Light Sheet Microscope Pupil Sub-Area Manipulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing light sheet fluorescence microscopes lack flexibility in photomanipulation, particularly in configurations like OPM and SCAPE, where simultaneous imaging and manipulation are challenging.

Innovation Solution

The microscope incorporates an optical system that directs manipulation light through a spatially limited sub-area of the objective's entrance pupil, allowing for flexible adjustment of the manipulation light's direction independently of the light sheet, enabling precise photomanipulation in various experimental setups.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate objectives are used for illumination and detection, then photomanipulation can be implemented, but the system complexity increases and adaptability to different configurations (OPM, SCAPE) is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to OPM and SCAPE configurationsVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by enabling a single objective to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the illumination objective for generating the light sheet and the detection objective for collecting fluorescent light. The key innovation is directing manipulation light through a spatially limited sub-area of the entrance pupil, allowing photomanipulation to be achieved without requiring separate illumination and detection objectives, thus maintaining adaptability to OPM and SCAPE configurations while reducing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If manipulation light is directed through the same objective as the light sheet, then photomanipulation is enabled, but the direction control of manipulation light becomes restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in photomanipulationVSAvoidindependent direction adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by spatially limiting the manipulation light to a specific sub-area of the objective's entrance pupil. This localized approach allows independent control of the manipulation light's propagation direction through angular adjustment, while the light sheet continues to illuminate the entire object plane. The spatial separation within the pupil plane enables flexible photomanipulation without restricting direction control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If the entire entrance pupil is illuminated with manipulation light, then photomanipulation coverage is maximized, but the precision of region-of-interest manipulation is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of photomanipulationVSAvoidmanipulation light coverage area
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by illuminating only a spatially limited sub-area of the entrance pupil with manipulation light, rather than the entire pupil. This localized illumination approach enables precise targeting of specific regions of interest within the object plane, improving manipulation precision while maintaining sufficient coverage for the targeted area. The sub-area illumination creates a focused manipulation region that matches the light sheet illumination area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 allows for efficient and flexible photomanipulation of specimens, enabling precise control over the region of interest within the object plane illuminated by the light sheet, and supports a wide range of applications including OPM and SCAPE configurations.

Implementation Method 1

a light source device (102) configured to emit excitation light (E) suitable for inducing fluorescent light (F) emitted from a specimen (110)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Implementation Method 2

The optical system (106) is further configured to direct the manipulation light (M) through a spatially limited sub-area of an entrance pupil (EP) of the objective (108) onto the specimen (110) along a light propagation direction which is different from a light propagation direction of the light sheet (LS)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight propagation: Light

Data Source

PatentEP3832369B1Light sheet fluorescence microscope
Publication Date: 2025.06.18 LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH
  • EP3832369B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3832369B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3832369B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A light sheet fluorescence microscope is provided, comprising: a light source device configured to emit excitation light suitable for inducing fluorescent light emitted from a specimen, a detector device configured to detect the fluorescent light from the specimen, and an optical system configured to illuminate the specimen with a light sheet formed from the excitation light and to guide the fluorescent light from the illuminated specimen to the detector device, wherein the optical system comprises an objective facing the specimen, the objective being configured to collect the fluorescent light emitted from the specimen, wherein the light source device is further configured to emit manipulation light suitable for photomanipulating the specimen, and wherein the optical system is further configured to direct the manipulation light through a spatially limited sub-area of an entrance pupil of the objective onto the specimen along a light propagation direction which is different from a light propagation direction of the light sheet.