Infrared microscope adapter for viewing at an angle

For use with an infrared microscope having an optical train that cooperates with a removable infrared objective, the objective having a first engagement structure that engages a second complementary engagement structure on the microscope for registering the objective to the microscope,

• an adapter comprising:
• a removable support structure for mounting between the objective and the microscope;
• a first adapter structure, mounted to said support structure and configured to mate with the first engagement structure on the objective;
• a second adapter structure, mounted to said support structure and configured to mate with the second engagement structure on the microscope;
• and
• a reflecting element mounted to said support structure;
• said first and second adapter structures and said mirror being oriented and positioned so that when said first adapter structure mates with the first engagement structure, and said second adapter structure mates with the second engagement structure, infrared light collected from the objective encounters said reflecting element at a non-zero incident angle, is reflected by said reflecting element, and enters the microscope so as to travel along the optical train of the microscope.

A method of examining a sample with an infrared microscope that is configured with a removable infrared objective, the microscope having an objective-engaging structure that engages a complementary microscope-engaging structure on the objective, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an adapter for mounting between the infrared objective and the microscope, the adapter comprising a removable support structure to which is mounted an objective-engaging structure, a microscope-engaging structure, and a reflecting element,
• the adapter's objective-engaging structure and microscope-engaging structure being characterized by respective axes that are non-collinear, and the reflecting element is positioned and oriented so that infrared light incident along the adapter's objective-engaging structure's axis is reflected to travel along the adapter's microscope-engaging structure's axis;
• engaging the adapter's microscope-engaging structure with the microscope's objective-engaging structure;
• and
• engaging the adapter's objective-engaging structure with the objective's microscope-engaging structure;
• whereby, once the objective, the adapter, and the microscope are so engaged, the objective faces at an angle from the vertical by virtue of the respective axes being non-collinear.

A method for adapting an infrared microscope for viewing a sample from the side, the microscope configured with a removable infrared objective, the microscope having an objective-engaging structure that engages a complementary microscope-engaging structure on the objective, the method comprising the steps of:

• disengaging the objective from the microscope;
• engaging an adapter to the microscope, the adapter comprising
• a removable support structure;
• an objective-engaging structure, mounted to said support structure;
• a microscope-engaging structure mounted to said support structure for engaging to said infrared microscope;
• and
• a reflecting element mounted to said support structure;
• and
• engaging the objective to the adapter at the objective-engaging structure.