Microscopy Aberration Correction Meniscus Lens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current light sheet microscopy techniques face challenges in correcting aberrations caused by the sloping passage of lighting and detection radiation through optically thick layers, such as cover glasses, leading to image quality issues due to angle deviations and refractive index differences.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a meniscus lens between the sample carrier and the illumination and detection lenses, along with static and adaptive correction elements, to correct aberrations arising from different refractive media and layer thicknesses, and using a separation system to isolate the sample medium from the lenses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the lighting lens and detection lens are arranged at 45 degrees to the sample level to enable light sheet microscopy, then the resolution in axial direction is improved and background fluorescence is reduced, but aberrations are introduced due to the sloping passage of radiation through optically thick layers
Solution Approach 1:
A meniscus lens is introduced as an intermediary optical element between the sample and the detection lens. This meniscus lens specifically compensates for the aberrations caused by the sloping passage of detection radiation through the cover glass and sample medium, while preserving the beneficial 45-degree illumination geometry for improved axial resolution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the optical parameters of the detection path by introducing a meniscus lens with specific refractive index and curvature characteristics. This changes the optical path parameters to correct the aberrations introduced by the oblique angle of 45 degrees, allowing the system to maintain both high axial resolution and accurate image quality
2Ease of manufacture
If the lighting lens and detection lens are arranged from below through the transparent floor of the sample bracket, then the sample preparation is simplified and standard containers can be used, but aberrations are introduced due to the crooked passage of radiation
Solution Approach 1:
The meniscus lens serves as a corrective intermediary that compensates for the aberrations introduced by the non-zero angle of radiation passage through the sample bracket floor. This allows the system to maintain the simplicity of using standard containers while correcting the optical distortions
Solution Approach 2:
The optical parameters are adjusted by introducing the meniscus lens with specific refractive characteristics to compensate for the aberrations caused by the crooked passage of light through the sample bracket floor, enabling the use of standard sample containers without significant quality loss
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a virtual relay with high numerical aperture is used to correct errors from crooked rays, then imaging errors are reduced, but pronounced imaging errors occur due to small deviations in the optical system
Solution Approach 1:
The meniscus lens acts as a more robust intermediary correction element compared to the virtual relay. It provides stable aberration correction across different optical configurations and is less sensitive to small deviations in optical alignment, thereby improving reliability while maintaining correction effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach to aberration correction by using a meniscus lens with specific refractive index and curvature parameters that provide more stable and less sensitive correction compared to the virtual relay method, reducing the impact of small optical deviations
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 significantly reduces residual aberrations, improving image quality by compensating for refractive index variations and layer thickness effects, resulting in higher resolution and reduced background fluorescence.
Implementation Method 1
aberrations, which arise due to the sloping passage of the lighting radiation and/or of the detection radiation through media of different refractive power
Implementation Method 2
The meniscus lens is trained for correction of aberrations, which arise due to the sloping passage of the lighting radiation and/or of the detection radiation through media of different refractive power
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an arrangement (1) for microscopy, comprising an illumination optical unit having an illumination lens (2) for illuminating a sample (5) located on a sample holder (7) in a sample area of a sample plane (4) by means of an illumination beam path, wherein the optical axis (A1) of the illumination lens (2) lies in a plane that forms a non-zero illumination angle (α1) with the normal to a sample plane (4) with respect to which the sample holder (7) is oriented, and the illumination is effected in the plane. Further, there is a detection optical unit having a detection lens (3) in a detection beam path, the optical axis (A2) of which forms a non-zero detection angle (α2) with the normal to the sample plane (4). The illumination lens (2) and/or the detection lens (3) comprises an illumination correction element (2KE) and/or a detection correction element (3KE) arranged in the beam path. According to the invention, the sample holder (7) and the lenses (2, 3) have a meniscus lens (10) between them that is arranged both in the illumination beam path and in the detection beam path and is configured to correct aberrations. The illumination correction element (2KE) and/or the detection correction element (3KE) is/are configured to correct remaining aberrations.