# US 10,371,638 B2 · Fluorescent microscope

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- Number: US 10,371,638 B2
- Document ID: US10371638B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/739,152
- Filed: 2016-07-06
- Published: 2018-12-27
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-07-06
- Assignees: Indiana University Research and Technology Corporation
- Applicants: Indiana University Research and Technology Corporation
- Inventors: Hany Osman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371638B2

## CPC

- G01N 21/6458: {Fluorescence microscopy (fluorescence microscopes per se G02B21/0076 and G02B21/16)}
- A61B 90/20: Surgical microscopes characterised by non-optical aspects
- G02B 7/004: {Manual alignment, e.g. micromanipulators}
- G02B 21/16: adapted for ultraviolet illumination {; Fluorescence microscopes (G02B21/0076 takes precedence)}
- A61B 18/20: using laser
- A61B 18/203: {applying laser energy to the outside of the body}
- A61B 2017/00486: {Adaptors for coupling parts with incompatible geometries}
- A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation}
- A61B 2018/00982: {combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes}
- G02B 21/26: Stages; Adjusting means therefor
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method and system including a non-confocal microscope with an attached imaging fiber optic for direct and real time visualization of mammalian microscopic structures for diagnostic and therapeutic uses.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An adapter for a microscope comprising:
a fiber-optic connecter;
a lateral adjustment connector in mechanical communication with the fiber-optic connecter, wherein the lateral adjustment connecter is configured to adjust the fiber-optic connecter laterally;
a vertical adapter configured to move the fiber-optic connecter along an image acquisition axis; and
wherein the microscope comprises a tube lens and an image acquisition device; and
has a ratio X that is between 0.5 and 1.5, where
X
=
Distance
⁢
⁢
from
⁢
⁢
a
⁢
⁢
proximal
⁢
⁢
end
⁢
⁢
of
⁢
⁢
the
fiber
⁢
-
⁢
optic
⁢
⁢
and
⁢
⁢
the
⁢
⁢
tube
⁢
⁢
lens
Distance
⁢
⁢
from
⁢
⁢
the
⁢
⁢
tube
⁢
⁢
lens
⁢
⁢
and
the
⁢
⁢
image
⁢
⁢
acquisition
⁢
⁢
device
.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter is configured to mechanically communicate with an objective holder.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The adapter of claim 2, wherein the image acquisition axis and an optical axis of an objective in mechanical communication with the objective holder are aligned when the adapter is coupled to the objective holder.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The adapter of claim 2, wherein the objective holder is configured to mechanically communicate with a 20× objective.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter is configured to transport an ablative energy along the image acquisition axis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The adapter of claim 5, wherein the ablative energy ablative is energy from a laser, light emitting diode, optically transmitted radiation or a combination thereof.

### Claim 7

A system comprising:
a plurality of fluorescent microscopes, wherein a first fluorescent microscope comprises a first fiber-optic adapter connected to a first fiber-optic; and a second fluorescent microscope comprises a second fiber-optic adapter connected to a second fiber-optic, wherein
the first fiber-optic and the second fiber-optic are in mechanical communication; and
wherein the at least one fluorescent microscope of the plurality of fluorescent microscopes comprises a tube lens and an image acquisition device; and
has a ratio X that is between 0.5 and 1.5, where
X
=
Distance
⁢
⁢
from
⁢
⁢
a
⁢
⁢
proximal
⁢
⁢
end
⁢
⁢
of
⁢
⁢
the
fiber
⁢
-
⁢
optic
⁢
⁢
and
⁢
⁢
the
⁢
⁢
tube
⁢
⁢
lens
Distance
⁢
⁢
from
⁢
⁢
the
⁢
⁢
tube
⁢
⁢
lens
⁢
⁢
and
the
⁢
⁢
image
⁢
⁢
acquisition
⁢
⁢
device
.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the adapter includes
a fiber-optic connecter;
a lateral adjustment connector in mechanical communication with the fiber-optic connecter, wherein the lateral adjustment connecter is configured to adjust the fiber-optic connecter laterally; and
a vertical adapter configured to move the fiber-optic connecter along an image acquisition axis.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein a field of view of the first fiber-optic and a field of view of the second fiber-optic form a larger field of view.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein a field of view of the first fiber-optic and a field of view of the second fiber-optic form a larger field of view.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, further comprising a channel for ablative energy.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the fiber optic is configured to channel the ablative energy.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the ablative energy is a laser.

### Claim 14 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the system is configured to generate a three-dimensional image.

### Claim 15 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the system comprises a plurality of fiber-optics configured to alter a viewing angle, a field of view, or both.

### Claim 16

A method for evaluating a specimen, comprising:
routing a first light having a wavelength that causes a fluorescent dye applied to a specimen to fluoresce through a microscope having an imaging fiber optic coupled to a magnifying objective and having a distal tip disposed adjacent the specimen;
wherein the at least one fluorescent microscope of the plurality of fluorescent microscopes comprises a tube lens and an image acquisition device; and
has a ratio X that is between 0.5 and 1.5, where
X
=
Distance
⁢
⁢
from
⁢
⁢
a
⁢
⁢
proximal
⁢
⁢
end
⁢
⁢
of
⁢
⁢
the
⁢
⁢
fiber
-
optic
⁢
⁢
and
⁢
⁢
the
⁢
⁢
tube
⁢
⁢
lens
Distance
⁢
⁢
from
⁢
⁢
the
⁢
⁢
tube
⁢
⁢
lens
⁢
⁢
and
⁢
⁢
the
⁢
⁢
image
⁢
⁢
acquisition
⁢
device
;
routing a second light reflected from the specimen through the microscope to the magnifying objective; and
generating an image of the specimen using an image acquisition device, wherein the microscope comprises an adapter, wherein the adapter comprises:
a fiber-optic connecter,
a lateral adjustment connector in mechanical communication with the fiber-optic connecter, wherein the lateral adjustment connecter is configured to adjust the fiber-optic connecter laterally, and
a vertical adapter configured to move the fiber-optic connecter along an image acquisition axis.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the specimen is treated via ablative energy.