Structured Beam Generation Device for Deep Tissue Microscopy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current structured beam microscopy imaging methods are limited to surface imaging of samples and suffer from inefficiencies in beam modulation, leading to adverse diffraction effects that reduce signal-to-noise ratio and imaging depth, particularly in thick biological tissues.
Innovation Solution
A structured beam generation device and method combining a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with polarization beam-splitting prisms, including a laser, electro-optical intensity modulator, half-wave plate, beam expanders, polarization beam-splitting prisms, and phase modulators, to shape and phase-modulate beams, eliminating diffraction effects and improving beam energy utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional partition modulation method is used to generate structured beam, then beam modulation can be achieved, but diffraction effects (edge diffraction or slit diffraction) adversely affect the system, reducing modulation efficiency and beam energy utilization rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical partition modulation method with an all-optical beam shaping approach using beam shaping elements (such as axicon lenses or phase modulators) to directly transform the Gaussian beam into a structured beam (e.g., Bessel beam, Airy beam). This substitution eliminates mechanical edges and slits that cause diffraction, thereby improving modulation efficiency and beam energy utilization rate simultaneously.
2Measurement precision
If traditional structured beam illumination is used, then surface microscopy imaging can be performed, but imaging at certain depth of thick biological tissue cannot be effectively achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial parameters of the illumination beam by generating structured beams (Bessel beams, Airy beams) with extended depth of field properties. These structured beams maintain their intensity profile over longer propagation distances, enabling effective illumination and imaging at greater depths within thick biological tissues while maintaining adequate signal-to-noise ratio through the extended focal range.
3Measurement precision
If partition modulation is performed on the beam, then structured beam can be generated, but diffraction effects reduce the signal-to-noise ratio and imaging depth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical partition modulation with optical beam shaping techniques that use phase modulation or refractive index gradients (via axicon lenses) to generate structured beams. This substitution eliminates the physical edges and slits that cause diffraction effects, thereby improving signal-to-noise ratio and imaging depth by removing the harmful diffraction artifacts from the optical path.
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 enhances the signal-to-noise ratio and maintains diffraction-limited resolution in deep tissue imaging, effectively improving the imaging depth and efficiency of fluorescence microscopy by eliminating diffraction-related issues.
Implementation Method 1
a beam shaper, an optical delay line, a first reflector, an electro-optical phase modulator, a second reflector, a second expander, a second polarization beam-splitting prism, a polarizing plate, and a focusing lens on optical paths thereof
Implementation Method 2
finally focused by the focusing lens at the focal plane where interference occurs to form a structured beam
Implementation Method 3
a first polarization beam-splitting prism, is transmitted and reflected to be divided into two beams with equal power
Implementation Method 4
an electro-optical intensity modulator, an electro-optical phase modulator
Implementation Method 5
polarization state adjusted by the half-wave plate
Data Source
AI summary
A structured beam generation device based on beam shaping and a method adopting the device are provided. Linearly polarized beam emitted by a laser sequentially passes through an electro-optic intensity modulator, a half-wave plate, and a first beam expander, and then enters a first polarization beam-splitting prism to be transmitted and reflected. The transmitted beam sequentially passes through a beam shaper, an optical delay line, and a first reflector to form a parallel ring-shaped beam to be transmitted by a second polarization beam-splitting prism. The reflected beam sequentially passes through an electro-optic phase modulator, a second reflecting mirror, and a second beam expander, and is then reflected by the second polarization beam-splitting prism and combined with the transmitted beam into a beam, which is then adjusted by a polarizing plate have consistent polarization direction, and is finally focused at a focal plane by a focusing lens for interference.