Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] None

Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to a microscope stage with a sample plate with a sample holder, a top plate and a bottom plate.

[0003] Prior Art

[0004] Several patent documents are known which describe the construction of microscope stages. For example, PCT patent application No. WO 2016/055089 (Leica) teaches a microscope have a movable stage and an adjusting unit for moving the movable stage and PCT patent application No. WO 2017/165343 (Molecular Devices) teaches a microscope system with a stage that can be moved relative to the imaging axis.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] A microscope stage is taught in this disclosure. The microscope stage comprises in one aspect a sample plate with a sample holder, a top plate having at least one opening and a base plate having at least one guide pin. The at least one guide pin connects the base plate with the sample plate at fixed distance to each other in one aspect of the disclosure. The at least one guide pin is positioned to pass through the at least one opening and thus hold the base plate and the top plate as well as the sample plate in position with each other. In one aspect of the invention there will be at least two guide pins passing through two openings and, in another aspect, there will be at least three guide pins through three openings. [0006] One or more compression devices, such as mechanical springs, are positioned between the top plate and the base plate. The compression devices enable the bottom plate and the sample plate to return substantially to the same position as defined by a minimum distance between the top plate and the bottom plate once the tension is released in the compression device.

[0007] In one aspect of the microscope stage, a motor is positioned between the top plate and the base plate. The motor is adapted to adjust the minimum distance between the top plate and the base plate.

[0008] The sample holder comprises one of a receptacles to receive a sample or an opening to receive a preparation dish.

[0009] A microscope having the microscope stage is also described. The microscope further comprises two objective lenses mounted above the sample plate and arranged to image the sample. The axes of the two objective lenses are arranged, for example, substantially orthogonal to each other to enable a SPIM configuration.

[0010] In a further aspect of the invention, the microscope further comprises a third objective lens arranged below the sample plate and arranged to image the sample from below.

[0011] In a further aspect, a robotic arm for placing the sample and for depressing the top plate is disclosed.

Description of the Figures

[0012] Fig. 1 shows a side view of the microscope and the microscope stage.

[0013] Fig. 2 shows another side view of the microscope and the microscope stage.

[0014] Fig. 3 shows a top view of the microscope and the microscope stage.

[0015] Figs 4a and 4b show a perspective view of the microscope with the microscope stage. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0016] The invention will now be described on the basis of the drawings. It will be understood that the embodiments and aspects of the invention described herein are only examples and do not limit the protective scope of the claims in any way. The invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents. It will be understood that features of one aspect or embodiment of the invention can be combined with a feature of a different aspect or aspects and/or embodiments of the invention.

[0017] Figs. 1 and 2 each show side views of the microscope 10 with a microscope stage 10 and three objective lenses 110, 120 and 130. The first objective lens 110 and the second objective lens 120 are mounted above a sample plate 20 in which is arranged a sample holder 30. The third objective lens 130 is mounted below the sample plate 20. The optical axis of the first objective lens 110 and the optical axis of the second objective lens 120 are arranged substantially perpendicular to each other. Either of the first objective lens 110 or the second objective lens 120 can be used to illuminate the sample and the other one of the first objective lens 110 or the second objective lens 120 is used to image the sample. The first objective lens 110 and the second objective lens 120 are movable, but need to retain their relationship such that their optical axes remain substantially perpendicular to each other. The third objective lens 130 can be moved up and down in the z-direction.

[0018] The sample plate 20 is movable using an x/y stage 25 in the x/y directions so that a sample 35 in the sample holder 30 can be imaged using a SPIM configuration. The x/y stage 25 is most clearly seen in Fig. 4B. The third objective lens 130 is used to image the sample in the sample holder 35 from below.

[0019] A top plate 40 is located between the sample plate 20 and a base plate 50. The sample plate 20 and the base plate 50 are at a fixed distance from each other and are held apart from each other by guide pins 60. The top plate 40 has openings 45 through which the guide pins 60 pass. In the Figures, three such guide pins 60 are shown which pass through three openings 45. However, the number of guide pins 60 is not limiting of the invention. It will be appreciated that the top plate 40 shown is only a section of the top plate 40 which in practice is much larger and extends in many directions.

[0020] One of more compression devices 70 are located between the top plate 40 and the base plate 50. In a simple embodiment, the compression devices 70 are formed of external mechanical spiral springs that act between the top plate 40 and the base plate 50 and return the top plate 40 to substantially its original position which the top plate 40 is depressed downwards towards the base plate 50. It will be appreciated that other types of

compression devices 70 could be used, such as mechanical springs mounted inside a housing, a cantilever, a leaf spring or a concertina-type device.

[0021] A motor 80 is located below the top plate 40. The motor 80 is, for example, a piezoelectric motor or a stepper motor and can move the base plate 50 in a direction away from the top plate 40 and can thus move the sample plate 20 in the direction of the base plate 50. The distance between the between the top plate 40 and the base plate 50 is thus set to be at a minimum distance. As noted above, both the sample plate 20 and the base plate 50 return substantially to their original positions above and below the top plate 40, respectively, when released. The sample plate 20 can also be depressed by an external robotic arm pushing down on the sample plate 20. This same robotic arm or another robotic arm can be used to place the sample on the sample plate. The compression devices 70 serve to return the sample plate 20 and the base plate 50 to substantially their original positions when the robotic arm is removed.

[0022] The sample plate 30 can be seen in detail in the top view of Fig. 3 and has a sample holder 30 in which a sample 35 is located, for example in a receptacle 37. The sample holder 30 is typically an SBS plate with dimensions of around 80x120mm, but this is not limiting of the invention.

[0023] Figs. 4A and 4B show perspective views of the microscope 10 and illustrate more clearly the relationship between the various elements forming the microscope. Reference Numerals

10 Microscope stage

20 Sample plate

25 x/y state

30 Sample holder

35 Sample

37 Receptacle

40 Top plate

45 Opening

50 Base plate

60 Guide pin

70 Compression devices

80 Motor

110 First objective lens

120 Second objective lens

130 Third objective lens