Incubated-Sample Microscope With Segmented Climate-Controlled Chamber
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microscopes face challenges in providing an efficient and space-saving incubation solution that allows easy access to samples while minimizing incubation atmosphere loss and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A microscope design with a separated housing section forming a large sample chamber, sealed by a lid, and an interface for connecting an external incubation environment conditioning unit, enabling independent control of environmental conditions within the sample chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If a cage incubator enclosing the entire microscope is used, then a large volume incubation space is provided, but access to the working area for placing or manipulating the sample is impaired and the microscope cannot be equipped in a space-saving manner
Solution Approach 1:
The incubation chamber is segmented from the main microscope body, allowing the incubation space to be separated into an independent module that can be accessed separately from the working area, thus providing both large incubation volume and easy sample access
2Volume of stationary object
If a stage top incubator enclosing only the sample is used, then space requirements are minimized, but access to the sample is impaired since the sample is surrounded by a sealed box which would have to be opened, thus destroying the incubation atmosphere
Solution Approach 1:
The incubation chamber is designed as a separate modular unit with its own sealed environment, allowing the sample to be accessed through the microscope working area while the incubation atmosphere is maintained in the segmented chamber, resolving the conflict between small size and sample accessibility
3Volume of stationary object
If a cage incubator is used, then large volume incubation is achieved, but energy and gas consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the incubation chamber as a separate modular unit rather than enclosing the entire microscope, the volume requiring climate control is reduced to only the essential sample area, thereby decreasing energy and gas consumption while still providing adequate incubation space
4Volume of stationary object
If an integrated incubation chamber is formed by a separated housing section, then a larger incubation room is designed compared to stage top incubators, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into separate functional sections (incubation chamber and microscope body) that can be independently designed and assembled, which although creating modular complexity, simplifies manufacturing and maintenance while achieving larger incubation volume
Solution Approach 2:
The incubation chamber is designed as a nested module within the overall microscope housing structure, allowing the larger incubation room to be integrated into the microscope system without proportionally increasing external dimensions, thus managing structural complexity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a microscope (100) for microscopic examination of a sample (120) comprising a microscope housing (102) enclosing an illumination optics (118), a microscope stage (116) and an imaging optics (124), an integrated sample chamber (106) located within the microscope housing (102) and formed by a separated housing section (104) within said microscope housing (102), the housing section (104) comprising a lid (109) providing direct access to the microscope stage (116) for placing the sample (120) in the sample chamber (106), wherein said housing section (104) comprises an interface (108) for connection of an external incubation environment conditioning unit (110) to the sample chamber (106), the interface (108) being configured to provide a connection between said external incubation environment conditioning unit (110) and the sample chamber (106), such that the environmental conditions in the sample chamber (106) can be controlled when the external incubation environment conditioning unit (110) is connected to the interface (108).