Fluorescence Microscope Wafer Filter Membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluorescence microscopes face long measuring times, especially in microbiological studies, due to the need for high resolving power and large substrate sizes, which can result in measuring times of several hours to days.
Innovation Solution
A fluorescence microscope utilizing a wafer-based filter membrane with continuous lithographically introduced perforations, made from materials like silicon, silicon compounds, or silicate glass, which allows for a smaller substrate size while maintaining high transmittance and resolving power, and a focusing illumination system to minimize substrate fluorescence and improve focusing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a large substrate size is used to maintain high transmittance and resolving power, then measurement accuracy is improved, but measuring time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is divided into a matrix of discrete perforations rather than being a continuous structure. This segmentation allows light to pass through multiple discrete paths simultaneously, maintaining high transmittance while enabling the use of smaller substrate dimensions, thus reducing the area that needs to be scanned and decreasing measuring time.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate material is changed from traditional continuous filters to wafer-based filter membranes with lithographically introduced perforations. This parameter change enables precise control of perforation size, shape, and distribution, optimizing both transmittance and resolving power while allowing smaller substrate sizes that reduce measurement time.
2Measurement precision
If high magnification is used to achieve resolving power less than 1 micrometre, then measurement precision is improved, but the area to be scanned increases, extending measuring time
Solution Approach 1:
The perforated substrate creates multiple discrete optical paths that simultaneously provide high-resolution imaging. The segmented structure allows the system to achieve high magnification and resolving power while keeping the effective scanning area small, as the perforations are concentrated in a compact region rather than requiring a large continuous substrate.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional filter membranes are used, then substrate availability is maintained, but substrate fluorescence increases background noise
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is constructed as a composite structure combining wafer-based filter membrane material with a perforated architecture. This composite approach maintains the manufacturing advantages of traditional materials while the perforated design reduces the total material volume, thereby reducing substrate fluorescence and background noise.
4Productivity
If a smaller substrate is used to reduce measuring time, then productivity is improved, but transmittance may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate employs a porous perforated structure where light can pass through multiple discrete openings. This porous design allows a small substrate area to provide equivalent or superior transmittance to a large continuous substrate, as the perforations create multiple parallel light paths that compensate for the reduced overall area, thereby improving productivity without sacrificing transmittance.
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
This configuration significantly reduces measuring time by allowing higher concentration of samples on a smaller area, minimizing substrate fluorescence, and enabling rapid and accurate focusing, thus achieving faster and more reliable fluorescence measurements.
Implementation Method 1
If such a sample or specimen is irradiated with suitable light, usually but not exclusively visible light or ultraviolet light, the fluorescent substance in the sample will light up with fluorescent light which has a longer wavelength than the excitation light.
Implementation Method 2
the excitation light is filtered out with the aid of a filter. The weak fluorescence is then, in principle, the only visible image.
Implementation Method 3
the filter membrane comprises a pattern of continuous perforations introduced lithographically... substantially the entire substrate surface can be imaged in sharp focus
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a fluorescence microscope and a method for using this to measure fluorescence. The microscope comprises a silicon wafer filter membrane which is highly- planar and does not fluoresce. Moreover, it has a very high perforation density, so that a small surface area is sufficient for effective measurement. Using a camera as the location-sensitive detector moreover makes it possible to take advantage of better optical resolution, which means that optics having a smaller numerical aperture and a smaller magnification factor can be employed, with a greater working distance. All these factors together provide a fluorescence microscope capable of much more rapid measurements than the existing fluorescence microscopes.