1. A microscope apparatus comprising:
a spatial modulation element that receives irradiation light of an obliquely incident substantially parallel light flux to symmetrically generate zero-order light and first-order light with respect to an optical axis of the spatial modulation element, the irradiation light being of zero-order light;
an objective optical system that causes the zero-order light and the first-order light to interfere with each other on a sample surface to form an interference fringe, the objective optical system forming an image of light from the sample surface on the spatial modulation element surface, the light from the sample surface being modulated by the interference fringe;
image picking-up means; and
a relay optical system that forms an image of light re-modulated by the spatial modulation element surface on an image picking-up surface of the image picking-up means.
2. The microscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an optical axis of an optical system in which the objective optical system and the relay optical system are combined is identical to an optical axis of an illumination optical system from a light source to the sample surface at least in a range from a site located on a light source side of the spatial modulation element to the sample surface, and
the microscope apparatus includes:
an optical path moving optical system that shift a center axis of illumination light emitted from the light source from the identical optical axis; and
an irradiation optical system that converts the illumination light passing through the optical path moving optical system into irradiation light having a substantially parallel light flux, the irradiation light being obliquely incident to the spatial modulation element.
3. The microscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the irradiation optical system is a part of the relay optical system.
4. The microscope apparatus according to claim 2, comprising:
a collector lens that converts divergent illumination light from the light source into a substantially parallel light flux;
a collimator lens that collects the illumination light transmitted through the collector lens to form a secondary light source; and
an optical path deflecting member that reflects the illumination light transmitted through the collimator lens to cause a principal ray of the reflected illumination light to travel in a direction of the sample surface on the optical axis of the relay optical system, the optical path deflecting member causing the principal ray to impinge on the optical path moving optical system,
wherein the principal ray of the illumination light is incident to the optical path moving optical system through a center of the collector lens, a center of the collimator lens, and the optical axis of the relay optical system.
5. The microscope apparatus according to claim 2, comprising:
a collector lens that converts illumination light divergent from the light source into a substantially parallel light flux;
a collimator lens that collects the illumination light transmitted through the collector lens to form a secondary light source; and
an optical path deflecting member that reflects the illumination light transmitted through the collimator lens to cause a principal ray of the reflected illumination light to travel in a direction of the sample surface parallel to the optical axis of the relay optical system, the optical path deflecting member causing the principal ray to impinge on the irradiation optical system,
wherein the illumination light emitted from the light source is incident to the collector lens after passing through the optical path moving optical system, and the illumination light is incident to the irradiation optical system after reflected from the optical path deflecting member.
6. The microscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the spatial modulation element can be rotated about the optical axis, the optical path moving optical system can be rotated about the optical axis, and a rotation amount of the spatial modulation element can be set equal to a rotation amount of the principal ray that is rotated when the optical path moving optical system is rotated.
7. An image processing method comprising:
picking up a plurality of images of a sample with the microscope apparatus according to claim 6 while the rotation amount of the spatial modulation element is changed;
performing Fourier transform to a plurality of pieces of obtained image data to obtain a plurality of pieces of Fourier transform image data;
performing deconvolution processing to the plurality of pieces of Fourier transform image data on a two-dimensional plane in consideration of MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) to synthesize the plurality of pieces of Fourier transform image data; and
performing inverse Fourier transform to obtain image data.
8. The microscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the spatial modulation element can be rotated about the optical axis, a plurality of optical elements that move the optical path are provided in the optical path moving optical system, the plurality of optical elements respectively move the optical path in different directions perpendicular to the optical axis, and one of the plurality of optical elements can be selected for use according to a rotation amount of the spatial modulation element.
9. An image processing method comprising:
picking up a plurality of images of a sample with the microscope apparatus according to claim 8 while the rotation amount of the spatial modulation element is changed;
performing Fourier transform to a plurality of pieces of obtained image data to obtain a plurality of pieces of Fourier transform image data;
performing deconvolution processing to the plurality of pieces of Fourier transform image data on a two-dimensional plane in consideration of MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) to synthesize the plurality of pieces of Fourier transform image data; and
performing inverse Fourier transform to obtain image data.
10. The microscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an optical axis of an optical system in which the objective optical system and the relay optical system are combined is identical to an optical axis of an illumination optical system from a light source to the sample surface in an optical axis at least in a range from a site located on a light source side of the spatial modulation element to the sample surface, and
the microscope apparatus includes:
a light source that is provided at a position distant from the optical axis of the illumination optical system;
a collector lens that converts illumination light divergent from the light source into a substantially parallel light flux;
a collimator lens that collects the illumination light transmitted through the collector lens to form a secondary light source;
an optical path deflecting member that reflects the illumination light transmitted through the collimator lens to cause a principal ray of the reflected illumination light to travel in a direction of the sample surface parallel to the optical axis of the relay optical system; and
an irradiation optical system that converts the illumination light reflected from the optical path deflecting member into irradiation light having a substantially parallel light flux, the irradiation light being obliquely incident to the spatial modulation element.
11. The microscope apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the irradiation light optical system is a part of the relay optical system.
12. The microscope apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the spatial modulation element can be rotated about the optical axis, the light source can be rotated about the optical axis of the illumination optical system, and the spatial modulation element and the light source can be set at an identical rotation amount.
13. An image processing method comprising:
picking up a plurality of images of a sample with the microscope apparatus according to claim 12 while the rotation amount of the spatial modulation element is changed;
performing Fourier transform to a plurality of pieces of obtained image data to obtain a plurality of pieces of Fourier transform image data;
performing deconvolution processing to the plurality of pieces of Fourier transform image data on a two-dimensional plane in consideration of MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) to synthesize the plurality of pieces of Fourier transform image data; and
performing inverse Fourier transform to obtain image data.
14. The microscope apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the spatial modulation element can be rotated about the optical axis, a plurality of light sources are provided, the plurality of light sources respectively move the optical path in different directions perpendicular to the optical axis, and one of the plurality of light sources can be selected for use according to a rotation amount of the spatial modulation element.
15. An image processing method comprising:
picking up a plurality of images of a sample with the microscope apparatus according to claim 14 while the rotation amount of the spatial modulation element is changed;
performing Fourier transform to a plurality of pieces of obtained image data to obtain a plurality of pieces of Fourier transform image data;
performing deconvolution processing to the plurality of pieces of Fourier transform image data on a two-dimensional plane in consideration of MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) to synthesize the plurality of pieces of Fourier transform image data; and
performing inverse Fourier transform to obtain image data.
16. The microscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a phase of the interference fringe formed on the sample surface by the spatial modulation element and the objective optical system can be changed, and
an imaging time of the image picking-up means is substantially same as an integral multiple of a period for phase changing.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus for obtaining a tissue sample, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a biopsy probe, the biopsy probe comprising:
(i) a cannula having a closed distal end, wherein the cannula defines a longitudinal axis and a side aperture proximal to the closed distal end, wherein the cannula has a first length, and
(ii) a cutter positioned within the cannula, wherein the cutter is operable to move within the cannula to cut a tissue sample from tissue protruding through the side aperture; and
(b) a blocking member movably coupled with the cannula, wherein the blocking member has a second length and a distal end having a tapered portion, wherein the second length is less than the first length, the blocking member comprising:
(i) an elongate structure registered to at least partially encompass and engage the cannula, wherein the elongate structure is open and flexible to provide snap-on engagement of the blocking member with the cannula by snapping the blocking member onto the cannula in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, wherein the blocking member is configured to slide along the cannula while the blocking member is snapped onto the cannula, wherein a portion of the elongate structure is mounted along the cannula such that the elongate structure blocks at least part of the side aperture and is further positioned such that the cannula and the elongate structure are operable to slidingly enter tissue with the tapered portion, and
(ii) a gripping portion attached to a proximal portion of the elongate structure for longitudinally positioning the blocking member relative to the side aperture, wherein the elongate structure extends distally from the gripping portion.
2. The biopsy device of claim 1, wherein the blocking member comprises a probe sleeve.
3. The biopsy device of claim 2, wherein the probe sleeve comprises a collar selectively detachable from the cannula.
4. The biopsy device of claim 2, further comprising;
(a) a vacuum assistance system; and
(b) a vacuum lumen attached along a length of the cannula, wherein the vacuum lumen is in fluid communication with the interior of the cannula, wherein the vacuum lumen is further in fluid communication with the vacuum assistance system;
wherein the probe sleeve further comprises a circumferential portion shaped to engage the cannula and vacuum lumen.
5. The biopsy device of claim 2, wherein the probe sleeve includes a proximally attached actuator shaped to be grasped by a user.
6. The biopsy device of claim 1, wherein the cannula includes a piercing tip, wherein a dead space longitudinal distance from a distal end of the side aperture to a distal-most end of the piercing tip is less than 7.8 mm.
7. The biopsy device of claim 6, wherein the dead space longitudinal distance is approximately 6 mm.
8. The biopsy device of claim 1, wherein the closed distal end of the cannula includes a tissue piercing tip.
9. The biopsy device of claim 1, wherein the cutter is translatable within the cannula to sever tissue protruding through the side aperture.
10. The biopsy device of claim 9, further comprising a cutter drive assembly operable to distally translate the cutter across the side aperture to sever tissue protruding through the side aperture.
11. The biopsy device of claim 1, wherein the elongate structure of the blocking member is dimensioned to be inserted in tissue with the cannula.
12. The biopsy device of claim 1, wherein the blocking member is slidable along at least a portion of first length of the cannula to selectively vary the effective size of the side aperture.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cannula defines a cutter lumen and a vacuum lumen, wherein the cutter is positioned within the cutter lumen, wherein the elongate structure registers to at least a portion of the cutter lumen and vacuum lumen.
14. A biopsy device, comprising:
(a) an outer tube having a closed distal end, the outer tube defining a side aperture proximal to the closed distal end, wherein the outer tube provides an exterior, wherein the outer tube defines a longitudinal axis;
(b) a hollow cutter longitudinally movable within the outer tube to sever tissue prolapsed through the side aperture; and
(c) a blocking member, wherein the blocking member terminates at a tapered distal edge, at a proximal edge, and at a pair of lateral edges extending longitudinally from the tapered distal edge to the proximal edge, wherein the configuration and relative positioning of the tapered distal edge, proximal edge, and lateral edges of the blocking member are configured to permit the blocking member to be snappingly coupled to the exterior of the outer tube by pushing the blocking member onto the outer tube along a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, wherein the tapered distal edge and the lateral edges of the blocking member define an elongate portion of the blocking member, wherein the blocking member further comprises a flange extending outwardly from a proximal portion of the elongate portion, wherein the blocking member is configured to slide along the exterior of the outer tube between at least a first proximal position and a second distal position while the blocking member is snapped onto the exterior of the outer tube, wherein the blocking member in the first proximal position is located proximally in relation to the side aperture, wherein at least a portion of the blocking member in the second distal position obstructs at least part of the side aperture.
15. The biopsy device of claim 14, wherein the blocking member defines a gap between the lateral edges permitting the blocking member to be selectively coupled with or decoupled with the cannula.
16. The biopsy device of claim 14, wherein the blocking member is configured to longitudinally translate relative to the outer tube to selectively cover at least a portion of the side aperture.
17. The biopsy device of claim 14, wherein the elongate portion of the blocking member is sized and shaped to permit a distal portion of the elongate portion to be distally inserted into tissue with the outer tube.
18. An apparatus for obtaining a tissue sample, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a biopsy probe, the biopsy probe comprising:
(i) a cannula having a closed distal end, wherein the cannula defines a side aperture proximal to the closed distal end, wherein the cannula has a first length, wherein the cannula defines a pinched lateral waist extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the length of the cannula, and
(ii) a cutter positioned within the cannula, wherein the cutter is operable to move within the cannula to cut a tissue sample from tissue protruding through the side aperture; and
(b) a blocking member movably coupled with the cannula, wherein the blocking member has a second length, wherein the second length is less than the first length, the blocking member comprising:
(i) an elongate structure registered to at least partially encompass and engage the cannula, wherein the elongate structure defines at least one ridge, wherein the elongate structure is open and flexible to provide snap-on engagement of the blocking member with the cannula by snapping the blocking member onto the cannula in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis defined by the cannula and by engaging the pinched lateral waist with the at least one ridge, wherein the elongate structure has a beveled distal edge shaped to enter tissue with the cannula, and
(ii) a gripping portion attached to a proximal portion of the elongate structure for longitudinally positioning the blocking member relative to the side aperture,
wherein the elongate structure extends distally from the gripping portion while the blocking member is coupled with the cannula,
wherein the gripping portion is positioned proximal to the elongate structure while the blocking member is coupled with the cannula.