An epi-fluorescent microscope is constructed with a quick changing set of filters.
A wheel containing a plurality of dichroic beamsplitter mirrors mounted equidistance
from a center axis of the wheel is mounted at a 45 angle within the lightpath
and provides a beamsplitter function. Light from an excitation source is provided
as monochromatic light, so that light from the excitation source is reflected by
a selected one of the dichroic mirrors to the specimen, and Stokes shifted light
from the specimen is transmitted through the dichroic mirror. By separately mounting
the dichroic mirrors, the dichroic mirrors can be quickly moved and a quicker change
of sensed fluorophores is achieved.
