Microscope Injection Nozzle Dynamics for Bubble-Free Immersion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for applying liquid immersion media in microscopy often result in air bubble formation between the microscope objective and the sample, which affects image quality and can cause microscopic malfunctions, particularly when exchanging objectives.
Innovation Solution
A motor-driven objective changer and an injection device that can be precisely controlled to adjust its position and alignment, allowing the injection of the immersion medium as a jet laterally into the clearance, ensuring optimal positioning to minimize air bubble formation and facilitate unhindered objective exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the injection device is rigidly adjusted to keep the change volume unobstructed, then objective exchange is facilitated, but air bubbles form in the immersion medium
Solution Approach 1:
The injection device is made movable along the optical axis through a drive mechanism, allowing it to dynamically change position between an operating position (for immersion medium application) and a parking position (for objective exchange). This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by enabling the device to adapt its location based on operational requirements, eliminating air bubble formation during immersion while facilitating unobstructed objective exchange during replacement.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the injection device is positioned closer to the clearance, then air bubble formation is suppressed, but the change volume is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The injection device can be dynamically positioned at different locations along the optical axis. During normal operation, it is positioned close to the clearance between the objective and sample to effectively suppress air bubble formation. During objective exchange, it is retracted to a parking position that keeps the change volume unobstructed. This dynamic positioning capability allows the system to optimize for air bubble suppression when needed while facilitating objective exchange when required.
3Manufacturing precision
If the injection device remains in the change volume, then immersion medium application is optimized, but objective exchange is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The injection device is equipped with a drive mechanism that enables it to move between an operating position within the change volume (for optimized immersion medium application) and a parking position outside the change volume (for unobstructed objective exchange). The control device coordinates these position changes with the objective exchange process, ensuring the injection device is in the optimal position for immersion medium application during microscopy while being retracted during objective replacement.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If complex bubble suppression measures are used, then air bubble formation is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex mechanical structures or additional components to suppress air bubbles, the invention employs a dynamic positioning system that moves the existing injection device to the optimal location. This approach effectively prevents air bubble formation by positioning the injection device close to the clearance where it can directly address bubble formation, while avoiding the need for complex collecting devices at the objective or other complicated bubble suppression mechanisms.
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
This solution effectively suppresses air bubble formation, enabling improved image quality and simplified objective exchange processes by allowing the injection device to be positioned closer to the clearance than previously possible, reducing the need for complex bubble suppression measures and enabling easy retrofitting of existing microscopes.
Implementation Method 1
an injection device, which is configured to introduce the immersion medium in form of a jet laterally into the clearance
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a microscope, having: a specimen chamber for a specimen (2, 20); at least one microscope objective (1); one motor driven objective changer (32), which, for the purposes of changing a microscope objective, moves the least one microscope objective (1) through a change volume (34); a control device (20) controlling the objective changer (32); and an apparatus for applying a liquid immersion agent into a gap (6) between the microscope objective (1) and a specimen (2, 20) received in the specimen chamber, said apparatus having a jet device (4) which is designed to introduce the immersion agent in a jet (5) laterally into the gap (6), the jet device (4) having an operating position (B) for laterally introducing the immersion agent into the gap (6), in which position the jet device (4) is located in the change volume (34), the jet device (4) is coupled to a drive (28) for adjusting the location of the jet device (4), and the control device (20) is connected to and configured for control of the drive (28) in order to control the drive (28) in preparation for the microscope objective change such that said drive moves the jet device (4) into a parking position (P), in which the jet device (4) clears the change volume (34), then to control the objective changer (32) to change the microscope objective and subsequently to actuate the drive (28) so that said drive brings the jet device (4) into the operating position (B).