Microscope Illumination Optical System Aberration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Light-sheet microscopy faces challenges in preventing light fading and aberrations during biological sample observation, particularly due to uneven illumination and the use of expensive Powell lenses or cylindrical lenses that cause astigmatism and coma, leading to increased sheet thickness and unnecessary light radiation.
Innovation Solution
A microscope apparatus with an illumination optical system comprising a first optical-axis-asymmetric optical system and a second optical-axis-asymmetric optical system, along with a scanning unit, that forms a sheet light by concentrating and scanning illumination light in a telecentric configuration using cylindrical lenses, ensuring uniform illumination and minimizing lateral aberrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If Powell lens or cylindrical lens is used to form sheet light, then uniform illumination is achieved, but astigmatism and coma occur leading to increased sheet thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs two optical-axis-asymmetric optical systems with different asymmetry characteristics. The first system has power in the first-axis direction only, while the second system has power in the second-axis direction only. This asymmetric configuration allows independent control of illumination uniformity and aberration correction, resolving the contradiction between achieving uniform illumination and maintaining thin sheet thickness without using traditional Powell lenses.
2Illumination intensity
If traditional illumination optical system is used, then illumination is achieved, but light fading occurs due to excessive radiated area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a localized concentrated optical spot rather than diffuse illumination. By using the scanning unit to scan this concentrated spot, the system achieves both sufficient illumination coverage and minimized radiated area. The illumination is precisely localized to where it is needed, preventing light fading while maintaining adequate illumination intensity.
3Reliability
If sheet light is scanned to remove shadows, then shadow removal is achieved, but scanning speed must be reduced to maintain resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary aberration correction using the two optical-axis-asymmetric optical systems before the scanning process. By pre-correcting astigmatism and coma, the system maintains detection resolution even during scanning at practical speeds. The shadow removal function is preserved while the preliminary optical correction enables faster scanning without sacrificing image 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 effectively suppresses light fading and aberrations, maintaining detection resolution while reducing the radiated area and scanning speed, thus providing better illumination performance and preventing sample damage.
Implementation Method 1
the illumination optical system concentrates the illumination light so as to form an optical spot
Implementation Method 2
the illumination optical system concentrates the illumination light so as to form an optical spot within a field of view of the detection optical system
Implementation Method 3
scans the optical spot so as to form a sheet light
Implementation Method 4
performing observation using fluorescence from a biological sample
Data Source
AI summary
A microscope apparatus 10 includes a detection optical system 12 that captures light from a sample S and an illumination optical system 11 that radiates an illumination light onto the sample S. The illumination optical system 11 includes a cylindrical lens 5 that has a power in a first-axis direction and does not have a power in a second-axis direction that is perpendicular to the first-axis direction, a cylindrical lens 6 that has a power in the second-axis direction and does not have a power in the first-axis direction, and a scanner 4 that scans the illumination light in a width direction. The illumination optical system 11 is configured such that the first-axis direction is the width direction described above, and the cylindrical lenses 5 and 6 are arranged posterior to the scanner 4.