Flexible Laser Microscope Head with Beam Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional two-photon microscopes and multiphoton tomographs have limited flexibility and accuracy due to their rigid construction, making them unsuitable for multifunctional examinations, especially in the human body, and they are limited to detecting autofluorescence and specific molecular nonlinear frequency multiplication, with CARS systems only feasible in rigid configurations.
Innovation Solution
A flexible nonlinear laser scanning microscope with a freely pivotable and rotatable measuring head, utilizing a controllable tilt mirror, beamsplitter, and spatially resolving photodetector for beam stabilization, allowing for reproducible and flexible illumination and simultaneous application of multiphoton and CARS tomography methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a rigid design with vibration-damped optical stage arrangements is used, then beam transmission accuracy is improved, but flexibility and adaptability for multifunctional examinations are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The microscope system is divided into separate functional modules: a rigid optical bench for stable beam transmission and a flexible measuring head for adaptability. The measuring head can be freely positioned and oriented relative to the optical bench, allowing the system to maintain beam accuracy while accommodating various examination configurations and functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible measuring head design enables the same optical system to perform multiple functions including multiphoton microscopy, CARS microscopy, and other nonlinear optical techniques. The measuring head can be positioned in any orientation and configuration to suit different examination requirements, making the system universally applicable.
2Ease of operation
If articulated mirror arms are used for beam transmission, then flexibility of measuring head positioning is improved, but mechanical deviations and temperature drift cause laser beam position instability
Solution Approach 1:
A feedback mechanism is implemented to monitor and correct laser beam position deviations caused by mechanical deviations and temperature drift in the articulated mirror arms. The system detects beam position changes and automatically adjusts the optical path to maintain stable beam transmission despite the flexible positioning capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical beam guidance with a hybrid system that includes optical feedback control. This substitution of mechanical precision with optical feedback allows the articulated mirror arms to provide flexibility while the optical system compensates for mechanical imperfections.
3Adaptability or versatility
If free-beam transmission systems with articulated mirror arms are used, then adaptability for different orientations is improved, but mechanical stresses and temperature drift reduce scanning accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces mechanical scanning precision with optical feedback control. The articulated mirror arms provide the necessary flexibility for different orientations, while the optical feedback mechanism compensates for mechanical stresses and temperature drift, maintaining scanning accuracy across all positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts optical parameters such as beam angle and position in response to changing mechanical and environmental conditions. This real-time parameter adjustment compensates for temperature drift and mechanical stresses, maintaining consistent scanning accuracy despite variations in orientation and environmental conditions.
4Use of energy by moving object
If in-coupling of laser radiation into articulated mirror arm is optimized for collinearity, then beam transmission efficiency is improved, but deviations from collinearity cause additional accuracy losses
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback control to monitor beam coupling efficiency and automatically adjust the optical path to maintain optimal collinearity. This ensures maximum beam transmission efficiency while compensating for any deviations that occur during flexible positioning and scanning operations.
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 reproducible, high-resolution, noninvasive three-dimensional detection with unlimited flexibility of the measuring head, allowing for submicrometer resolution and simultaneous imaging of fluorescing and nonfluorescing substances, overcoming the limitations of rigid systems and improving beam stability.
Implementation Method 1
at least one controllable tilt mirror arranged for deflection and orientation of at least one excitation beam
Implementation Method 2
a beamsplitter for coupling a test beam out of the excitation beam arranged in the measuring head
Implementation Method 3
a spatially resolving photodetector for determining the beam position of the excitation beam
Implementation Method 4
a control unit provided for driving the controllable tilt mirror depending on a determined deviation of the test beam from its center alignment
Implementation Method 5
flexible transmission optics for transmitting the radiation to a measuring head having focusing optics by which the radiation is focused
Implementation Method 6
Two-photon microscopes and multiphoton tomographs in which fluorescence signals and SHG (Second Harmonic Generation) signals are excited in biological molecules
Implementation Method 7
fluorescence signals are excited in biological molecules in vivo by pulsed laser radiation
Implementation Method 8
nonfluorescing and non-SHG active components such as water and lipids can be displayed by means of CARS (Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering) microscopes
Data Source
AI summary
A nonlinear laser scanning microscope for flexible, noninvasive three-dimensional detection comprising a measuring head which is flexibly connected to at least one radiation source by transmission optics and can be freely positioned in space, at least one controllable tilt mirror is arranged for aligning the excitation beam in order to keep the excitation beam concentric to an aperture-limited optical element of the measuring head, a test beam which is coupled out of the excitation beam onto a spatially resolving photodetector for monitoring the center alignment of the test beam as a conjugate position to the target position of the excitation beam and directional stabilizing the excitation beam by a control unit of the tilt mirror depending on a determined deviation.