Immersion Liquid Temperature Control at the Microscope Objective Tip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing immersion systems for microscope objectives struggle with temperature control precision, particularly in inverted microscopes, as they require complex integration of heaters and sensors that interfere with other instruments and cannot maintain the required +/- 0.1°C tolerance for examining living cells.
Innovation Solution
An immersion system with a heating unit integrated into the supply line and a contactless temperature sensor near the objective tip, controlled by a unit that maintains the immersion liquid temperature at the objective tip without additional sensors or heaters on the objective or cap, using a closed-loop control system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If heaters and sensors are integrated into the objective cap or objective itself, then temperature control capability is improved, but device complexity increases and interference with other sensors occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the temperature sensing function from the objective cap and objective itself, placing the sensor in the immersion liquid reservoir instead. This separates the sensing function from the optical components, eliminating interference while maintaining temperature monitoring capability through thermal conduction of the immersion liquid.
Solution Approach 2:
The immersion liquid acts as an intermediary medium to transmit thermal information from the objective tip to the temperature sensor in the reservoir. This allows indirect temperature measurement without direct contact between the sensor and optical components, reducing complexity and interference.
2Measurement precision
If multiple heaters and sensors are integrated into the objective cap, then temperature control precision is improved, but interference with other cap sensors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the temperature sensor from the objective cap environment and places it in the immersion liquid reservoir. This extraction eliminates the harmful interference between multiple sensors that would occur if all sensors were integrated into the cap, while maintaining measurement precision through the thermal conduction pathway.
3Productivity
If immersion liquid is continuously supplied and pumped, then fresh liquid is provided to the objective, but temperature variations occur due to uncontrolled temperature liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary temperature control by heating the immersion liquid in the reservoir before it is pumped to the objective. The temperature sensor in the reservoir monitors the liquid temperature, and the heating element adjusts the temperature in advance, ensuring stable temperature delivery to the objective despite continuous liquid replacement.
4Temperature
If temperature control is implemented in the immersion liquid supply line, then temperature stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the temperature control functions into the existing immersion liquid supply system. The heating element and temperature sensor are integrated into the reservoir and supply line, combining temperature monitoring and control with the liquid supply mechanism, thereby achieving temperature stability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Precisely regulates immersion liquid temperature at the objective tip to within +/- 0.1°C, reducing interference and maintaining optimal conditions for live cell examination.
Implementation Method 1
a heating unit integrated into the immersion liquid supply line
Implementation Method 2
at least one contactless temperature sensor arranged next to the microscope objective near the front lens such that a temperature of an area around the objective tip can be detected
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an immersion system (100) for supplying an immersion liquid (112) to a front lens (122) of a microscope objective (120) of a microscope, the temperature of the immersion liquid (112) being controlled at a predetermined temperature, the system (100) comprising an immersion liquid supply line (110) configured for supplying immersion liquid (112) from an immersion liquid reservoir (740) to the front lens (122) of the microscope objective (120), a heating unit (114) integrated into the immersion liquid supply line (110), at least one temperature sensor (116, 316, 616) for detecting a temperature and for outputting a temperature signal corresponding to the detected temperature, the at least one temperature sensor (616) being configured to be arranged near the microscope objective (120) for contactless detection of a temperature corresponding to a temperature of the immersion liquid (112) supplied to the front lens (122) of the microscope objective (120) and/or the at least one temperature sensor (116, 316) being arranged at the heating unit (114) to detect a temperature corresponding to a temperature of the immersion liquid (112) supplied to the front lens (122) of the microscope objective (120), and a control unit (530) connected to the at least one temperature sensor (116, 316, 616) and to the heating unit (114) for controlling a power of the heating unit (114) depending on the temperature signal received from the at least one temperature sensor (116, 316, 616).