Multi-focus microscopy using diffractive optical elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microscopy techniques require mechanical refocusing to capture three-dimensional images, which is time-consuming and can disturb the sample, and they often record information from each focal plane sequentially, leading to ambiguous data, especially when imaging rapidly changing samples.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a multi-focus diffractive grating (MFG) system that separates and focuses light from multiple depths onto a single image plane simultaneously, using a diffractive optical element and a refractive optical element to correct for chromatic dispersion and aberrations, allowing for the generation of a three-dimensional representation without mechanical refocusing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If mechanical refocusing is used to capture three-dimensional images, then depth information can be obtained, but the imaging process becomes time-consuming and disturbs the sample
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light from different depth planes using a diffractive optical element that separates light into multiple diffractive orders, each corresponding to a specific depth plane. This allows simultaneous capture of multiple depth information without sequential mechanical refocusing, resolving the contradiction between obtaining depth information and reducing imaging time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical refocusing system with an optical diffraction-based system. Instead of mechanically moving the sample or lens to focus on different planes, a diffractive optical element creates multiple focused images of different depth planes simultaneously on the sensor, eliminating mechanical movement and reducing imaging time while preserving depth information
2Measurement precision
If mechanical refocusing is used to capture three-dimensional images, then depth information can be obtained, but the sample is disturbed during imaging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical refocusing by using a diffractive optical element to optically separate and focus light from multiple depth planes simultaneously. This substitution removes the mechanical disturbances caused by moving the sample stage or objective lens, thereby preventing sample disturbance while still capturing comprehensive depth information
Solution Approach 2:
The diffractive optical element is pre-configured with specific diffraction patterns that correspond to different depth planes. This preliminary optical configuration allows all depth information to be captured in a single exposure without requiring subsequent mechanical adjustments, thereby preventing sample disturbance during the imaging process
3Measurement precision
If sequential recording of focal planes is used, then three-dimensional structure can be built, but data ambiguity occurs especially for rapidly changing samples
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light field into multiple diffractive orders, where each order carries information from a specific depth plane. All these segmented images are recorded simultaneously on the sensor, eliminating the temporal separation inherent in sequential recording. This resolves data ambiguity for rapidly changing samples while maintaining accurate three-dimensional structural information
Solution Approach 2:
The patent captures all depth information in a single continuous exposure, ensuring that the imaging action is continuous rather than sequential. This eliminates gaps and temporal inconsistencies between frames, preventing data ambiguity while building accurate three-dimensional structures even for dynamically changing samples
4Productivity
If diffractive optical elements are used to separate light into diffractive orders, then multiple depth planes can be focused simultaneously, but chromatic dispersion is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a refractive optical element as an intermediary between the diffractive optical element and the sensor. This refractive element compensates for the chromatic dispersion introduced by diffraction, correcting color fringing and maintaining image quality. This allows simultaneous focusing of multiple depth planes (high productivity) while preserving image accuracy (measurement precision)
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 approach enables fast acquisition of multi-color, three-dimensional images without moving the microscope or camera, reducing ambiguity and sample disturbance, and providing aberration-corrected images of multiple depth planes simultaneously.
Implementation Method 1
a first diffractive optical element that receives a multi-wavelength beam of light and separates the received beam of light into diffractive orders
Implementation Method 2
a refractive optical element positioned to receive multi-wavelength beams of the diffractive orders that pass through the second diffractive element
Implementation Method 3
an optical lens that receives the multi-wavelength beams of the diffractive orders that pass through the refractive element and focuses each of the multi-wavelength beams of the diffractive orders to a different location on an image plane at the same time
Data Source
AI summary
An optical imaging system includes a first diffractive optical element that receives a multi-wavelength beam of light and separates the received beam of light into diffractive orders. The optical imaging system also includes a second diffractive optical element that includes panels displaced along the second diffractive element in at least one direction, where each panel is positioned to receive and pass the multi-wavelength beam of one of the diffractive orders. A refractive optical element is positioned to receive multi-wavelength beams of the diffractive orders that pass through the second diffractive element, and an optical lens that receives the multi-wavelength beams of the diffractive orders that pass through the refractive element and focuses each of the multi-wavelength beams of the diffractive orders to a different location on an image plane at the same time.