A color translating UV
microscope for research and clinical applications involving imaging of living or dynamic samples in real time and providing several novel techniques for image creation,
optical sectioning,
dynamic motion tracking and
contrast enhancement comprises a
light source emitting UV light, and visible and IR light if desired. This light is directed to the condenser via a means of selecting monochromatic, bandpass, shortpass, longpass or notch limited light. The condenser can be a brightfield, darkfield, phase contrast or DIC. The slide is mounted in a stage capable of high speed movements in the X, Y and Z dimensions. The
microscope uses
broadband,
narrowband or monochromat optimized objectives to direct the image of the sample to an
image intensifier or UV sensitive video
system. When an
image intensifier is used it is either followed by a
video camera, or in the simple version, by a synchronized set of filters which translate the image to a
color image and deliver it to an
eyepiece for viewing by the microscopist. Between the objective and the
image intensifier there can be a selection of static or dynamic switchable filters. The
video camera, if used, produces an image which is digitized by an
image capture board in a computer. The image is then reassembled by an
overlay process called color translation and the computer uses a combination of feedback from the information in the image and operator control to perform various tasks such as
optical sectioning and three dimensional reconstruction, coordination of the monochromater while collecting multiple images sets called image planes, tracking dynamic sample elements in three space, control of the environment of the slide including electric, magnetic, acoustic, temperature, pressure and light levels, color filters and
optics, control for
microscope mode switching between transmitted, reflected, fluorescent, Raman, scanning,
confocal, area limited, autofluorescent, acousto-optical and other
modes.