- Home
- Companies
- Applied Scientific Instrumentation
- Products
- ASI - Modular Infinity Microscope (MIM) ...
ASI - Modular Infinity Microscope (MIM) System
The Modular Infinity Microscope System by ASI is a highly adaptable solution designed for specialized microscopy applications. It employs a versatile system of tube lenses and adapters, which facilitate seamless integration of various components, including illumination and imaging modules. The unique design allows for the use of infinity space, permitting the addition of supplementary optical systems without altering magnification. This flexibility is critical for applications involving epi-fluorescent illumination, where a dichroic beam splitter and filter cube can be employed. The system's component assembly utilizes a standard 38 mm diameter coupling ring, ensuring robust and precise construction. This microscope system can be easily customized with essential components such as a microscope objective, tube lens, and camera mount. The MIM system enables researchers to construct single or double-layer microscopes and integrate automated focus mechanisms. Additional features include cube-based and CUBE-SLDR microscopes enhancing focus travel and integration with the LS-50 stage.
ASI Modular Microscope components consist of tube lenses along with adapters and accessories that either are primarily used in the collimated light space or adapters that are to be used on the image side. Collimated light adapters use the 38 mm diameter C60-RING system to connect components. Focus-side adapters attached to lens tubes with either a 30 mm diameter coupling to the I.D. of the C60-TUBE, or with a 50 mm coupling on the O.D. of the lens tube.
With infinity microscope systems, the objective can be spaced away from the tube lens without changing the optical magnification. This “infinity space” provides a region where other optical systems can be coupled to the microscope relatively easily. For epi-fluorescent illumination, a filter cube with a dichroic beam splitter can be added to provide the illumination path.
The cube module accepts a standard Olympus U-MF2 filter cube and provides coupling to the objective, tube lens assembly, and a fiber illuminator optic.
The MIM system uses as standard 38 mm diameter coupling ring to attach standard modules together. Three or four set screws on each component lock to the coupling ring and provide a simple, accurate, and flexible method of assembly. Each coupling ring also provides a space to include a beam stop. Appropriately placed stops can significantly reduce scattered light in the system.
The minimum parts required to construct an infinity microscope system are the microscope objective, the tube lens, and a camera mount.
Basic Components for the MIM System
- Tube Lens Section – image forming section with 200 mm f.l. tube lens.
- C-Mount – camera port.
- Infinity Space Beam Splitter Cube – can be used for Epi-fluorescence filter cube or as right-angle objective adapter.
- Objective Adapter – options for Nikon CFI60, Mitutoyo, or Olympus RMS thread objectives.
- Universal Coupling – used on all infinity-space components for design flexibility.
Optional Components
- C-Mount Beam Splitter – provides a second camera/detector port.
- Filter Wheel Adapter – use with ASI FW1000 filter wheel.
- Motorized positioner – use ASI LS-50 stage to focus the microscope system.
- Inverted or Upright test stand and ASI motorized stages