting image projection enters the enclosure through the observation window 102. The first prism 4 changes the direction of the light path, converting vertically incident light into horizontally propagating light, thus performing the first fold of the light path. After being reflected by the first prism 4, the image projection enters the objective lens 501 for magnification and reaches the second prism 6. The second prism 6 performs a second fold of the light path, reflecting the image projection to the third prism 8. The third prism 8 performs a third fold of the light path, reflecting the image projection into the tube lens module 9 for a second magnification before reaching the fourth prism 10. The fourth prism 10 performs a fourth fold of the light path, reflecting the image projection to the camera module 11. The second prism 6, third prism 8, and fourth prism 10 together perform three 90° folds of the light path, further reducing the size of the light path within the device and improving space utilization. The images received by the camera module 11 are connected to a computer via a transmission line to display and photograph the observed cell microscopic images in real time.

[0035] like Figure 7 As shown, during fluorescence observation, the filter group 702 is first switched into the optical path between the second prism 6 and the third prism 8. The excitation light emitted by the fluorescence source 701 first reaches the filter group 702. The filter group 702 consists of an excitation filter, a dichroic mirror, and an emission filter. The excitation filter filters the excitation light to obtain a narrow-band excitation wavelength, preventing long-wavelength light from the source from entering the filter group; the dichroic mirror reflects short-wavelength light and transmits long-wavelength light; the emission filter transmits the long-wavelength light emitted by fluorescence and filters out short-wavelength light. After the excitation light is emitted from the filter group 702, it reaches the second prism 6, is reflected by the second prism 6, enters the objective lens 501, and then reaches the first prism 4. After being reflected by the first prism 4, it reaches the observed living cell, causing the cell to emit fluorescence. The fluorescence is reflected by the first prism 4 and enters the optical path. The image is magnified by the objective lens 501, and after being reflected twice by the second prism 6 and the third prism 8, it enters the tube lens module 9 for a second magnification. The image is then reflected by the fourth prism 10 to the camera module 11.

[0036] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model in any way. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the disclosed technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present utility model. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present utility model, without departing from the scope of the present utility model, shall still fall within the scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A microscopic observation device for real-time monitoring of living cells, characterized in that, The device includes a housing, a light source module, and an imaging module located on a substrate inside the housing. The housing has a stage with an observation window. The light source module is located above the observation window. The imaging module includes a first prism, an objective lens module, a second prism, a fluorescence module, a third prism, a tube lens module, a fourth prism, and a camera module arranged sequentially from the object side to the image side along the direction of light propagation. The first prism is located below the observation window. The first, second, third, and fourth prisms are all right-angle prisms. The fluorescence module can be switched on the optical path between the second and third prisms.

2. The microscopic observation device for real-time monitoring of living cells according to claim 1, characterized in that, The light source module includes a lamp arm and a white light source. The lamp arm is mounted on the housing, and the white light source is located on the lamp arm above the observation window.

3. The microscopic observation device for real-time monitoring of living cells according to claim 1, characterized in that, The objective module includes an objective lens and a motorized slide. The objective lens is mounted on the motorized slide, and the motorized slide is mounted on the substrate.

4. The microscopic observation device for real-time monitoring of living cells according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fluorescence module includes a fluorescence light source, a filter group, and a fluorescence switching component. The filter group is located in front of the fluorescence light source, and the fluorescence switching component is installed below the fluorescence light source.

5. The microscopic observation device for real-time monitoring of living cells according to claim 4, characterized in that, The fluorescence switching component includes a drive motor, a gear, a slider, and a slide rail. The gear is connected to the shaft of the drive motor. The upper part of the slider is fixedly connected to the fluorescence light source. The bottom surface of the slider has a toothed groove that matches the gear. The side of the slider is slidably connected to the slide rail, which is mounted on the substrate.

6. The microscopic observation device for real-time monitoring of living cells according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tube lens module consists of multiple lenses and apertures.

7. The microscopic observation device for real-time monitoring of living cells according to claim 1, characterized in that, The camera module is a CCD camera.

8. The microscopic observation device for real-time monitoring of living cells according to claim 1, characterized in that, The observation window is fitted with high-transmittance glass.

9. The microscopic observation device for real-time monitoring of living cells according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall of the box has multiple protrusions, and the base plate is fixed on the protrusions.

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