Plasmonic Calibration Slide for Multi-Channel Fluorescence Microscopes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluorescence microscopes require frequent calibration due to fluctuations in scanning accuracy, especially after long-term use, and existing calibration slides often need multiple fluorescence dyes to be compatible with multiple channels, which can degrade over time.
Innovation Solution
A calibration slide with metal nanostructures that produce plasmon resonances, allowing for broad absorption and emission spectra, enabling calibration across all typical fluorescence channels without the need for multiple dyes, and featuring a combination of plasmonic structures with colored microbeads and resolution/distance test targets for enhanced accuracy and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple fluorescence dyes are used for calibration slides to be compatible with multiple fluorescence channels, then the calibration can cover all channels, but the calibration slide degrades over time and requires frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from organic fluorescence dyes to inorganic metal nanostructures, which fundamentally alters the stability characteristics while maintaining the fluorescence emission capability across multiple channels
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration slide uses a composite structure combining metal nanostructures with dielectric materials, creating a plasmonic system that provides both structural stability and tunable optical properties for multi-channel calibration
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple fluorescence dyes are used on calibration slides, then all fluorescence channels can be calibrated, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The metal nanostructures serve as universal calibration elements that can be excited by multiple wavelengths and emit across broad spectra, replacing the need for multiple specialized dyes and simplifying the overall calibration device
Solution Approach 2:
By changing from chemical dyes to physical plasmonic structures, the system achieves multi-channel capability through geometric and material parameter control rather than requiring multiple chemical substances
3Productivity
If traditional dye based calibration slides are used, then calibration can be performed, but the dyes bleach over time requiring frequent recalibration
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the disposable, short-lived organic dyes with durable, long-lasting metal nanostructures that do not bleach, transforming the calibration slide from a consumable item to a permanent reference standard
Solution Approach 2:
The fundamental material parameter change from organic to inorganic provides resistance to photobleaching, ensuring long-term stability and eliminating the need for frequent replacement
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 calibration slide provides stable, long-lasting calibration across multiple fluorescence channels, simplifying the calibration process, ensuring uniform fluorescence intensity, and improving calibration accuracy and efficiency, while also allowing for color and focus calibration without changing the slide.
Implementation Method 1
The metal nanostructures are arranged to produce plasmon resonances that allow absorbing light at an excitation wavelength to produce photo-luminescence and/or fluorescence light
Implementation Method 2
produce photo-luminescence and/or fluorescence light for generating a fluorescent image
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2D
Figure 3A~4B
AI summary
2015PF01730 22 ABSTRACT: 5 The present invention relates to fluorescence imaging. In order to enhance compatibility with multiple fluorescence channels for calibrating a fluorescence microscope, a calibration slide (10) is provided that comprises a substrate (12) and a pixel layout (14). The pixel layout comprises a plurality of spaced apart metal nanostructures (16) arranged on a surface (18) of the substrate. The metal nanostructures are arranged to produce plasmon 10 resonances that allow absorbing light (20) at an excitation wavelength to produce photo- luminescence and/or fluorescence light (22) for generating a fluorescent image. The fluorescent image comprises a plurality of pixel intensity values that are provided for calibration of a fluorescence microscope.