Fluorescence microscope apparatus

Abstract

To observe and analyze intermolecular interactions such as diffusion and/or binding behaviors of molecules in a sample in a reacting state against optical stimulation, while applying the optical stimulation to a desired region in the sample by irradiating stimulus light. There is provided a fluorescence microscope apparatus comprising: a fluorescence image-capturing optical system for capturing fluorescence images of a sample; a stimulus light-irradiation optical system which includes a scanner for applying optical stimulation to an optional region in the sample by irradiating stimulus light; a control unit which acquires temporal observation data by repeatedly capturing images using said image-capturing optical system while applying optical stimulation using the stimulus light-irradiation optical system; an analysis unit which analyzes intermolecular interactions through analysis of changes in fluorescence intensity caused by molecular fluctuations within a confocal volume with use of the temporal observation data; and a display unit which displays an analysis result from the analysis unit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.