Multi-Photon Microscope Light Collection via Parabolic Reflector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multi-photon microscopes are inefficient in collecting light emitted from samples that are too large to be enclosed within the device, as they typically detect only a fraction of the emitted light due to the limitations of the objective lens system and trans-fluorescence pathway.
Innovation Solution
A multi-photon microscope design that includes a light collection system with a reflector and objective lens arrangement, allowing for the capture of both 'epi' light emitted on, around, and above the illumination region, using a parabolic reflector to redirect and direct emission light to a detection system, thereby capturing substantially all emission light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional multi-photon microscopes use objective lens system and trans-fluorescence pathway for light collection, then the device structure is simple, but only a fraction of emitted light can be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the objective lens system with a light collection system featuring a parabolic reflector and detection system. The objective lens directs a first portion of emission light to the detection system, while the light collection system captures and redirects a second portion of emission light to the same detection system, merging multiple light collection pathways into a unified detection approach that increases total light collection efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a light collection dimension by adding the parabolic reflector-based light collection system that captures light from directions not accessible to the objective lens alone. This adds a new dimensional aspect to light collection, capturing emission light from angles and positions that would otherwise be lost, thereby significantly increasing the total amount of detected light.
2Quantity of substance
If multi-photon excitation uses high intensity illumination source, then sufficient molecules can be excited for detection, but damage to biological system above and below focal plane increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates multiple light collection pathways that act as copies of the detection capability. By having both the objective lens system and the light collection system with parabolic reflector directing light to the detection system, the effective detection efficiency is doubled or tripled, which allows using lower illumination intensities while still achieving sufficient signal detection.
3Quantity of substance
If multi-photon excitation uses high intensity illumination source, then sufficient molecules can be excited for detection, but excitation power requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates multiple light collection pathways that act as copies of the detection capability. By having both the objective lens system and the light collection system with parabolic reflector directing light to the detection system, the effective detection efficiency is doubled or tripled, which allows using lower illumination intensities while still achieving sufficient signal detection.
4Quantity of substance
If conventional microscopes detect light through trans-fluorescence pathway only, then device structure is simple, but light collection efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the objective lens system with a light collection system featuring a parabolic reflector and detection system. The objective lens directs a first portion of emission light to the detection system, while the light collection system captures and redirects a second portion of emission light to the same detection system, merging multiple light collection pathways into a unified detection approach that increases total light collection efficiency.
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 design enables the detection of significantly more light from the sample, potentially doubling or tripling the amount of emission light collected, allowing for deeper tissue penetration and improved imaging of larger samples.
Implementation Method 1
A multi-photon microscope design that includes a light collection system with a reflector and objective lens arrangement, allowing for the capture of both 'epi' light emitted on, around, and above the illumination region, using a parabolic reflector to redirect and direct emission light to a detection system
Implementation Method 2
An objective lens arrangement defines an aperture and that is disposed inside the housing with the objective lens arrangement being oriented in an optical pathway of the illumination source to direct the illumination light through the aperture of the objective lens arrangement to a focused illumination region of a sample
Implementation Method 3
This crowding increases the probability of a fluorophore absorbing multiple photons before relaxation to the ground state
Implementation Method 4
multi-photon fluorescence excitation microscopy (MPFM) techniques
Data Source
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AI summary
A multi-photon microscope having an illumination source that transmits an illumination light into a housing having an objective lens arrangement for illuminating a sample disposed outside the housing and directing a first portion of emission light emitted from the sample to a detection system is disclosed. A light collection system is disposed proximate the objective lens arrangement for directing a second portion of emission light in a coaxial relationship with the first portion of emission light to the detection system such that substantially all of the emission light on, around and above the illumination region is detected.