Total internal reflection fluorescence microscope

A total internal reflection fluorescence microscope comprising:

• a light source which generates laser light having a plurality of wavelengths and which is switchable from generating laser light having one wavelength to generating laser light having another wavelength;
• a focal optical system which irradiates the laser light from the light source on a specimen at a predetermined incident angle via an objective lens and which generates evanescent illumination;
• a fluorescence observation unit which observes fluorescence generated from the specimen due to the evanescent illumination;
• an incident angle adjuster which adjusts the incident angle of the laser light irradiated on the specimen;
• and
• a controller which controls the incident angle adjuster to set and maintain a permeation depth of the evanescent light at a predetermined amount when the laser light from the laser light source is switched from one wavelength to another;
• wherein the controller has a storage unit which stores control information on the incident angle which corresponds to the wavelength of the laser light from the laser light source and controls the incident angle adjuster based on the control information stored in the storage unit in accordance with the switching of the wavelength of the laser light from the laser light source.

A total internal reflection fluorescence microscope comprising:

• a light source which generates laser light having a plurality of wavelengths;
• a varying unit which variably controls the wavelength of the laser light and output intensity;
• a focal optical system which irradiates the laser light from the light source on a specimen at a predetermined incident angle via an objective lens and which generates evanescent illumination;
• a fluorescence observation unit which comprises a camera and which observes fluorescence generated from the specimen due to the evanescent illumination;
• an incident angle adjuster which adjusts the incident angle of the laser light irradiated on the specimen;
• and
• a controller, which controls the varying unit and the fluorescence observation unit, and which controls the incident angle adjuster such that an amount of permeation depth of the evanescent light is the same when the wavelength of the laser light from the laser light source is switched from one wavelength to another;
• wherein the controller controls the varying unit and synchronizes switching of the wavelengths of the laser light in a time series to irradiate the laser light on the specimen with acquiring of fluorescence images by the camera;
• and
• wherein the camera acquires fluorescence images for each of the wavelengths of the laser light.

A total internal reflection fluorescence microscope comprising:

• a light source which generates laser light having a plurality of wavelengths;
• a varying unit which variably controls the wavelength of the laser light and output intensity;
• a focal optical system which irradiates the laser light from the light source on a specimen at a predetermined incident angle via an objective lens and which generates evanescent illumination;
• a fluorescence observation unit which comprises a camera and which observes fluorescence generated from the specimen due to the evanescent illumination;
• an incident angle adjuster which adjusts the incident angle of the laser light irradiated on the specimen;
• and
• a controller, which controls the varying unit and the fluorescence observation unit, and which controls the incident angle adjuster such that a permeation depth of the evanescent light is set to a predetermined amount when the wavelength of the laser light from the laser light source is switched from one wavelength to another;
• wherein the controller controls the varying unit and synchronizes switching of the wavelengths of the laser light in a time series to irradiate the laser light on the specimen with acquiring of fluorescence images by the camera;
• and
• wherein the camera acquires fluorescence images for each of the wavelengths of the laser light.

A total internal reflection fluorescence microscope comprising:

• a light source;
• an incident angle controller which controls an incident angle of illumination light from the light source which is irradiated on a specimen;
• a permeation depth calculator which calculates a depth of permeation of the specimen for total internal reflection illumination from a control value of the incident angle controller;
• and
• a display unit which displays the permeation depth calculated by the permeation depth calculator;
• wherein the light source outputs a plurality of wavelengths, and the total internal reflection fluorescence microscope further comprises:
• an incident angle calculator which calculates the incident angle for each wavelength for fixing the permeation depth of total internal reflection illumination for all the wavelengths when the incident angle for one wavelength is selected from the plurality of wavelengths of light output from the light source;
• and
• an incident angle display unit which displays the incident angle obtained by the incident angle calculator for each wavelength, and
• wherein the incident angle controller controls the incident angle in accordance with the irradiated wavelength.

A total internal reflection fluorescence microscope comprising:

• a light source;
• an incident angle controller which controls an incident angle of illumination light from the light source which is irradiated on a specimen;
• an input unit which inputs a permeation depth of permeation of the specimen for total internal reflection illumination;
• a condition incident angle calculator which calculates conditions for calculating the incident angle to set a depth of permeation of the specimen for total internal reflection illumination to the input permeation depth;
• and
• a display unit which displays the conditions obtained by the condition incident angle calculator;
• wherein the light source outputs a plurality of wavelengths, and the total internal reflection fluorescence microscope further comprises:
• an incident angle calculator which calculates the incident angle corresponding to the inputted permeation depth for at least two wavelengths;
• and
• a display unit which displays the incident angle obtained by the incident angle calculator for each wavelength, and
• wherein the incident angle controller controls the incident angle in accordance with the irradiated wavelength.