A Miniature Microscope Objective Weighing Under 5 Grams
The Francis Crick Institute needed a custom microscope objective for an extremely tight space, to pick out fluorescent markers so they could be investigated further with electron microscopy. We designed an all-new objective, then made the optics, coatings and non-magnetic metalwork and assembled it in Rye. The results were published in a scientific paper.
A Complete Objective in Almost No Space
The objective was used to detect fluorescent markers in images, so that areas of interest could be found and then investigated further with electron microscopy.
There was no existing design to adapt. The space available was extremely tight, so the optics and mechanics had to be designed together from a blank sheet. The Crick chose Kingsview because we could take control of the whole process in house.
The objective had to:
- Weigh less than 5 grams in total
- Work at a 3mm working distance with a 0.3 numerical aperture
- Cover a 400µm field of view across 480–610nm
- Form a 1.1mm image onto a Fujikura FIGH-50-1100N imaging fibre bundle
- Be built entirely from non-magnetic materials
Optics and Mechanics Designed Together
With so little space, every millimetre of the optical path had to earn its place. The objective collects light at 0.3 NA from just 3mm away and relays a 400µm field into a 1.1mm image on the face of the imaging fibre bundle, which carries it out to the camera.
A prism at the end of the objective turns the optical path. We actively aligned the prism during assembly so the optical axis matched in both the vertical and horizontal directions.
Non-Magnetic, Thin-Walled Metalwork
The objective had to be completely non-magnetic, so the metalwork was machined from 316 stainless steel. It is non-magnetic and strong enough to be machined with very thin walls, which kept the assembly small and the total mass under 5 grams.
Made in Rye, Start to Finish
Design, lens manufacture, coating, metalwork and assembly were all carried out at our site in Rye, East Sussex, so one team was responsible for the whole objective.
- Lens manufactureMiniature lenses made on our Optotech CNC lines.
- Optical coatingCoated in house for the 480–610nm band.
- MetalworkThin-walled 316 stainless steel parts machined on site.
- AssemblyAssembled in house, with the end prism actively aligned.
Proven in Published Research
Image Checked in Rye
The image through the objective was checked to make sure the fluorescent markers appeared clear and in focus.
Accepted by the Crick
The Francis Crick Institute accepted the objective for use in their research.
Results Published
The results were written up in a scientific paper. Read the paper.
A complete microscope objective weighing under 5 grams, built from non-magnetic materials, and used in research that was published.
Need Optics for a Space Nothing Off the Shelf Will Fit?
Tell us the space, the weight and what you need to see. An engineer who works beside our production line will tell you what can be built, from a single research prototype upwards.
We reply within one working day. All projects can be handled under NDA.