Fluorescence Microscope Spatial Light Modulation Uniform Illumination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluorescence microscopes face difficulties in capturing uniform images of specimens, especially in low background illumination environments, and struggle to achieve a wide field of view with uniform illumination patterns.
Innovation Solution
A fluorescence microscope apparatus and system that incorporates a first illumination optics with a spatial light modulation element, fly's eye lens, and multiple light sources to create uniform illumination patterns, along with a second illumination optics and imaging optics to form images on a specimen surface, allowing for control of light intensity and division of illumination regions based on specimen shape and dye types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a DMD is disposed in an incoming/outgoing common optical path to build a confocal fluorescence microscope, then the device structure is simplified, but uniform illumination of the specimen cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is segmented into multiple independent light sources (first light source for excitation, second light source for uniform illumination, third light source for background reduction) that can be controlled separately. This allows each light source to perform its specific function optimally while achieving overall uniform illumination across the specimen field of view.
Solution Approach 2:
A spatial light modulation element is introduced as an intermediary component between the light sources and the specimen. This element modulates the light from multiple sources to create the desired illumination pattern, enabling uniform illumination while maintaining the simplified confocal microscope structure.
2Area of stationary object
If conventional illumination methods are used to achieve wide field of view, then the imaging area is expanded, but background illumination increases reducing image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system provides different illumination qualities to different regions of the specimen. The first light source provides excitation illumination where needed, the second light source provides uniform background illumination, and the third light source specifically addresses background reduction. This local control of illumination quality enables wide field of view imaging with reduced background interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic switching between different illumination modes and patterns. By alternately activating different light sources and modulation patterns, the system can capture multiple images under different illumination conditions and process them to achieve wide field of view with reduced background illumination.
3Productivity
If multiple fluorescent dyes are excited simultaneously to increase imaging efficiency, then productivity is improved, but distinguishing individual dye signals becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary spatial modulation of light before it reaches the specimen. By pre-configuring the spatial light modulation element with specific patterns corresponding to different fluorescent dyes, the system can selectively illuminate and excite different dyes in different spatial regions, enabling simultaneous multi-dye imaging with clear signal discrimination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a spatial dimension to the excitation process by using spatial light modulation. Instead of only varying wavelength or intensity to distinguish dyes, the system modulates the spatial distribution of excitation light, creating distinct spatial patterns for each dye. This additional spatial dimension enables clear discrimination of multiple dye signals while maintaining high imaging efficiency.
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 uniform illumination and high-resolution imaging of a wide field of view in low background illumination environments, allowing for accurate fluorescence imaging and quantitative evaluation of multiple dyes with reduced background noise.
Implementation Method 1
a first light source for exciting fluorescence in a specimen
Implementation Method 2
the first illumination optical member uniformly illuminating the spatial light modulation element; wherein the first illumination optical member comprises at least one fly's eye lens
Implementation Method 3
a spatial light modulation element
Implementation Method 4
observing light emitted from the observation target when it returns from an excited state to a ground state
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
Disclosed is a technology for illuminating a specimen in a desired uniform illumination pattern and capturing an image of a wide field of view in a low background illumination environment. Provided, for example, is a fluorescence microscope apparatus including a first illumination optics, a second illumination optics, and an imaging optics. The first illumination optics includes a first light source for exciting fluorescence in a specimen, a spatial light modulation element, and a first illumination optical member for uniformly illuminating the spatial light modulation element. The second illumination optics includes a second illumination optical member for forming an image of a light beam from the spatial light modulation element on a specimen surface. The imaging optics includes an imaging optical member and an imaging element. The imaging optical member captures an image of the specimen surface.