Pivotable stage for microscope system

Claim 1

In a microscope system, a stage for holding a slide under a microscope, said stage including a movable support member, a slide holder for engaging a slide, said slide holder secured to said movable support member by a pivotable member which is rotatable about a horizontal axis, means for moving said movable member in at least two rectilinear directions, said slide holder being movable with said movable support member so that a slide held thereby is movable in two rectilinear directions in a plane substantially transverse to the optical axis of said system, a condenser disposed in the optical axis of said system, said condenser including a point-like projection which extends upwardly from the top of the condenser, said slide holder including a slidable member and fixed projection, means on said slide holder for resiliently urging said slidable member against said slide so that said slide is held by said slide holder between said slidable member and said projection, said slide holder and slide being disposed with respect to said condenser so that said slide rests on said point-like projection and is slidably supported thereon so that the bottom surface of said slide in the optical axis of said microscope system remains substantially fixed longitudinally of said optical axis as said slide is moved transversely with respect thereto.