Method and device for laser cutting microscopic samples
OwnerMichael Ganser, Albrecht Weiss +1inventors
InventorsMichael Ganser, Albrecht Weiss, Ruediger Stenzel
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method and a device for laser cutting microscopic samples. The device for laser cutting microscopic samples comprises a microscope (1) having at least one lens (6) for observing a sample (12) that is to be cut The lens (6) defines an optical axis (14) and a lens aperture (34). A laser (4) is also connected to the microscope (1). The laser (4) generates a laser beam (41) that is injected into the lens (6) by means of at least one optical system (16). A diaphragm (18) is provided, which generates a dimmed laser beam (4b), whereby the laser aperture (36) generated by the lens (6) is smaller than the lens aperture (34) of the lens (6) itself.
Claims15
A method for laser cutting microscopic samples, characterized by the following steps:
- a) introducing an object slide (10) with a sample (12) to be cut into a microscope (1) which comprises at least one objective (6);
- b) with the objective (6), determining an area of the sample (12) to be cut out;
- c) defining a cutting line around the area;
- d) producing a dimmed laser beam (4b) by means of a diaphragm (18), so that the diameter of said beam is reduced in such a way that a laser aperture (36) produced by the objective (6) is smaller than the objective aperture (34) of the objective (6) itself;
- and
- e) cutting the sample (12) along the defined cutting line.
A device for laser cutting microscopic samples comprises:
- a) a microscope (1) with at least one objective (6) for observing a sample (12) to be cut, the objective (6) defining an optical axis (14) and an objective aperture (34),
- b) a laser (4), which produces a laser beam (4a), and
- c) at least one optical system (16), which injects the laser beam (4a) into the objective (6), characterized in that a diaphragm (18) is provided, which produces a dimmed laser beam (4b), a laser aperture (36) produced by the objective (6) being smaller than the objective aperture (34) of the objective (6).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.