Multimodal Microscopy With Shared Optics for Simultaneous Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multimodal microscopic systems suffer from sequential or pseudo-parallel imaging, leading to increased processing times and reduced frame rates, and lack the ability to visualize processes with different modalities simultaneously, while also being expensive due to the use of costly optical switchers.
Innovation Solution
A multimodal microscopic system is designed with shared components across different modalities, utilizing a single electromagnetic wave source and flexible connecting lines, combined with beam combiners and splitters to enable simultaneous imaging and reduce the number of self-contained units, allowing for parallel processing of multiple modalities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sequential or pseudo-parallel imaging is used with optical switchers, then different modalities can be imaged, but processing times add up and frame rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple light sources (OCT, PA, fluorescence) and their respective optical paths into a single integrated endoscopic head, allowing all modalities to operate simultaneously through a common detection system, thereby eliminating the need for sequential switching and improving frame rate
Solution Approach 2:
The detection unit is designed with universal components that can detect signals from all different modalities (OCT, PA, fluorescence) simultaneously, enabling a single system to perform multiple imaging functions without requiring separate detection systems for each modality
2Adaptability or versatility
If optical switchers are used to combine multiple light sources, then different modalities can be routed, but the system becomes expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges all light sources and optical paths into a single integrated endoscopic head, eliminating the need for external optical switchers and reducing system complexity and cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the expensive optical switcher component from the system by integrating all routing functions directly into the endoscopic head, thereby reducing overall system cost while maintaining multi-modality capability
3Reliability
If separate units are used for each modality, then each modality can be optimized independently, but the system size and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate modality units into a single integrated endoscopic head, reducing the number of self-contained units while maintaining the ability to optimize each modality through dedicated components within the integrated structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where multiple light sources and optical paths are integrated within the endoscopic head, with each modality's components nested within the common detection unit, reducing overall system complexity
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
The system achieves reduced processing times and increased frame rates by enabling simultaneous imaging with different modalities, while minimizing the number of components and system size, thus overcoming the limitations of prior art systems.
Implementation Method 1
beam combiners and splitters to enable simultaneous imaging
Implementation Method 2
an objective which is arranged in the scan unit in such a way that a signal emitted from the probe is transmitted back
Implementation Method 3
at least one electromagnetic wave source, in particular a light source
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are multimodal microscopic systems (1). In a first aspect, the system (1) comprises at least a first base unit (2) comprising at least one electrical and/or optical base component (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19), at least one scan unit (4) comprising at least one scan component (20, 21, 22) and at least one detection unit (5) comprising at least one detection component (7, 8, 9, 10, 11). The at least one base component (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19), the at least one scan component (20, 21, 22) and the at least one detection component (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) are operatively coupled to each other such that at least one base components (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19) and/or at least one scan components (20, 21, 22) and/or at least one detection components (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) is jointly useable for more than one modality. In further aspects, the system (1) comprises a beam combiner (26) which is arranged to superimpose the electromagnetic waves emitted by the electromagnetic wave sources (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19) and/or a beam splitter (27) which is arranged to split the electromagnetic waves emitted by a probe (50) into a plurality of partial electromagnetic waves.