Spectrally Selective Element for Wavelength-Selective Microscopy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current fluorescence microscopy techniques require expensive, large, and complex setups with multiple cameras for multicolored imaging, leading to high data accumulation, computational load, and alignment challenges, which are exacerbated when applying the PALM principle for high-resolution imaging.
Innovation Solution
A fluorescence microscope with a spectrally selective element in the imaging beam path generates a spectrally-dependent rotational asymmetric point-spread function, allowing wavelength selection by analyzing rotational asymmetry in images of isolated fluorescence emitters, thereby reducing the need for multiple cameras and simplifying data processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cameras are used for multicolored imaging, then wavelength-selective imaging capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A spectrally selective element is introduced as an intermediary component in the imaging beam path. This element modulates the point-spread function in a spectrally-dependent manner, enabling wavelength information to be encoded in the rotational asymmetry of single-molecule images. This mediator allows a single camera to perform multicolored imaging that would traditionally require multiple cameras.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent encodes wavelength information (color) into the rotational asymmetry pattern of the point-spread function. Different wavelengths produce distinct rotational asymmetry patterns, allowing the system to distinguish between different fluorophore colors without using multiple cameras. The color information is transformed into spatial orientation information through the spectrally selective element.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cameras are used for multicolored imaging, then imaging coverage is improved, but installation space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple wavelength-selective cameras into a single camera system. By combining the spectrally selective element with a single camera, the system achieves multicolored imaging coverage without requiring separate camera installations for each wavelength channel, thereby reducing the total installation space required.
Solution Approach 2:
A single camera is designed to perform multiple wavelength detection functions through the spectrally selective element. The camera becomes a universal detector that can capture information across multiple wavelengths by analyzing the rotational asymmetry patterns, eliminating the need for multiple specialized cameras and reducing space requirements.
3Measurement precision
If multiple cameras are used for multicolored imaging, then spectral resolution is improved, but alignment precision requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spectrally selective element acts as a mediator that transforms spectral information into rotational asymmetry patterns. This transformation allows spectral resolution to be achieved through pattern recognition rather than through precise mechanical alignment of multiple optical paths, thereby reducing the alignment precision requirements while maintaining spectral discrimination capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical alignment system (multiple precisely aligned cameras and optical paths) with an optical modulation system (spectrally selective element creating rotational asymmetry). Instead of relying on mechanical precision to separate wavelength channels, the system uses optical interference and diffraction effects to encode spectral information, reducing the need for high-precision mechanical alignment.
4Measurement precision
If PALM principle is applied for high-resolution imaging, then spatial resolution is improved, but data accumulation and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single camera system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it captures spatial information for super-resolution imaging and spectral information for wavelength identification. By encoding both types of information in a single image frame through the rotational asymmetry patterns, the system reduces the total data volume compared to using multiple cameras, while maintaining both spatial and spectral resolution capabilities.
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 high-resolution, wavelength-selective imaging with reduced equipment costs, space requirements, and computational load, while avoiding chromatic aberrations and increasing localization precision beyond optical resolution.
Implementation Method 1
generates a spectrally-dependent rotational asymmetric point-spread function
Implementation Method 2
spectrally-dependent rotational asymmetric point-spread function
Implementation Method 3
fluorescence emitters in the specimen which can be excited to emit fluorescence radiation
Data Source
AI summary
A method for wavelength-selective and high spatial resolving fluorescence microscopy. In a specimen fluorescence emitters are repeatedly excited and specimen frames are produced with a microscope. The fluorescence emitters are excited to emit fluorescence radiation such that at least a sub-set is isolated in each frame and the positions of the isolated fluorescence emitters are localized with a localization precision exceeding the optical resolution and a high-resolution complete image is produced. The imaging beam path of the microscope has a spectrally selective element which, during production of the frames, generates a spectrally-dependent rotational asymmetric point-spread function, such that images of isolated fluorescence emitters have a rotational asymmetry which depends on a wavelength at which the isolated fluorescence emitters fluoresce, and the images of the isolated fluorescence emitters are analyzed with respect to rotational asymmetry and an indication of the wavelength of the isolated fluorescence emitters is derived therefrom.