Scanning Microscope Stimulation Light Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scanning microscopes face challenges in preventing high-intensity stimulation light from interfering with image acquisition during exposure periods, which can distort image information and hinder precise observation of sample responses to light stimuli.
Innovation Solution
A scanning microscope design featuring a pinhole array disk and microlens array disk rotated about a center axis, combined with a stimulation-light irradiation unit that includes a light modulation unit to decrease stimulation light intensity during exposure periods and increase it between exposure periods, ensuring that high-intensity stimulation light does not interfere with image acquisition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If high-intensity stimulation light is used to irradiate the sample, then the stimulation effect on the sample is enhanced, but the stimulation light interferes with image acquisition during exposure periods
Solution Approach 1:
The stimulation light is applied periodically by synchronizing it with the exposure periods of the image acquisition unit. The light modulation unit decreases stimulation light intensity during exposure periods and increases it during periods between exposures, creating a periodic on-off pattern that prevents interference while maintaining stimulation effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The stimulation light is applied in advance during periods between exposure periods, before the next image acquisition begins. This timing ensures that the sample receives adequate stimulation without the stimulation light being present during image capture, thus preventing interference with image information
2Reliability
If continuous high-intensity stimulation light is applied, then the sample response is maximized, but the image acquisition is distorted by stimulation light interference
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic modulation of stimulation light intensity that synchronizes with the image acquisition cycle. During exposure periods when images are captured, stimulation light intensity is decreased to eliminate interference. During intervals between exposures, intensity is increased to maximize sample stimulation, thus achieving both reliable sample response observation and precise image capture
Solution Approach 2:
Stimulation is applied in advance during intervals between image acquisitions, allowing the sample to respond to stimulation before the next image capture begins. This preliminary stimulation ensures that sample responses are maximized while image acquisition precision is maintained by excluding stimulation light during exposure periods
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 precise observation of sample responses to light stimuli by preventing high-intensity stimulation light from affecting image information during exposure, enabling accurate image capture and efficient scanning of the sample with illumination and stimulation light.
Implementation Method 1
a rotational driving unit that rotates the open disk about the center axis
Implementation Method 2
an objective lens that irradiates the sample with the illumination light that has passed through the micro-openings of the open disk being rotated about the center axis by the rotational driving unit and that collects observation light emitted at the sample
Implementation Method 3
a stimulation-light irradiation unit that irradiates the sample with stimulation light, wherein the stimulation-light irradiation unit includes a light modulation unit that decreases the intensity of the stimulation light for irradiating the sample during an exposure period of the image acquisition unit and increases the intensity of the stimulation light during a period between exposure periods
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a scanning microscope including a pinhole array disk having a plurality of pinholes restricting a light flux of illumination light for irradiating a sample, the plurality of pinholes being disposed so as to form an array about a center axis; a rotational driving unit rotating the pinhole array disk about the center axis; an objective lens irradiating the sample with the illumination light that has passed through the pinholes and collecting fluorescence from the sample to cause the fluorescence to enter the pinholes; a camera acquiring an image of the sample by repeatedly capturing the fluorescence that has passed through the pinholes; and a stimulation optical system irradiating the sample with stimulation light, wherein the system includes a stimulation-timing generating unit decreasing the intensity of the stimulation light during exposure periods of the camera and increasing the intensity of the stimulation light during periods between exposure periods.