Excitation Light Source Assembly with Segmented Lamp Receptacles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Molecular imaging systems face challenges in efficiently exciting a wide range of fluorescent materials due to the high cost and complexity of existing excitation light sources, which often require specific wavelength selection for each material.
Innovation Solution
An excitation light source assembly with a housing and multiple lamp receptacles that can be mounted to a support structure, allowing for the use of narrow-band and broad-band light sources, along with diffusers and filters, to provide customizable excitation illumination across a wide wavelength range, ensuring unobstructed camera views and even illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional excitation light sources are used to illuminate fluorescent materials, then the system can detect fluorescence, but the cost and complexity of the system increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The excitation light source is divided into multiple independent lamp receptacles, each capable of producing light at different wavelength bands. This segmentation allows the system to excite different fluorescent materials with appropriate wavelength light without requiring a complex monolithic light source, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable fluorescence detection across multiple wavelengths
Solution Approach 2:
Each lamp receptacle is designed to be universally applicable and can be configured to produce light at different wavelength bands. The receptacles can be selectively activated based on the fluorescent material being imaged, providing multi-functional capability in a single system. This universality reduces the need for multiple specialized light sources, lowering cost and complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple wavelength light sources are implemented to excite various fluorescent materials, then the adaptability of the system improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the wavelength selection function across multiple independent lamp receptacles, each dedicated to specific wavelength bands. This modular segmentation enables easy adaptation to different fluorescent materials by simply activating the appropriate receptacle(s), avoiding the complexity of tuning a single complex light source while maintaining high adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple lamp receptacles are provided as standardized copies that can be interchangeably configured for different wavelength bands. This copying approach allows the system to achieve multiple wavelength capabilities through replicated modular units rather than designing a unique complex light source for each wavelength, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining versatility
3Volume of moving object
If a compact excitation light source is used, then the housing size is reduced, but the camera field of view may be obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The light sources are segmented into multiple small lamp receptacles distributed around the periphery of the housing rather than using a single large light source in the center. This segmentation allows the housing to remain compact while positioning light sources away from the central optical path, preventing obstruction of the camera field of view and maintaining clear imaging capability
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
Enables efficient excitation of various fluorescent materials with customizable wavelength bands, reducing the need for expensive fiber optic bundles and allowing for both fluorescent and reflected light imaging, while maintaining even illumination and ease of wavelength adjustment.
Implementation Method 1
A diffuser is positioned adjacent the light source in each of the plurality of lamp receptacles so that each of the diffusers diffuses light produced by each of the light sources
Implementation Method 2
light emission by fluorescence results from the prior or simultaneous exposure of the fluorescent material to excitation light of suitable wavelength
Data Source
AI summary
An excitation light source assembly includes a housing defining a central opening therein and a plurality of lamp receptacles surrounding the central opening. The housing is mountable to a support structure having a camera mounted thereto so that a field of view of the camera is substantially unobstructed by the housing. A light source is positioned within each of the plurality of lamp receptacles. A diffuser is positioned adjacent the light source in each of the plurality of lamp receptacles so that each of the diffusers diffuses light produced by each of the light sources. A control system operatively connected to each of the light sources operates selected ones of the light sources to provide a desired excitation illumination to an object within the field of view of the camera.