Equipment for the direct observation of biological samples has been developed. The equipment comprises a charge coupled device (CCD) unit and a light-emitting diode (LED), which is placed above the light-sensing face of the CCD. The biological sample is positioned just onto the CCD with no lens system interposed. Because of its small size, the equipment can be operated in an incubator, allowing the continuous observation of biological samples under appropriate temperature, humidity and gas concentration conditions. The equipment is operated periodically at 5-minute periods to reduce the influence of heat generated by the equipment and to maintain a constant sample temperature. E. coli colony formation is observed continuously for 70 hours without any adverse effects occurring during the observation. Hepatocyte morphological change and hepatocyte pattern formation are also observed.
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