Curved Light-Sheet Microscopy for Field-Curvature Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light-sheet microscopy techniques face challenges in achieving high-resolution, large-field-of-view imaging of centimeter-sized transparent samples due to field curvature, which causes defocus and reduced imaging contrast, and current objectives are limited by the space-bandwidth product (SBP), complicating design and increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
A novel 'curved illumination-flat imaging' approach using a microscope objective with field curvature, combined with curved light-sheet illumination and a time-delay integration camera, ensures the entire field of view remains in focus, allowing high-flux imaging without field stitching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional flat light-sheet illumination and flat detector imaging are used, then the system is simple to design and operate, but the space-bandwidth product is limited and imaging flux is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by matching the curved focal plane of the microscope objective with a curved light-sheet illumination geometry. This allows the entire field of view to remain in focus simultaneously, achieving high space-bandwidth product without requiring complex field-flattening lens systems. The curved illumination profile compensates for the natural field curvature of simple objectives.
2Manufacturing precision
If field curvature is corrected by adding more lenses to the objective, then imaging resolution and contrast are improved across the field of view, but the objective design becomes more complex and manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of treating field curvature as a harmful effect to be eliminated, the patent converts it into a beneficial feature by designing the light-sheet illumination to match the curved focal plane. This approach eliminates the need for complex field-flattening lenses while maintaining uniform imaging quality across the entire field of view.
3Device complexity
If a simple optical system is used to image a flat plane, then the system is easy to design, but the image plane becomes curved causing defocus at edges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by making the illumination geometry curved to match the naturally formed curved image plane. This allows simple optical systems to maintain focus uniformity across the field of view without requiring complex field-flattening corrections.
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 achieves a SBP of 420 million pixels, significantly higher than existing objectives, enabling diffraction-limited imaging across a wide range of refractive indices, with improved imaging flux and reduced complexity, suitable for imaging centimeter-sized samples like entire mouse brains with uniform resolution and contrast.
Implementation Method 1
a curved light-sheet generation module configured to generate a curved light-sheet that coincides with the curved focal plane of the fluorescence imaging module
Implementation Method 2
the curved light-sheet generated by the curved light-sheet illumination module coincides with the curved focal plane of the microscopic imaging module
Data Source
AI summary
A curved light-sheet microscopic imaging device comprises a microscopic imaging module, a curved light-sheet illumination module, and a sample scanning module. The curved light-sheet illumination module generates curvature-adjustable curved light-sheet illumination, Cooperating with a large field of view microscopy imaging device with field curvature can ensure that the entire imaging field is in a focused state; Combined with the sample scanning module, high flux microscopy imaging of centimeter sized transparent samples can be performed without the need for visual field stitching.