Inventors:
Lothar K. Faber - Short Hills NJ
Assignee:
Kramer Scientific Corporation - Elmsford NY
International Classification:
G02B 2106
G02B 2122
Abstract:
A reflective light fluorescence system that functions on a stereo microscope with two distinct optical paths to illuminate samples that have been stained with a fluorochrome or that may exhibit autofluorescence. The stereo microscope includes a source of illumination and a filter module with two dichroic mirrors, for sending an excited wavelength of the illumination equally down both optical axes to excite the sample uniformly. A portion of the illumination light passes through the first dichroic mirror, which is preferably about 50% dichroic, to the second dichroic mirror, while the remaining light is reflected down one optical path of the microscope. The second dichroic mirror, which is preferably about 100% dichroic, reflects 100% of the remaining portion of the illumination light down the second optical path. Thus, the sample is uniformly excited by the illumination light reflected down both optical paths. The resulting emitted signal is transmitted from the sample up through the optical paths equally.