Lattice Light Sheet Microscope Tiling via Single Spatial Light Modulator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lattice light sheet microscopy (LLSM) is limited by diffraction of light, leading to reduced imaging ability on large samples, and existing tiling technologies are complex and difficult to implement in conventional LLSM systems, requiring additional hardware and increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for tiling lattice light sheets using a single spatial light modulator, a transparent annular diaphragm, and a galvanometer, which modulates and filters illumination light to generate and tile optical lattices without altering the conventional LLSM hardware, allowing for dynamic positioning and coherent beam arrays to maintain high-resolution imaging over a larger field of view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the light sheet size is increased to image large samples, then the field of view is improved, but the light sheet thickness increases and illumination light constraint becomes weaker, reducing imaging ability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large field of view into multiple smaller regions by tiling multiple lattice light sheets together. Each individual light sheet maintains its thin profile and high illumination constraint, while the collective arrangement covers a large area, thus resolving the contradiction between field of view and imaging ability.
2Area of stationary object
If two spatial light modulators are used to generate and tile lattice light sheets, then the field of view is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the single spatial light modulator perform multiple functions: generating the lattice light sheet pattern and positioning/tiling it across the field of view. This is achieved by dynamically loading different phase patterns onto the same SLM, eliminating the need for a second SLM and reducing hardware complexity while maintaining the ability to image large samples.
3Area of stationary object
If the sample is translated to achieve a larger field of view, then the field of view is improved, but the imaging speed decreases and image splicing problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of expanding the field of view by moving the sample in real space, the patent uses the spatial light modulator's phase modulation capability to create multiple virtual light sheet positions simultaneously. This transforms the problem from a spatial translation approach to an optical field modulation approach, maintaining high imaging speed while achieving a larger effective field of view through computational tiling.
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 convenient and cost-effective tiling of lattice light sheets, maintaining high-resolution and high-speed imaging in a field of view much greater than the light sheet size, simplifying the hardware configuration and user adoption.
Implementation Method 1
The spatial light modulator is configured to: generate an optical lattice by loading a phase map obtained from a center section of a corresponding optical lattice of a desired lattice light sheet to the spatial light modulator, and tile the optical lattice by loading a phase map obtained from an off-center section of the corresponding optical lattice
Implementation Method 2
The transparent annular diaphragm is arranged at a plane that is conjugated to an entrance pupil of the excitation objective, to filter illumination light modulated by the spatial light modulator
Implementation Method 3
the first galvanometer is configured to scan each optical lattice in an extending direction of the optical lattice to form a tiled lattice light sheet
Implementation Method 4
An optical modulation plane of the spatial light modulator is conjugated to an image plane of the excitation objective
Data Source
AI summary
A lattice light sheet microscope includes a single spatial light modulator (SLM), the optical modulation plane of which conjugates to an image plane of an excitation objective and which is configured to: generate an optical lattice by loading a phase map obtained from a central cross section of a corresponding optical lattice of a desired lattice light sheet, and tile the optical lattice by loading a phase map obtained from an off-center cross section of the corresponding optical lattice. The lattice light sheet microscope also includes a transparent annular diaphragm arranged at a plane conjugating to the entrance pupil of the excitation objective lens. The lattice light sheet microscope further includes a first galvanometer configured to: scan each optical lattice in the extending direction thereof so as to form a tiled lattice light sheet.