Pre-filled Liquid Immersion Protective Member for Objective Lens

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing protective members for objective lenses require complex procedures as the liquid immersion medium needs to be added just before attachment, complicating the process and potentially affecting optical characteristics.

Innovation Solution

A protective member with a pre-filled internal space containing a liquid immersion medium, sealed by a sealing film body that breaks easily, allowing for simplified attachment and maintaining optical stability by precluding direct contact between the lens and culture solution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the liquid immersion medium is added just before attachment, then the optical characteristics are maintained, but the attachment process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical characteristicsVSAvoidattachment process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid immersion medium is pre-filled into the protective member before the objective lens is attached. The protective member comes prepared with the liquid medium already inside, eliminating the need to add liquid just before attachment. This preliminary action simplifies the attachment process while maintaining optical characteristics, as the liquid is already in position when the lens is inserted through the insertion opening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the protective member is pre-filled with liquid immersion medium and sealed, then the attachment process is simplified, but the sealing structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment processVSAvoidsealing structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A flexible sealing film is used to seal the insertion opening of the protective member. The sealing film is made of a flexible material that can be attached to close the opening while allowing the liquid immersion medium to remain inside. This thin film approach provides an effective sealing solution without adding significant structural complexity, as the film can be simply attached to the insertion opening to maintain the liquid environment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of operation

If the objective lens directly contacts the culture solution, then the observation is simplified, but the lens becomes contaminated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobservation processVSAvoidlens contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protective member acts as an intermediary structure between the objective lens and the culture solution. It includes an insertion opening through which the lens passes, allowing optical observation while preventing direct contact between the lens and the culture solution. The liquid immersion medium is contained within the protective member, creating a controlled interface that enables observation without contamination of the lens.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3018518B1Protective member and method for using protective member
Publication Date: 2017.05.31 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3018518B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3018518B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3018518B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A protective member protects an obj ective lens. The protective member includes an insertion opening through which an objective lens is configured to be inserted and a main body configured to cover the inserted objective lens. The main body includes a side wall portion connected to the insertion opening and a bottom portion connected to the side wall portion as well as facing the insertion opening, and covers the inserted objective lens with the side wall portion and the bottom portion. The protective member further includes a liquid disposed inside the main body, a sealing film body for sealing the insertion opening and a window arranged in the bottom portion of the main body, through which light transmits. The protective member can simplify the work.