Microscope Chemiluminescence Control Light Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microscopes that observe chemiluminescence without an excitation light source cannot maintain biological specimens in a living state due to intense erase light used to suppress chemiluminescence outside the observation area, which can instantly kill cells.
Innovation Solution
A method and microscope system utilizing a luminescence substrate with self-luminous fused proteins and a luminescence control portion that controls chemiluminescence with control light, allowing for selective illumination and detection to observe biological specimens in a living state with high sensitivity and low cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If intense erase light is used to suppress chemiluminescence outside the observation area, then detection sensitivity is improved, but the biological specimen is damaged and cannot be observed in the living state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the illumination into two distinct segments: a weak erase light that suppresses chemiluminescence without damaging the specimen, and a separate intense observation light that provides the necessary illumination for detection. This segmentation allows each light source to perform its function optimally without the harmful effects of combining them into a single intense source.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic switching between erase light illumination and observation light illumination. The erase light is applied periodically to suppress chemiluminescence in non-observation areas, then switched off to allow intense observation light to illuminate the specimen for detection. This temporal separation allows both functions to coexist without conflict.
2Device complexity
If no excitation light source is used to detect chemiluminescence, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but specimen damage occurs due to intense erase light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains the simple structure of no excitation light source but segments the illumination function into two separate light sources: a weak erase light source for chemiluminescence suppression and a separate observation light source for specimen illumination. This segmentation preserves structural simplicity while eliminating the harmful effects of using a single intense light source for both purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a weak erase light as an intermediary that performs the chemiluminescence suppression function without causing specimen damage. This intermediary light source bridges the gap between the need for chemiluminescence suppression and the need to preserve specimen viability, allowing the system to maintain its simple structure while avoiding cell death.
3Illumination intensity
If intense light is used to illuminate the specimen for observation, then observation quality is improved, but chemiluminescence is suppressed in the observation area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic switching to alternate between erase light illumination (which suppresses chemiluminescence) and observation light illumination (which provides intense illumination for detection). By switching between these two modes, the system ensures that chemiluminescence is suppressed during erase light phases while allowing intense observation during separate phases, thus resolving the contradiction between illumination intensity and chemiluminescence detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the illumination function into two separate light sources with distinct roles: the erase light source that suppresses chemiluminescence and the observation light source that provides intense illumination. This segmentation allows both functions to be performed optimally at different times without interfering with each other, as each light source is dedicated to its specific function.
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 the observation of biological specimens in a living state with high sensitivity and minimal damage, using low-intensity control light to manage chemiluminescence, thereby improving detection sensitivity and reducing specimen damage compared to previous methods.
Implementation Method 1
a luminescence enzyme and a fluorescent protein, and generates chemiluminescence in cooperation with the luminescence substrate
Implementation Method 2
controls the chemiluminescence in accordance with whether or not the biological specimen is illuminated with control light that changes a state of the chemiluminescence
Data Source
AI summary
A biological specimen containing a chemiluminescence substance that generates chemiluminescence is observed in a living state under a microscope. The microscope includes a light source that outputs control light that changes the state of the chemiluminescence, a defining unit that defines the radiation pattern of the control light with which an observation surface of the biological specimen is irradiated, and a detector that detects the chemiluminescence from the biological specimen.