Microscope objective

Abstract

An improved objective for a microscope, particularly clinical specular microscopes for the observation of cornea endothelium cells, comprises a housing having first and second tubular lens holders slidably disposed therein. The second tubular lens holder is slidably and telescopically disposed within the first tubular lens holder. The lens holders are spring loaded which allows them to recede under tension into the housing when the object being viewed presses against the exterior of the first lens holder. This helps to protect the subject when viewing the cornea endothelium in vivo. The holders return to their original position upon removal of the object. A focusing mechanism is provided which incrementally moves the second tubular lens holder, thereby focusing the objective lenses contained therein, no matter what the position of the first lens holder is, thereby facilitating examination of the cornea. A measuring mechanism is also provided which quantifies the incremental movement of the focusing mechanism so that a measurement of the thickness of the cornea being viewed is produced.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.