Vapor Jet Immersion Medium Application for Microscope Objectives

Solution Overview

Problem

The formation of air bubbles during the application of a liquid immersion medium between a microscope objective and a specimen, which impairs image quality and causes malfunctions in microscopic applications, particularly due to the long distance required for injection and the high energy of liquid jets.

Innovation Solution

The use of a vapor or spray jet instead of a liquid jet, which is generated using pressure-atomizing spray nozzles, vibration nebulizers, or thermal methods, allowing for a two-phase mixture of immersion medium and air to be sprayed over a distance of 20-30 mm without forming air bubbles, with adjustable jet configurations for initial and replenishing immersion modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a liquid jet is used to introduce immersion medium laterally into the clearance, then the immersion medium can be applied effectively, but air bubbles are generated both in the jet itself and at the point of impact, impairing image quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidair bubble formation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameter of the immersion medium from liquid to vapor phase. By introducing the immersion medium as a vapor jet instead of a liquid jet, the energy of the medium is significantly reduced, preventing air bubble formation while maintaining effective clearance filling. The vapor condenses upon contact with the cooler clearance region, achieving liquid immersion without the harmful effects of high-energy liquid injection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes phase transition of the immersion medium from vapor to liquid state. The immersion medium is supplied as vapor that condenses into liquid upon contact with the objective lens and clearance region, thereby forming the necessary liquid immersion layer without introducing air bubbles. This phase transition approach eliminates the air bubble problem inherent in direct liquid jet injection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

2Ease of operation

If the injection device is arranged far from the objective to allow objective changes, then handling is improved, but the jet must travel a long distance of 20-30 mm requiring high flow energy that generates air bubbles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobjective change capabilityVSAvoidair bubble formation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameter of the immersion medium from liquid to vapor phase. By introducing the immersion medium as a vapor jet instead of a liquid jet, the energy of the medium is significantly reduced, preventing air bubble formation while maintaining effective clearance filling. The vapor condenses upon contact with the cooler clearance region, achieving liquid immersion without the harmful effects of high-energy liquid injection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If complex measures are implemented to avoid and reduce air bubbles, then image quality is maintained, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidbubble elimination measures

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameter of the immersion medium from liquid to vapor phase. By introducing the immersion medium as a vapor jet instead of a liquid jet, the energy of the medium is significantly reduced, preventing air bubble formation while maintaining effective clearance filling. The vapor condenses upon contact with the cooler clearance region, achieving liquid immersion without the harmful effects of high-energy liquid injection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 approach eliminates air bubble formation, ensuring high-quality imaging by introducing the immersion medium with minimal energy input, thus avoiding the need for complex bubble elimination measures and allowing for efficient, automated, and long-term microscopic experiments.

Implementation Method 1

the jet is directed onto a clearance between the objective and the specimen carrier for examining the specimen under the microscope, by which the immersion medium is condensed at the point of impact

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 2

as a vapor jet or spray jet, that is to say as a two-phase jet of immersion medium and air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTwo-phase flow: Two-Phase Flow

Data Source

PatentUS12099176B2Apparatus and method for applying a liquid immersion medium into a clearance between a microscope objective and a specimen to be examined under the microscope

Publication Date: 2024.09.24 CARL ZEISS MICROSCOPY GMBH

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for applying a liquid immersion agent into a gap (6) between a microscope objective (1) and a sample (2, 20) to be examined under the microscope, wherein the device has a blasting device (4) which is designed to introduce the immersion agent laterally into the gap (6) in a jet (5), and the blasting device (4) is designed to spray the immersion agent into the gap (6) in the form of a vapor or spray mist jet (5).