Free-form Detection Correction Lens for Light Sheet Microscopy Aberrations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Light sheet microscopy faces challenges with imaging errors due to oblique passage of illumination and detection light through the microscope slide or cover glass, leading to spherical aberrations and other optical aberrations, which complicates the use of standard sample vessels and limits high-throughput analysis.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a free-form detection correction lens between the detection objective and the separating layer system, which can form the front lens, and using adaptive optical elements for internal focusing and wavefront manipulation to correct aberrations, allowing for the use of existing lenses and various sample containers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If light passes obliquely through the separating layer system (microscope slide or cover glass), then the device can use standard sample vessels and maintain a simple structure, but imaging errors such as spherical aberrations and other optical aberrations occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a correction lens system as an intermediary optical element between the detection objective and the separating layer system. This correction lens specifically compensates for the aberrations introduced by oblique light passage through the microscope slide or cover glass, enabling the use of standard sample vessels while maintaining diffraction-limited image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs adaptive optical elements that can dynamically adjust optical parameters to correct aberrations. By changing the optical path and using wavefront manipulation, the system compensates for imaging errors caused by oblique light passage, maintaining high imaging quality while using standard sample containers
2Manufacturing precision
If a correction lens system is added to correct aberrations, then imaging quality improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The correction lens system is designed to perform multiple functions: it corrects spherical aberrations, coma, and other optical aberrations simultaneously. The adaptive optical elements can adjust to different sample depths and container types, providing universal correction across various imaging conditions without requiring multiple separate correction systems
Solution Approach 2:
The correction lens system is integrated within the existing optical path of the light sheet microscopy device. The correction lenses are positioned between the detection objective and the separating layer system, nesting the correction functionality within the existing device structure rather than adding completely separate external systems
3Area of stationary object
If oblique illumination and detection angles are used, then large sample areas can be captured with greater penetration depth, but spherical aberrations and imaging errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The correction lens system acts as an intermediary that specifically addresses the aberrations introduced by oblique light passage. By placing correction lenses in the optical path between the detection objective and the separating layer system, the patent enables the use of larger oblique angles for imaging larger sample areas while maintaining diffraction-limited resolution through active aberration compensation
4Device complexity
If standard sample vessels are used without correction, then device simplicity is maintained, but high-throughput analysis is limited due to contamination risks
Solution Approach 1:
The correction lens system and adaptive optical elements serve as intermediaries that enable the use of sealed sample containers. By correcting aberrations caused by the container interfaces, the system allows samples to be enclosed in contamination-proof vessels, enabling high-throughput analysis without the need for open sample preparation that would compromise sterility
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 solution effectively corrects imaging errors, enabling high-resolution imaging across a large sample volume with minimal sample preparation disruption and facilitating high-throughput analysis without contamination, while maintaining diffraction-limited image quality.
Implementation Method 1
aberrations which arise from the oblique passage of light to be detected through interfaces of the separating layer system
Implementation Method 2
a free-form detection correction lens for reducing aberrations which arise from the oblique passage of light to be detected through interfaces of the separating layer system
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 2c~3a
AI summary
The invention relates to an arrangement for light sheet microscopy. Such an arrangement comprises lighting optics with a lighting lens (5) for illuminating a sample (3) located on a sample carrier in a medium (2), by means of a lighting beam path with a light sheet, wherein the optical axis (6) of the lighting lens (5) and the light sheet lie in a plane which encloses with the normal of a planar reference face (4), with respect to which the sample carrier is aligned, a lighting angle (ß) which is different from zero. The arrangement furthermore comprises a detection optical unit comprising a detection lens (7) in a detection beam path, the optical axis (8) of which encloses a detection angle (δ) which is different from zero with the normal to the reference face. Finally, the arrangement also comprises a separating layer system with at least one layer composed of a predefined material of a predefined thickness, which separates the medium (2) from the lighting lens (5) and the detection lens (7), wherein the separating layer system is in contact with the medium (2), with a base surface (9) oriented parallel to the reference face (4), at least in the region which is accessible to the lighting lens (5) and the detection lens (7) for the purpose of illuminating or detecting. The arrangement also comprises a correction lens system with at least one detection correction lens for reducing such aberrations which arise owing to the oblique passage of light to be detected through boundary faces of the separating layer system. In such an arrangement, the at least one detection correction lens (9) is configured as a free-form lens and is arranged between the detection lens (7) and the separating layer system. Alternatively, it also forms the front lens of the detection lens (7).