Microscope Immersion Lens Sheath with Integrated Discharge Channel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for automated microscopes are limited in their ability to efficiently and automatically manage immersion media during lens changes, often requiring user intervention and occupying excessive space, making it difficult to use multiple immersion lenses without interrupting the process or causing functional issues.
Innovation Solution
A method involving passive or active suction to discharge immersion media by tilting the immersion lens towards a discharge channel, maintaining the protective sheath's sealing function, allowing controlled removal and enabling lens replacement or new sample insertion without user intervention, while optimizing space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated immersion media management is implemented, then user intervention is eliminated and productivity increases, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the discharge channel, protective sheath, and immersion media supply/discharge units into an integrated system. The discharge channel is built into the protective sheath structure itself, eliminating the need for separate external discharge mechanisms. This merging reduces overall system complexity while maintaining automated functionality for continuous immersion media management across multiple lenses.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective sheath with integrated discharge channel serves multiple functions: it protects the lens, contains immersion media, provides a discharge pathway for excess media, and enables automated operation. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated discharge devices for each lens, reducing complexity while enabling continuous automated examination.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple immersion lenses are supported, then versatility increases, but space requirements increase making it difficult to accommodate all lenses
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sheath with integrated discharge channel is designed as a universal component that can be used with multiple different immersion lenses. Instead of requiring separate discharge mechanisms for each lens, the same sheath design serves all lenses in the revolver, significantly reducing the space required while maintaining support for multiple immersion lenses.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge channel is nested within the protective sheath structure itself, rather than being an external addition. This nested design minimizes the extra space required for discharge functionality, allowing multiple lenses to be accommodated in the revolver without excessive space consumption.
3Device complexity
If immersion media is not actively managed, then device complexity is reduced, but immersion media escapes causing functional incapacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses passive discharge through the integrated channel in the protective sheath, allowing immersion media to escape automatically through gravity and pressure differential without requiring active pumping or complex control systems. This self-service approach maintains reliability by preventing media accumulation while keeping device complexity low.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective sheath with its integrated discharge channel acts as an intermediary structure that manages immersion media flow. It provides a controlled pathway for media discharge, preventing uncontrolled leakage while avoiding the need for complex active management systems. The sheath mediates between the immersion media supply and the external environment.
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
Enables continuous microscopic examination without user intervention, efficiently managing immersion media for multiple lenses, reducing space requirements and preventing microscope malfunction.
Implementation Method 1
starting the discharge of the immersion media passively and/or actively via a suction pump
Implementation Method 2
tipping the immersion lens in the direction of the discharge channel located on the protective sheath during the further discharge of the immersion medium
Data Source
AI summary
A procedure and a device for terminating the immersion at a microscope having one or more immersion lenses, or both immersion lenses and dry lenses, comprising a protective sheath around the immersion film area for preventing the escape of immersion media and an immersion media supply unit and an immersion media discharge unit connected with the protective sheath. The immersion media is removed in a controlled manner in particular in an automated microscope. Subsequently, the microscopic testing can be continued without the user having to intervene in the device or the process.