Microscope and method for microscopic examination of large samples

A microscope, which is a confocal microscope converted into a light sheet microscope, the microscope comprising:

• a microscope body;
• a mechanical receiving apparatus through which a microscope beam path extends;
• an optical module which is attachable to the mechanical receiving apparatus and which is configured to illuminate a sample volume and collect and transmit light from the sample volume, wherein the optical module comprises:
• a first optical arrangement with a first beam path,
• a second optical arrangement with a second beam path that intersects the first beam path in the sample volume,
• an input coupling site for illumination light configured to illuminate part of the sample volume by way of the second beam path, and
• an attachment element arranged between the second optical arrangement and the sample volume, wherein the second beam path extends at least in sections through the attachment element;
• and
• an area sensor configured to detect light collected from the sample volume,
• wherein the microscope is switchable between a first microscopy mode and a light sheet mode,
• wherein, in the first microscopy mode, the microscope is configured to illuminate the sample volume along the first beam path;
• and
• wherein, in the light sheet mode, the microscope is configured to illuminate, with a light sheet, the sample volume along the second beam path.

An optical module for illuminating a sample volume and for collecting and transmitting light from the sample volume, which is adaptable to a mechanical receiving apparatus of a microscope with a microscope beam path extending through the mechanical receiving apparatus, the microscope comprising an area sensor for detecting light collected from the sample volume, the optical module comprising:

• a first optical arrangement with a first beam path;
• a second optical arrangement with a second beam path that intersects the first beam path in the sample volume;
• an input coupling site for illumination light or an optical beam path selector, the input coupling site being configured to illuminate part of the sample volume by way of the second beam path, or the optical beam path selector being configured to combine the first beam path and/or the second beam path with the microscope beam path;
• and
• an attachment element arranged between the second optical arrangement and the sample volume, wherein the second beam path extend at least in sections through the attachment element,
• wherein the microscope is switchable between a first microscopy mode and a light sheet mode,
• wherein, in the first microscopy mode, the microscope is configured to illuminate the sample volume along the first beam path;
• and
• wherein, in the light sheet mode, the microscope is configured to illuminate, with a light sheet of the microscope, the sample volume along the second beam path.

A method for observing a sample volume by a microscope, which is a confocal microscope converted into a light sheet microscope, the method comprising:

• transmitting light emitted by the sample volume through an optical module along a first beam path;
• guiding a second beam path through an attachment element arranged between a second optical arrangement and the sample volume;
• detecting light collected from the sample volume using an area sensor;
• and
• carrying out a switchover between a first microscopy mode and a light sheet mode, wherein:
• in the first microscopy mode, the sample volume is illuminated through the optical module along the first beam path, the optical module being attached to a microscope body of the microscope;
• and
• in the light sheet mode, the sample volume is illuminated using a light sheet of the light sheet microscope along a second beam path that intersects the first beam path in the sample volume.