Inverted microscopes

Inverted

— in inverted microscopes, the mechanism is arranged “upside down”: the lens is located under the object stage, and the illumination system is installed on top (however, its presence is not necessary). The location of the eyepiece does not fundamentally differ from the traditional design, the image is transmitted to it through a system of prisms. In addition, long-focus objectives are used in such models, allowing a cover slip thickness of 1.5 mm or even more (in conventional microscopes, the allowable thickness is usually 0.17 mm).

This design provides a number of advantages over the traditional one. First, from below, in most cases, it is most convenient to view the contents of Petri dishes and other dishes with a transparent bottom. Secondly, the reference and working (considered) surfaces of the observed object in inverted microscopes coincide. Here it is worth recalling that the working surface of the preparation for optimal visibility should be perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens, and the supporting surface is always perpendicular to it. So in inverted microscopes, there is no need to waste time on additional adjustment of the preparation position. Thirdly, such devices are suitable for working with objects that are very significant in height; and in those models where there is no lighting system or it is removed, there are no height restrictions at all (the main thing is that the object table can withstand the weight of the object). The main disadvantages of inverted microscopes are complexity and, accordingly, higher cost compared to classical counterparts.