Adaptable Light Sheet for SPIM Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical arrangements for selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM) generate rigid light sheets with fixed geometry, leading to inefficient illumination and unwanted shadows when using different objectives, and fail to adapt to varying optical characteristics, causing specimen bleaching and suboptimal imaging.
Innovation Solution
The optical arrangement allows for varying the cross-section, length, and direction of the light sheet by using a collimator, aspherical optical elements, field and aperture diaphragms, and optional zoom optics, as well as devices like wobble plates or oscillating mirrors to adapt to different objectives and reduce shadows, ensuring efficient illumination and optimal imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rigid light sheet with fixed geometry is generated, then the optical arrangement is simple, but it cannot adapt to different objectives causing inefficient illumination and specimen bleaching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustability of the light sheet geometry through movable optical elements. The light sheet thickness and position can be varied along the beam direction using translation stages and adjustable optical components, allowing adaptation to different objectives while maintaining a manageable optical arrangement structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the light sheet (thickness, position, geometry) by adjusting optical elements. By modifying the convergence angle of the light bundle and the position of optical components, the light sheet parameters can be adapted to match different objective characteristics without fundamentally changing the entire optical system.
2Illumination intensity
If a fixed geometry light sheet is used, then the optical system is stable, but illumination uniformity is poor and shadows occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic adjustment of the light sheet geometry to optimize illumination uniformity. By adjusting the convergence angle and light sheet thickness adaptively, the system can maintain uniform illumination across the specimen plane and minimize shadow formation from out-of-focus structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the light sheet parameters (thickness, position, convergence angle) to achieve uniform illumination. By changing these parameters based on the specific imaging requirements and objective characteristics, the system eliminates shadows and improves illumination uniformity across the specimen plane.
3Reliability
If the light sheet geometry cannot be varied, then the optical arrangement is simple, but specimen bleaching occurs outside the plane of interest
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of light sheet thickness and position to precisely illuminate only the plane of interest. By adjusting the convergence angle and using movable optical elements, the system confines excitation light to the focal plane, preventing bleaching of specimens outside this plane while maintaining system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the light sheet parameters (particularly thickness and position) to match the depth of field of different objectives. This parameter adjustment ensures that excitation is limited to the plane being observed, preventing unnecessary bleaching of specimens above and below this plane.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed depth of focus light sheet is used, then the optical system is stable, but it cannot adapt to different object fields being observed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustability of the light sheet depth of focus through movable optical elements and adjustable convergence angles. The system can adapt to different object fields and objective characteristics while maintaining stable illumination during actual imaging by locking the adjusted parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the depth of focus parameter of the light sheet to match different object fields being observed. By adjusting the convergence angle and optical element positions, the system adapts to various imaging requirements while maintaining stable geometric parameters during observation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables efficient observation of specimen planes with reduced shadows and improved illumination uniformity, adapting to different objectives and preventing specimen bleaching by dynamically adjusting the light sheet geometry and direction, thus enhancing imaging efficiency and quality.
Implementation Method 1
a collimator (6) for generating a bundle of parallel light
Implementation Method 2
an aspherical optical element (7) for transforming the bundle of parallel light into the shape of the light sheet
Implementation Method 3
a lens group (8, 10, 12) for realizing a field diaphragm plane (9) and for realizing an aperture diaphragm plane (11)
Implementation Method 4
a wobble plate (22) for varying the direction in which individual beam components extending within the light sheet are directed to the specimen substance
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is directed to an optical arrangement with a light source for emitting a light bundle and with optical elements for transforming this light bundle into the shape of a light sheet, particularly suitable for illuminating individual planes of a three-dimensional specimen in selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM). According to the invention, means are provided for varying the cross section of the light sheet, for varying the length of the light sheet and/or for influencing the direction in which individual beam components extending within the light sheet are directed to the specimen substance. This makes it possible to adapt the geometry of the light sheet to the illumination requirements for observing one and the same specimen plane with a plurality of different objectives and, if required, to reduce shadows occurring within the observed specimen plane as a result of the illumination.