Focal position determining method, focal position determining apparatus, feeble light detecting apparatus and feeble light detecting method

Abstract

It is possible to provide a focal point position deciding method, a focal point position deciding device, and others capable of deciding a focal point position of an objective lens appropriate for an observation object portion at the stage when a sample is set for light-emission observation of the observation object portion which is a particular portion in the sample. Light is applied to the sample; the focal point position of the objective lens is modified, the modified focal point position is measured; the sample to which light is applied at the modified focal point position is imaged; a characteristic amount is calculated according to the captured image; modification of the focal point position, measurement of the focal point position, imaging of the sample, and calculation of the characteristic amount are repeatedly executed; at least one focal point position is selected from a plurality of focal; point positions accumulated by the execution according to a plurality of characteristic amounts accumulated by the execution; and a focal point position of the objective lens appropriate for the observation object portion in the sample is decided according to the selected focal pointposition. The focal point position of the objective lens is decided and digital zoom and optical zoom are performed so that the captured image is magnified with a desired magnification for display.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a focus position determination method and a focus position determination device for determining a focus position of an objective lens aligned with an observation target site in a sample. [0002] The invention relates to a method and a device for observing or measuring a test material originating from a living body that emits faint light by using a magnifying imaging optical mechanism including a lens. Background technique [0003] [I] At present, imaging methods of biological samples using fluorescence play a large role in the research of life sciences. By labeling specific proteins and using luminescence, it is possible to observe various life phenomena occurring inside and outside the cell, and also to know the dynamic changes of various life phenomena in real time. In particular, recently, the use of fluorescent proteins such as GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein: Green Fluorescent Protein) enables stable and easy imag...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, since the intensity of self-luminescence from biological samples is generally very weak, it is often impossible to directly confirm the luminescence from biological samples with the naked eye.

For such a sample that emits weak light, even if the optical element (such as the lens of the detection system, etc.) is adjusted, it is very difficult to focus the lens on the part of the sample with the naked eye.

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