Light Microscope with Dispersive Element for Multi-Wavelength Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current light sheet fluorescence microscopy techniques face challenges in simultaneously capturing images in multiple wavelength ranges due to the need for complex synchronization of scanning mirrors and limited spectral resolution caused by the minimum bandwidth of dichroic beam splitters and filters, which restricts flexibility and increases technical complexity.
Innovation Solution
A light microscope design featuring a scan illumination unit with a common objective for both illumination and detection, equipped with a dispersive element that spectrally splits detection light to produce multiple line images of different spectral compositions, allowing for flexible and efficient capture of images in various wavelength ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple scanning mirrors are used for simultaneous multi-wavelength imaging, then spectral imaging capability is improved, but device complexity and synchronization requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the illumination and detection optical paths into a single shared optical path, eliminating the need for separate scanning mirrors for each wavelength range. This merging approach reduces device complexity while maintaining multi-wavelength imaging capability through spectral splitting in the detection path.
Solution Approach 2:
A single scanning mirror is used to perform both illumination scanning and detection scanning functions simultaneously. The same optical path serves dual purposes for both excitation and emission, reducing the number of components required while achieving multi-wavelength imaging.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dichroic beam splitters and filters are used for spectral separation, then wavelength range selection is improved, but spectral resolution is limited by minimum bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical dichroic beam splitters and filters with a spatial light modulator (SLM) that uses phase modulation to achieve spectral separation. This substitution enables continuous spectral resolution without the bandwidth limitations of fixed optical filters, allowing for precise wavelength selection across multiple ranges.
3Device complexity
If a common objective is used for both illumination and detection, then device complexity is reduced, but optical path interference between illumination and detection light increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful illumination light from the detection path using a spatial light modulator that selectively modulates and separates the illumination and detection light based on their different wavelengths. This extraction eliminates optical interference while maintaining the simplified common objective configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The spatial light modulator acts as an intermediary element in the common optical path that mediates between illumination and detection light. It selectively modulates the illumination light to prevent it from interfering with detection, while allowing detection light to pass through to the detector.
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 simultaneous capture of multiple images in closely adjacent color channels, extending beyond visible spectra into infrared and ultraviolet ranges, with improved spectral resolution and reduced technical complexity, facilitating hyperspectral imaging.
Implementation Method 1
The descanned detection unit has a dispersive element which is designed to spectrally split the detection light in order to generate multiple second line images, corresponding to the first line image, with different spectral compositions
Implementation Method 2
The scan illumination unit and the descanned detection unit have a common objective, which is designed to receive both the illumination light beam and the detection light
Implementation Method 3
a scan illumination unit which is designed to illuminate a specimen with a line focus produced by an illumination light beam and moved transversely to a light propagation direction
Data Source
AI summary
A light microscope includes a scan illumination unit, which is designed to illuminate a specimen having a line focus produced by an illumination light beam and moved transversely to a light propagation direction. A descanned detection unit is designed to produce a stationary first line image of a target region from detection light that originates from a target region of the specimen illuminated with the moving line focus. The scan illumination unit and the descanned detection unit have a common objective, which is designed to receive both the illumination light beam and the detection light. The descanned detection unit contains a dispersive element, which is designed to spectrally split the detection light in order to generate multiple second line images, corresponding to the first line image, with different spectral compositions.