Confocal Disk with Curved Dichroic Micro-Optics
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing confocal microscopy systems face challenges with poor light yield and precise alignment requirements due to the combination and separation of excitation and emission beams, particularly in Nipkow disk systems, which necessitate critical angular adjustments and precise path length compensation.
Innovation Solution
A structured disk with convex, dichroically coated micro-optical elements and pinholes, allowing for a virtual path length adjustment that self-aligns the excitation and emission beams, eliminating the need for separate path length compensation and angular adjustments, and enhancing resolution through focused focal points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If excitation and emission beams are combined and separated using multiple dichroic mirrors in Nipkow disk systems, then confocal filtering is achieved, but alignment complexity and path length compensation requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the confocal filtering function and beam separation function into a single integrated element. The pinhole mask is directly integrated with the dichroic mirror, eliminating the need for separate path length compensation and angular adjustments that were required when using multiple separate dichroic mirrors. This merging reduces alignment complexity while maintaining confocal filtering reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated pinhole-dichroic element performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the confocal aperture and the beam separator. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate components and their associated alignment procedures, reducing the overall device complexity while maintaining the necessary confocal filtering capability.
2Reliability
If multiple separate dichroic mirrors are used for beam separation, then excitation and emission paths are differentiated, but precise angular adjustments and path length compensation become critical
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the pinhole mask and dichroic mirror into a single integrated element, the patent eliminates the need for precise angular adjustments between separate components. The beam separation and confocal filtering occur at the same location, removing the critical alignment requirements that existed when using multiple separate dichroic mirrors.
3Productivity
If standard Nipkow disk systems are used, then fast imaging is achieved, but light yield is poor due to lack of pre-focusing through pinholes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements pre-focusing of excitation light through the pinholes before illumination of the sample. This preliminary action of focusing the light through the pinhole mask increases the intensity of light reaching the sample, thereby improving light yield while maintaining the fast imaging capability of the rotating Nipkow disk system.
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
The solution improves light yield and reduces alignment complexities, achieving higher resolution and efficient confocal imaging by utilizing a single curved dichroic surface for beam separation and recombination, enhancing numerical aperture and reducing motion blur.
Implementation Method 1
the plurality of micro-optical elements arranged on the first side having a convex, dichroically coated front surface
Implementation Method 2
a micro-optically curved (thus refracting) first surface, which allows the collimated light to converge
Implementation Method 3
the collimated light to converge, and (ii) a flat mirrored surface, which reflects the converging light beams back. After passing the curved surface (i) for the second time, the beams converge in front of the disk to form excitation spots
Implementation Method 4
the light reflected or emitted by the sample is filtered through a so-called pinhole aperture, which is located exactly in the image plane of the microscope system. As a result, mainly light from a specific focal plane is transmitted, while light from outside this focal plane is blocked
Implementation Method 5
the dichroic coating is determined as a function of the respective use and is to be selected such that the excitation light to be used is reflected, but the resulting emission light is transmitted
Data Source
AI summary
A device for confocal observation of a sample comprises at least one disk-like body, wherein the at least one disk-like body comprises on a first side a plurality of micro-optical elements and on a second side a correspondingly arranged pinhole pattern formed by a plurality of pinholes, wherein the plurality of micro-optical elements arranged on the first side comprise a convex, dichroically coated front surface, wherein for excitation of the sample the disk is illuminated on its side facing the tube lens with collimated light which is reflected back to the tube lens by the plurality of curved, dichroically coated surfaces on the disk in such a way that a corresponding excitation spot pattern is created therefrom in the object plane of the microscope, which excitation spot pattern, after having passed the tube lens and the plurality of curved, dichroically coated surfaces, can be spatially filtered and detected.