Laser Microscope with Pulsed Ablation and Nonlinear Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser microscopes face challenges in achieving high spatial resolution and precision in nonlinear optical imaging and material removal, particularly in the near-infrared spectral range, while minimizing sample heating and requiring high technical effort.
Innovation Solution
A laser microscope system that combines a pulsed excitation beam for imaging and a pulsed ablation beam for precise material modification, using nonlinear optical effects like Stimulated Raman Scattering and Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering, with the ablation beam interacting with the sample to ionize electron shells and vaporize material without excessive heating, allowing for high-resolution imaging and selective ablation with minimal thermal interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high intensity laser illumination is used for nonlinear optical imaging, then spatial resolution is improved, but sample heating increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pulsed laser illumination instead of continuous wave illumination. The laser operates in pulse mode with specific pulse durations and repetition rates, allowing high peak intensities for nonlinear optical effects while providing cooling intervals between pulses to prevent excessive sample heating. This periodic action resolves the contradiction between achieving high spatial resolution through high intensity and preventing sample heating.
2Manufacturing precision
If high laser power is used for material ablation, then ablation precision is improved, but thermal damage to surrounding tissue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs specific laser parameter settings including pulse duration in the range of picoseconds to femtoseconds, pulse energy optimization, and wavelength selection in the near-infrared range. These parameter changes enable precise material ablation through nonlinear optical absorption while minimizing thermal diffusion to surrounding tissue, thereby achieving high ablation precision without excessive thermal damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes rapid phase transitions in the target material induced by ultrafast laser pulses. The high peak intensity causes direct ablation through mechanisms such as plasma formation and explosive vaporization, bypassing gradual thermal heating. This phase transition approach enables precise material removal while limiting thermal damage to the surrounding area.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple laser sources are used for multimodal imaging and ablation, then functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple laser sources into a unified system with integrated beam delivery and scanning. The multiple laser beams are merged through optical combining techniques and delivered through a common scanning optical system, allowing simultaneous or sequential multimodal imaging and ablation functions. This merging approach improves functionality while managing device complexity through integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the laser microscope system with multi-functional capabilities where a single platform performs both nonlinear optical imaging and precise material ablation. The system can switch between different operational modes (imaging, ablation, or combined) using the same fundamental optical infrastructure, thereby improving adaptability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
4Productivity
If continuous laser illumination is used, then imaging speed is improved, but sample damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pulsed laser operation instead of continuous illumination. The periodic pulse train provides sufficient temporal resolution for high-speed imaging while the intervals between pulses allow heat dissipation and prevent cumulative sample damage. This periodic action enables both fast imaging and sample preservation.
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
The system enables high-resolution imaging and precise material modification with improved spatial resolution and reduced sample heating, facilitating selective ablation and imaging deep within biological samples without damaging the surface, and can be operated by non-experts due to integrated scanning and focusing optics, reducing the need for complex tuning and expertise.
Implementation Method 1
By using nonlinear optical effects, the resolution increases, since, e.g., only in the region with the highest light intensity a signal is generated
Implementation Method 2
using nonlinear optical effects like Stimulated Raman Scattering and Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering
Implementation Method 3
using nonlinear optical effects like Stimulated Raman Scattering and Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering
Implementation Method 4
combine the coherent Raman scattering, e.g., stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS), the two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) and using the second-harmonic generation (SHG)
Implementation Method 5
the ablation beam can be configured in a way that they likely directly interact with and ionize the electron shells of the atoms of the sample material in the sample. Therefore, the sample material can be locally vaporised by transferring the electrons in a plasma
Implementation Method 6
the ablation beam can be configured in a way that they likely directly interact with and ionize the electron shells of the atoms of the sample material
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary laser microscope can be provided, comprising at least one first laser source which emits at least one (e.g., pulsed) excitation beam, a scanning optical configuration (e.g., configured to scan the excitation beam over the surface of a sample), a focusing optical configuration (e.g., configured to focus the excitation beam onto the sample), and at least one detector configured to detect light emitted by the sample due to an optical effect in response to the excitation beam. A second laser source facilitates a pulsed ablation beam for a local ablation of the material of the sample. The ablation beam can be guided to the sample via the scanning and focusing optical configurations. The first and second laser sources can be fed by a mutual continuous wave pump laser and/or a mutual pulsed pump laser. The first laser source can emit pulses with at least two different wavelengths.