Microscope with Adjustable Stage

Abstract

Systems and techniques relating to a microscope with an adjustable stage are described. A microscope includes a base, a support arm attached to and extending upwardly from the base, a head attached to the support arm, the head including a lens, and an eyepiece attached to the head. A stage is releasably attachable to the support arm between the head and the base at multiple locations, providing multiple working distances between a lower surface of the head and an upper surface of the stage. When the stage is attached to the support arm at a location, a working distance between the lower surface of the head and the upper surface of the stage is further adjustable to an either greater or lesser working distance. In another embodiment, microscopic and macroscopic viewing can both be provided using a lens changer with multiple lens positioned radially about an axis of rotation.

1 . A microscope, comprising:
 a base,   a support arm attached to and extending upwardly from the base;   a head attached to the support arm;   an eyepiece attached to an upper portion of the head;   at least two distal objective lenses attached to a lower portion of the head;   a lens changer positioned within the head and between the eyepiece and the distal objective lenses, the lens changer:
 rotatable about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to an optical path, 
 including a plurality of lenses arranged radially about the axis, 
 rotatable between a plurality of positions, such that in a position one or more lenses of the plurality of lenses is in an optical path extending from the eyepiece to an upper surface of a stage and including one of the distal objective lenses; 
   a stage attached to the support arm between the head and the base and positionable to provide a wide range of working distances between a distal objective lenses and an upper surface of a specimen being viewed with the microscope, wherein the stage can be positioned in a first position such that when a first distal objective lens is in an optical path with the eyepiece, microscopic viewing is provided with magnification exceeding 45× and with a working distance of 10 millimeters or less, and wherein the stage can be positioned in a second position such that when a second distal objective lens is in an optical path with the eyepiece, macroscopic viewing is provided with magnification less than 45× and with a working distance exceeding 10 millimeters; and   an illuminator positioned between the base and the stage.   
   
   
       2 . The microscope of  claim 1 , wherein microscopic viewing is provided at a plurality of magnification levels between approximately 50× and 200× with an approximate working distance of 5 millimeters. 
   
   
       3 . The microscope of  claim 1 , wherein macroscopic viewing is provided at a plurality of magnification levels between approximately 5× and 40× with approximate working distances between 70 and 80 millimeters. 
   
   
       4 . The microscope of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the support arm includes a secondary stage height adjuster; and   the stage is releasably attachable to the support arm at a plurality of locations between the head and the base providing the wide range of working distances between a distal objective lens and the upper surface of the specimen, and when attached to the support arm at a location, a working distance between a distal objective lens and the upper surface of the specimen is further adjustable using the secondary stage height adjuster to an either greater or lesser working distance.   
   
   
       5 . The microscope of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least three legs attached to the base.   
   
   
       6 . The microscope of  claim 5 , wherein the at least three legs are pivotable between at least an open position, wherein the legs support the microscope in a substantially vertical position and a closed position. 
   
   
       7 . The microscope of  claim 1 , wherein the illuminator is battery-powered, the microscope further comprising:
 a battery electrically connected to the illuminator.   
   
   
       8 . The microscope of  claim 1 , wherein the illuminator comprises at least one LED. 
   
   
       9 . The microscope of  claim 1 , further comprising a rack-adjustment mechanism for further adjusting the upper surface of the stage to either a greater or lesser working distance when the stage is attached to the support arm at a location. 
   
   
       10 . The microscope of  claim 1 , wherein the support arm includes a handle. 
   
   
       11 . The microscope of  claim 1 , wherein the stage comprises a substantially transparent container including an interior region configured to contain a specimen. 
   
   
       12 . The microscope of  claim 1 , wherein the stage comprises a frame and a container releasably attached to the frame.