UTSD: 1494

Combination Low Magnification Dark-Field Illuminator and Bright-Field Microscopy Substage Condenser with Descriptions and Modifications to Manufacture this Device from Commercially Available Fiber-Optic Ringlights

In June 2003 intellectual property artwork and prototype demonstration for a Combination Low Magnification Dark-Field Illuminator and Bright-Field Microscopy Substage Condenser were filed pursuant of US patent. Prior-art drawings, prototype description, and modification instructions for the manufacture of this device from commercially available fiber-optic ringlights were filed through the UT Southwestern Medical Center Office of Technology Development.

This combined illuminator and condenser device improves low-magnification illumination of biological, synthetic, or mineral samples viewed through a microscope or dissecting scope. The device, and methods described to manufacture this device by modifying commercially available fiber-optic ringlights, facilitates improved low-magnification microscopic analysis and/or photography of hydrated or dissected whole samples, portions of samples that have been thinly sliced or thinly polished, and paraffinized or deparaffinized histologic sections which may be stained or unstained.

Currently, this illumination technology is unlicensed. Parties interested in this technology may contact the inventors (John Shelton, James Richardson and George Grauer) through the Office of Technology Development at UT Southwestern and reference UTSD1494.