Oblique Light Sheet Microscope Multi-Directional Isotropic Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light sheet microscopes cannot generate image data with isotropic resolution without complex and costly modifications, as they typically illuminate specimens from a fixed direction, preventing the merging and deconvolution of images from multiple directions without rotating the specimen or optical path.
Innovation Solution
A light sheet microscope design that includes an illumination device providing two obliquely inclined light sheets from different directions, allowing for simultaneous illumination and detection without specimen movement, using a specimen-side objective that serves both for illumination and detection, and multiple sensors for flexible image capture and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a light sheet microscope illuminates a specimen from a fixed direction, then the system structure remains simple, but it cannot generate image data with isotropic resolution without rotating the specimen or optical path
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination device is divided into multiple independent illumination units, each capable of generating light sheets from different directions. This segmentation allows the system to achieve multi-directional illumination without rotating the entire optical path or specimen, thereby achieving isotropic resolution while maintaining relatively simple system structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The specimen-side objective is designed to serve dual functions: both illuminating the specimen with obliquely inclined light sheets and detecting the emitted light. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate illumination and detection optical paths, reducing system complexity while enabling high-resolution imaging from multiple directions.
2Measurement precision
If the specimen is rotated to capture images from multiple directions, then isotropic resolution can be achieved, but the system becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical rotation system with an optical solution. Instead of physically rotating the specimen or optical path to achieve multi-directional imaging, the system uses multiple fixed illumination units with obliquely inclined light sheets to illuminate the specimen from different directions simultaneously, eliminating complex mechanical rotation mechanisms and reducing system cost.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple objectives are used for illumination from multiple directions, then multi-directional imaging is achieved, but the alignment becomes particularly complex
Solution Approach 1:
The specimen-side objective performs both illumination and detection functions. By using the same objective for both purposes with obliquely inclined light sheets, the system avoids the complex alignment issues that would arise from using multiple separate objectives, while still achieving multi-directional imaging capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The light sheets are designed to be inclined obliquely relative to the optical axis of the objective rather than being perpendicular. This asymmetric arrangement allows the light sheet to pass through the objective at an angle, enabling multi-directional illumination while maintaining a simple alignment configuration without requiring multiple precisely aligned objectives.
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
Enables the capture of high-resolution, isotropic image stacks with structural simplicity, allowing for flexible illumination and detection configurations without the need for specimen rotation, thereby reducing system complexity and cost.
Implementation Method 1
an illumination device (60) for providing a first illumination beam (3) which is focused for forming a first light sheet
Implementation Method 2
illumination beam which is guided over a specimen-side objective and tilted with respect to the optical axis of the objective
Implementation Method 3
light sheet being inclined obliquely in relation to an optical axis of the objective and being guided through the objective
Implementation Method 4
A detector is configured to detect light passing through the objective
Data Source
AI summary
A light sheet microscope includes a specimen-side objective having an illumination device configured to provide a first illumination beam which is focused for forming a first light sheet for illuminating a specimen from a first direction, the first light sheet being inclined obliquely in relation to an optical axis of the objective and being guided through the objective. A detector is configured to detect light passing through the objective. The illumination device is further configured to provide at least one second illumination beam which is focused for forming at least one second light sheet for illuminating the specimen from at least one second direction that differs from the first direction, the at least one second light sheet being inclined obliquely in relation to the optical axis of the objective and being guided through the objective.