Nanopoint, Inc.

Caitlin E O'Connell-Rodwell

Daniel G O'Connell

Dan O'Connell

A Precision Optical Intracellular Near Field Imaging/Spectroscopy Technology (POINT/NANOPOINT) is a high-resolution instrument for analyzing and comparing molecular characteristics of cells. A nanosensor array is provided which is capable of imaging inner regions of living cells without destroying its natural environment and providing new information about molecular makeup of cells. The POINT probe collects data from high-resolution imagery, providing an imaging tool for investigating cells at sub-cellular and molecular levels. Data are then incorporated into a signature facilitating molecular analysis of diseases. The POINT probe non-invasively penetrates cell membranes to image insides of intact cells allowing the POINT probe to collect data without destroying cell structures. The probe provides cellular imaging to enable the viewing of both imaging and spectroscopy of internal regions of cells. The POINT system may be attached to existing microscopes to achieve a very high resolution.

Precision optical intracellular near field imaging/spectroscopy technology

A method and apparatus for near-field intra-cellular apertureless tomographic imaging uses sub-wavelength nano-particle in a cell which generates tomographic projections. A detector detects and collects high-frequency details from evanescent field interactions of the nano-particle with surrounding molecules and provides near-field imagery of a cell volume. The detector may be a detector ring movably/pivotably disposed near the cell or it may be a discrete detector. The discrete detector may be coupled to a microscope with high NA objective coupled for minimizing solid angles of collected photons from each tomographic projection. A rotating platform may hold the cell substrate. The nano-particle is a sub-wavelength scattering fluorescent particle producing fluorescent rays that exit the cell and impinge on the detector. The tomographic projection provides tomographic views of molecules or cell structure with the help of the particle in the cell.

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Menlo Park, CA, United States of America

Caitlin E O'Connell-Rodwell